Admiral Keumalahayati, Hero of the Conqueror Ocean

In the heyday of Aceh, the end of the 15th century BC, Aceh bore a strong female character, named Keumalahayati, he is better known as Malahayati. The name Keumala in the Acehnese language is the same as Keumala which means a beautiful and luminous stone.Based on a manuscript stored at the University Kebangsaan Malaysia din to the year 1254 H or around 1875 AD, Keumalahayati were from the nobility of Aceh, from among the sultans of Aceh earlier.She is the first Muslim world who became an admiral in the age of modern shipping. When most of the people of this country have not thought of emancipation, he had to break the boundaries of the new gender dealt with later.Malahayati name is easily found in the literature of the West and China. In Indonesia, she was not as popular as Cut Nyak Dien, but by western researchers, Malahayati aligned with Semiramis, the King of Babylon and the Empress Katherina II, Emperor of Russia.He lived in the kingdom of Atjeh Darussalam led by Sultan Alaiddin Ali Shah Riayat IV who reigned between the years 1589-1604 ADHis father was Admiral Mahmud Shah. His grandfather from his father's line is Admiral Muhammad Said Shah son of Sultan Salahuddin Shah who reigned circa 1530-1539 AD The Shah Sultan Salahuddin was the son of Sultan Ibrahim Ali Mughayat Shah (1513-1530 CE), who is the founder of the kingdom of Aceh Darussalam. (Rusdi Sufi, 1994: 30-33).If seen from Keumalahayati pedigree can be ascertained that he was from the blue blood, which is a noble family palace. Malahayati his father and grandfather had been a Navy Admiral, so the marine life which is owned by his father and grandfather are very influential in the development of personal, as the saying goes, "the fruit does not fall far from the tree".Therefore, the father and grandfather of a Navy Commander, the marine life can be inherited by Malahayati. Despite her just a woman, she also wanted to be a sailor who brave as his father and grandfather.Malahayati at first was believed to be the head guard and protocols within and outside the palace. Uphill military career after his success "beat" the Dutch warships led by General Cornelis de Houtman notorious. Cornelis de Houtman even killed by Malahayati on one-on-one battle on the deck of the ship on 11 September 1599.GirlhoodAt the time Malahayati still a teenage girl, the Kingdom of Aceh has a Military Academy named Mahad Baitul Maqdis, which consists of the Department of the Army and Marine, with the instructors some came from Turkey.As the son of a Navy Commander, Keumalahayati have the freedom to choose the education they want. After going through the religious education in meunasah, and dayah.Malahayati intend to follow the career of his father, who at that time had become Admiral. As a child who inherits maritime blood, Keumalahayati aspire to be a formidable sailor. To realize her dream to be a sailor, he then joined enrolled in the recruitment of cadets at the Military Academy Mahad Baitul Maqdis.Grandson of Admiral Muhammad Said Shah is somewhat special. Keleluasaannya choose it based on the education level of intelligence possessed.Thanks to the intelligence and agility, he was accepted as a student cadets of the military academy. Military education in the first year and the second he went through it very well, because it turns out he was a cadet woman very satisfactory achievement.As cadets are capable and have a very prominent achievement has been made He was known among the other cadets, including the cadets that level higher than himself. So it is not surprising that many students at the Military Academy were dear to him.Even many who have anchored their hearts on the woman. But among the many male youth who falls in love with her, nothing is pleasing in his heart. He is more concerned with education than in the think of things which he has not time to do.For students who excel in the Military Academy Mahad Baitul Maqdis, Keumala right to choose majors that he wanted. As a child who inherits maritime blood, he chose the Navy department.Understandably because since childhood soul sailors had been planted by his father and grandfather. In times of military education, he managed easily devour all the sciences given by the instructors.Achievement Malahayati spread at the court. Sultan Alauddin Shah al-Mukammil Riayat during the reign of 1589 AD - 1604 AD lifting Malahayati as commander-World protocol Darud Palace in the Sultanate of Aceh Darussalam.This position demands it expertly mastered insight ethics and protocol.At one point in the Military Academy Campus Mahad Makdis Baihil the Keumala acquainted with an aspiring marine officer more senior than himself. Introductions continues to produce seeds of compassion.Both eventually agreed to love. After finishing education at the Military Academy Mahad Baitul Maqdis, both akhirya married as husband and wife. Unfortunately, the identity of her husband was not too exposed in various manuscripts.Her husband mentioned fall in Theater waterway as against the Portuguese.

Inong forces Balee (widows)Admiral KeumalahayatiAfter her fall, Malahayati appealed to Sultan al-Mukammil, Aceh king who ruled from 1596-1604, to establish a fleet of war. Soldiers are widows Acehnese fighters who died in battle in the Malacca Strait.Tit for tat. At that time the kingdom of Aceh indeed improve security as Portuguese disorders. The proposal to form a fleet granted, Malahayati appointed Fleet Commander Fleet Inong Balee or Female Widow.He asked as the admiral. Since then the title of the first female naval admiral he clothing.The troops were stationed in the Gulf Lamreh Krueng Raya. Kuto Inong Balee with a height of about three meters built. Complete with cannons. Remnants of the fort can still be seen in Aceh.As a navy admiral, Malahayati very crucial role. The debut of his first battle is against the Portuguese in the waters of the Strait of Malacca.Not only prepare a defense on the ground. Inong forces Balee include more than a hundred warships. Troops were originally only 1000 people, long growing up to 2000 troops. Foreign fleets that crossed the waterway became terrified.Not far from the military base, Fort Inong Malahayati also build Balee. Malahayati leadership fleet strength is extraordinary. This is proven by the exploits for overseeing the Port Syahbandar.Currency and gold coinsJohn Davis, an Englishman, on a Dutch ship captain who visited the Kingdom of Aceh during the Malahayati to Rear Admiral. report, the Kingdom of Aceh at that time had equipment fleet consists of 100 ships of war, some of which with a capacity of 400-500 passengers.At the time Malahayati become admiral, economic commodity produced by the earth and the sea areas of Aceh and the Malay Peninsula is abundant so much favored Western nations such as the Netherlands, Portuguese, and English. Among commodity Aceh is pepper and spices.Aceh is so open to working with them, but unfortunately Western nations were greedy and wanted to dominate the commodity that is not right them in various ways ranging and subtle tricks like making trade agreements to the most violently attacked Aceh.At that time, Aceh has used official money used as a medium of exchange in trade between nations. Berbedar currency when it is ringgit and dirham Aceh, Portuguese cannons rial cap, sun cap Japanese ringgit and ringgit cap lnggeris stick. Money issued Aceh made of copper, silver and gold.That time the kingdom of Aceh has a strong army. In addition to having fleets, on land there is an army of elephants. The ships are even placed in the areas of power Aceh various places. To publish this money, Aceh specifically invited experts and Indian gold and placed in Kampung Pandee.

Under Sultan Iskandar Muda (1607 AD - 1636 AD), Aceh reached its peak along Admiral Keumalahayati, the heroine of three times.

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