Sang Nila Utama (?-1347?), a Malay prince also known as Sri Tri Buana, was, according to legend, the founder and first ruler of Singapore. His story is told in the Malay Annals, a book that was first compiled about 1520 and contains elements of myth, legend, and history. According to the Malay Annals, Sang Nila Utama was the ruler of Palembang, in Sumatra. In 1299, he sailed to Singapore, then called Temasek. He is said to have renamed the island Singa pura (Lion City) after seeing an animal there that he believed looked like a lion. The actual origin of the name, however, is not known.
