1. The document discusses the strategic location and history of Singapore as an important trading port for regional empires and sultanates, including Srivijaya, the Melaka Sultanate, and Johor-Riau-Lingga Sultanate.
2. When the last sultan of Johor-Riau-Lingga died without an heir, the British saw an opportunity to gain control of Singapore and installed a disputed prince as the Sultan to facilitate signing a treaty ceding the island to the British.
3. This established British control over Singapore despite the installed sultan never being fully recognized as the legitimate successor to the Johor throne under Malay tradition.