Aceh Once Had 100 Warships
At the northern end of Jakarta Capital City, precisely in the ancient area of Sunda Kelapa Harbor, stand Maritime Museum or Maritime Museum. One of the most popular objects of visitors is the painting of Admiral Malahayati, a female warrior of the Aceh Sultanate, on the second floor.
It is said, he said, the eyes can glance."Than usually only 30 visitors per day, so jumped to 200 visitors per day. I got tired of taking guests up to see the painting. Finally I just hide the painting, "said Sukma, the museum guard. Malahayati became Commander of the Royal Acehnese Armed Forces during the reign of Sultan Al Mukammil (1589-1604).
He gained the confidence of being number one in the meliter of the Sultan for his success in leading women's troops, Inong Bale.He came from the sultan's descendants. His father, Mahmud Shah, was an admiral. His grandfather from the father line, also an admiral named Muhammad Said Syah son of Sultan Salahuddin Shah who ruled in 1530-1539. Sultan Salahhuddin himself son of Sultan Ibrahim Ali Mughayat Syah (1513-1530), founder of the kingdom of Aceh Darussalam.
Judging from the origin of his descendants, blood meliter comes from his grandfather.The formation of an all-female armies called the Inong Bale Armada was Malahayati's idea. The purpose of the formation of women's troops is so that the widows can sue the death of her husband.
The troops had a fortress. The remains of Bale Inong base still exist in Kreung Raya Bay.In a note, John Davis, the Dutch ship captain who visited the Kingdom of Aceh during the Malahayati period became admiral, reported that the Aceh Kingdom at that time had a fleet of 100 warships, some with a capacity of 400-500 passengers.That period the Kingdom of Aceh has a strong army. In addition to having a fleet of sea, on land there is an elephant troop.
The ships were even placed in the Aceh provinces in various places. The power of Keumalahayati got his first test when there was armed contact between Aceh and the Dutch.On June 21, 1599, two Dutch ships led by two brothers Coernelis de Houtman and Federick de Houtman docked peacefully in Aceh. Admiral Malahayati attacked both ships. In the attack, Cornelis de Houtman and several of his men were killed.
While Federick de Houtman was held captive and thrown into the custody of the kingdom of Aceh.Something that stirred up the Europeans and especially the Dutch at the same time showed the dignity of Admiral Keumalahayati when the Amsterdam Court imposed a fine of 50,000 guilders to van Caerden to be paid to Aceh.The sum of money is actually paid to the rightful. The fine was the aftermath of Paul van Caerden's action when he came to Aceh using two ships, drowned the Aceh merchant ship and seized his cargo of pepper, and left Aceh.Another important event during Malahayati's Laksama was when he sent three envoys to the Netherlands, namely Abdoelhamid, Sri Muhammad and Mir Hasan to the Netherlands. All three were the first ambassadors of an empire in Asia who visited the Netherlands.A lot of foreigner's remarks about Malahayati.
His prowess to lead a third army was recognized by countries in Europe, Arabia, China and India.
