AMP - Two large Dutch-flagged ships seemed to dock at the Port of Aceh in mid-June 1599. Two ships were led by two brothers, namely Frederick and Cornelis de Houtman. Initially, their arrival was welcomed. However, later, Cornelis actually died in the hands of a tough woman, the Admiral Admiral of the Aceh Darussalam Sultanate, Malahayati.
The voyage to Aceh became the number one destination for the de Houtman brothers in the archipelago. Apesnya, almost all efforts to find the center of spices led to failure. Banten, Madura, to Bali, had previously been visited, but it always ended with a contra-local dispute because of the nature of the Dutch sailors who were indeed less friendly.
In the Veranda of Mecca, the siblings' adventure was over. Frederick was once held captive by Acehnese troops and was fortunate enough to finally be able to return to the Netherlands. While Cornelis fared far worse. His life ended at the end of Rencong Admiral Malahayati in a one on one duel that took place on his own ship.
Daughter of the Palace of Soldiers
His real name is Keumalahayati even though he is better known as a shorter greeting: Malahayati. This brave woman is still the core family of the kingdom. His father, Admiral Mahmud Syah, was a descendant of Sultan Ibrahim Ali Mughayat Syah (1513-1530), founder of the Sultanate of Aceh Darussalam (Rusdi Sufi in Ismail Sofyan, eds., Nusantara Main Woman in Historical Tracks, 1994: 30).
Since childhood, Malahayati did not really like to preen. He was more fond of practicing dexterity which would later lead him to the dream he really wanted: becoming a warlord even though he was a woman. Talent flowed directly from his father and grandfather who had served as naval admiral of the Sultanate of Aceh.
Islamic teachings are indeed taken seriously in Aceh. However, gender affairs do not matter too much. The proof is that the Sultanate of Aceh Darussalam was once governed by several queens or sultans. In the following period, Aceh was closely linked to the leadership of strong women such as Cut Nyak Dien, Cut Meutia, and so on.
So, it was not too much of a problem if in the end Malahayati chose the military route as her life choice. He was one of the results of Mahad Baitul Makdis's upbringing, the academy of the Aceh Darussalam Sultanate army which recruited several war instructors from Turkey (Solichin Salam, Malahayati: Srikandi from Aceh, 1995: 26). Malahayati seems to be very talented on the road that must be traveled with that struggle.
Appearing as one of the best graduates at Mahad Baitul Makdis brought Malahayati to a higher level. In the era of Sultan Alauddin Riayat Shah al-Mukammil (1589-1604), he was appointed Commander of the Darud-Dunia Palace - Chief Guard and Commander of the Palace Protocol - replacing his deceased husband while facing the Portuguese in Teluk Haru, Malacca waters.
Sultan Alauddin also gave Malahayati the confidence to occupy the highest leadership of the royal navy, with the rank of admiral, a position that had also been carried out by his father and grandfather. Malahayati was mentioned as the first female admiral in the archipelago, maybe even in the world (Endang Moerdopo, Wanita Keumala, 2008: xi).
Duel Against the Dutch Captain
Malahayati did not only lead an army that was dominated by male groups. He also mobilized the strength of women, especially the widows whose husbands left behind during the war in Teluk Haru, just like him. This line of courageous widows led by Malahayati is known as Inong Balee (Damien Kingsbury, Peace in Aceh, 2006: 195).
Initially, the Inong Balee forces only had 1,000 members. But then his strength increased to 2,000 female soldiers. Malahayati made Lamreh Bay Krueng Raya as its military base, and in the hills located not far from there, he built a fortress and watchtower.
Malahayati did stand out in those days. In addition to managing troops, he oversees all ports and trade ports in the Aceh Darussalam region, along with his ships. At that time, the sultanate had no less than 100 large ships, each of which could carry more than 400 passengers.
Until June 21, 1599, a group of Dutch explorers led by de Houtman brothers arrived at the dock owned by Aceh Darussalam. There were two large ships that came, named de Leeuw and de Leeuwin (Ibrahim Alfian, Face of Aceh in the History Track, 1999: 67). Frederick and Cornelis de Houtman acted as captains of each of these ships.
Initially, the relations between the migrants from Europe and the people and the Sultanate of Aceh Darussalam were well-established. Until then, due to the behavior of the Dutch people as well as provocations from a Portuguese who was trusted by Sultan Alauddin, the seeds of conflict began to emerge.
Realizing the situation that was starting to get hot, Frederick and Cornelis coordinated on their ship, preparing themselves to face a very likely attack. And indeed, Sultan Alauddin ordered Admiral Malahayati to invade two Dutch ships that still survived in the Malacca Strait.
So, there was a battle in the middle of the sea. The Dutch Fleet was apparently overwhelmed by the thousands of Malahayati's forces, including a line of widows dying. Until finally, Admiral Malahayati managed to reach the ship Cornelis de Houtman, and faced each other.
Malahayati clutched a rencong in her hand, while the Dutch captain armed with a sword. Even one-on-one duels occur between two people of different sexes. On one occasion in the middle of the fight, Malahayati managed to stab Cornelis to death.
The Dutch fleet lost and lost enough people. While those who were left were arrested and thrown into prison, including Cornelis' brother, Frederick de Houtman. This heroic event is told again by Marie van C. Zeggelen (1935) in a book called Oude Glorie.
Several decades after the battle, in 1604, Admiral Malahayati died by leaving a big name which was even recognized by European nations (Fenita Agustina, ed., 100 Great Women: Voice of Women Inspiring the World, 2010: 87). The body of the Srikandi from the rencong land was buried at the foot of Bukit Krueng Raya, Lamreh, Aceh Besar.
Centuries later, more than 400 years ago, the President of the Republic of Indonesia Joko Widodo (Jokowi) pinned the title of National Hero for Malahayati, on November 6, 2017. Now people know, Aceh doesn't just have Cut Nyak Dien or Cut Meutia, there are also figures another woman who is no less powerful, the first female admiral in the world, Malahayati.(*)
The voyage to Aceh became the number one destination for the de Houtman brothers in the archipelago. Apesnya, almost all efforts to find the center of spices led to failure. Banten, Madura, to Bali, had previously been visited, but it always ended with a contra-local dispute because of the nature of the Dutch sailors who were indeed less friendly.
In the Veranda of Mecca, the siblings' adventure was over. Frederick was once held captive by Acehnese troops and was fortunate enough to finally be able to return to the Netherlands. While Cornelis fared far worse. His life ended at the end of Rencong Admiral Malahayati in a one on one duel that took place on his own ship.
Daughter of the Palace of Soldiers
His real name is Keumalahayati even though he is better known as a shorter greeting: Malahayati. This brave woman is still the core family of the kingdom. His father, Admiral Mahmud Syah, was a descendant of Sultan Ibrahim Ali Mughayat Syah (1513-1530), founder of the Sultanate of Aceh Darussalam (Rusdi Sufi in Ismail Sofyan, eds., Nusantara Main Woman in Historical Tracks, 1994: 30).
Since childhood, Malahayati did not really like to preen. He was more fond of practicing dexterity which would later lead him to the dream he really wanted: becoming a warlord even though he was a woman. Talent flowed directly from his father and grandfather who had served as naval admiral of the Sultanate of Aceh.
Islamic teachings are indeed taken seriously in Aceh. However, gender affairs do not matter too much. The proof is that the Sultanate of Aceh Darussalam was once governed by several queens or sultans. In the following period, Aceh was closely linked to the leadership of strong women such as Cut Nyak Dien, Cut Meutia, and so on.
So, it was not too much of a problem if in the end Malahayati chose the military route as her life choice. He was one of the results of Mahad Baitul Makdis's upbringing, the academy of the Aceh Darussalam Sultanate army which recruited several war instructors from Turkey (Solichin Salam, Malahayati: Srikandi from Aceh, 1995: 26). Malahayati seems to be very talented on the road that must be traveled with that struggle.
Appearing as one of the best graduates at Mahad Baitul Makdis brought Malahayati to a higher level. In the era of Sultan Alauddin Riayat Shah al-Mukammil (1589-1604), he was appointed Commander of the Darud-Dunia Palace - Chief Guard and Commander of the Palace Protocol - replacing his deceased husband while facing the Portuguese in Teluk Haru, Malacca waters.
Sultan Alauddin also gave Malahayati the confidence to occupy the highest leadership of the royal navy, with the rank of admiral, a position that had also been carried out by his father and grandfather. Malahayati was mentioned as the first female admiral in the archipelago, maybe even in the world (Endang Moerdopo, Wanita Keumala, 2008: xi).
Duel Against the Dutch Captain
Malahayati did not only lead an army that was dominated by male groups. He also mobilized the strength of women, especially the widows whose husbands left behind during the war in Teluk Haru, just like him. This line of courageous widows led by Malahayati is known as Inong Balee (Damien Kingsbury, Peace in Aceh, 2006: 195).
Initially, the Inong Balee forces only had 1,000 members. But then his strength increased to 2,000 female soldiers. Malahayati made Lamreh Bay Krueng Raya as its military base, and in the hills located not far from there, he built a fortress and watchtower.
Malahayati did stand out in those days. In addition to managing troops, he oversees all ports and trade ports in the Aceh Darussalam region, along with his ships. At that time, the sultanate had no less than 100 large ships, each of which could carry more than 400 passengers.
Until June 21, 1599, a group of Dutch explorers led by de Houtman brothers arrived at the dock owned by Aceh Darussalam. There were two large ships that came, named de Leeuw and de Leeuwin (Ibrahim Alfian, Face of Aceh in the History Track, 1999: 67). Frederick and Cornelis de Houtman acted as captains of each of these ships.
Initially, the relations between the migrants from Europe and the people and the Sultanate of Aceh Darussalam were well-established. Until then, due to the behavior of the Dutch people as well as provocations from a Portuguese who was trusted by Sultan Alauddin, the seeds of conflict began to emerge.
Realizing the situation that was starting to get hot, Frederick and Cornelis coordinated on their ship, preparing themselves to face a very likely attack. And indeed, Sultan Alauddin ordered Admiral Malahayati to invade two Dutch ships that still survived in the Malacca Strait.
So, there was a battle in the middle of the sea. The Dutch Fleet was apparently overwhelmed by the thousands of Malahayati's forces, including a line of widows dying. Until finally, Admiral Malahayati managed to reach the ship Cornelis de Houtman, and faced each other.
Malahayati clutched a rencong in her hand, while the Dutch captain armed with a sword. Even one-on-one duels occur between two people of different sexes. On one occasion in the middle of the fight, Malahayati managed to stab Cornelis to death.
The Dutch fleet lost and lost enough people. While those who were left were arrested and thrown into prison, including Cornelis' brother, Frederick de Houtman. This heroic event is told again by Marie van C. Zeggelen (1935) in a book called Oude Glorie.
Several decades after the battle, in 1604, Admiral Malahayati died by leaving a big name which was even recognized by European nations (Fenita Agustina, ed., 100 Great Women: Voice of Women Inspiring the World, 2010: 87). The body of the Srikandi from the rencong land was buried at the foot of Bukit Krueng Raya, Lamreh, Aceh Besar.
Centuries later, more than 400 years ago, the President of the Republic of Indonesia Joko Widodo (Jokowi) pinned the title of National Hero for Malahayati, on November 6, 2017. Now people know, Aceh doesn't just have Cut Nyak Dien or Cut Meutia, there are also figures another woman who is no less powerful, the first female admiral in the world, Malahayati.(*)
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