Keumalahayati
Encyclopedia
Keumalahayati or Malahayati (fl. 16th century), was an admiral in the navy of the Aceh Sultanate
, which ruled the modern area of Aceh Province, Sumatra, Indonesia. Her troops were drawn from Aceh's widows and the army named the "Inong Balee", after the Inong Balee Fortress near the city of Banda Aceh
. Some historians rate Keumalahayati as an equal of Semiramis
and Catherine the Great while references to her can be found in some Chinese and Western literature.
to Portuguese
invaders, Aceh became a stronger faction and ensured that merchant shipping routes in the Malacca Strait remainened exclusively for Asian traders. The kingdom's leader, Sultan Alauddin II Mansur I Syah (r. 1577-1589) strengthened his military power by building a powerful naval army to which he decided to appoint Malahayati, a widowed Aceh warrior, as his First Admiral. Although a woman, Aceh soldiers and the other generals had always respected Malahayati. She had also proved herself a legendary commander during several battles with the Portuguese and Dutch.
In 1599, Dutch expedition commander, Cornelis de Houtman
arrived at the port of Aceh. At first, the Sultan accepted him peacefully until de Houtman insulted him. The Dutchman, who had already clashed with the Banten Sultanate in north west Java
before his arrival in Aceh, decided to attack. Malahayati led her Inong Balee Army in response to the Dutch challenge and after several violent battles, finally killed de Houtman on September 11, 1599.
Her reputation as the guardian of the Aceh Sultanate led England
to choose a peaceful, diplomatic method by which to enter the Malacca Strait. A letter from Queen Elizabeth I, brought by James Lancaster
to the Sultan, opened the English route to Java and they were soon afterwards able to build merchant offices in Banten. Elizabeth I rewarded Lancaster with a knighthood for his successful diplomacy in Aceh and Banten
Today, Malahayati has become a well-known name for universities, hospitals and roads in several Sumatran cities.
Aceh Sultanate
The Sultanate of Aceh, officially the Kingdom of Aceh Darussalam was a sultanate centered in the modern area of Aceh Province, Sumatra, Indonesia, which was a major regional power in the 16th and 17th centuries, before experiencing a long period of decline...
, which ruled the modern area of Aceh Province, Sumatra, Indonesia. Her troops were drawn from Aceh's widows and the army named the "Inong Balee", after the Inong Balee Fortress near the city of Banda Aceh
Banda Aceh
Banda Aceh is the provincial capital and largest city in the province of Aceh, Indonesia, located on the island of Sumatra, with an elevation of 35 meters. The city regency covers an area of 64 square kilometres and according to the 2000 census had a population of 219,070 people...
. Some historians rate Keumalahayati as an equal of Semiramis
Semiramis
The real and historical Shammuramat , was the Assyrian queen of Shamshi-Adad V , King of Assyria and ruler of the Neo Assyrian Empire, and its regent for four years until her son Adad-nirari III came of age....
and Catherine the Great while references to her can be found in some Chinese and Western literature.
History
Following the fall of MalaccaMalacca
Malacca , dubbed The Historic State or Negeri Bersejarah among locals) is the third smallest Malaysian state, after Perlis and Penang. It is located in the southern region of the Malay Peninsula, on the Straits of Malacca. It borders Negeri Sembilan to the north and the state of Johor to the south...
to Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
invaders, Aceh became a stronger faction and ensured that merchant shipping routes in the Malacca Strait remainened exclusively for Asian traders. The kingdom's leader, Sultan Alauddin II Mansur I Syah (r. 1577-1589) strengthened his military power by building a powerful naval army to which he decided to appoint Malahayati, a widowed Aceh warrior, as his First Admiral. Although a woman, Aceh soldiers and the other generals had always respected Malahayati. She had also proved herself a legendary commander during several battles with the Portuguese and Dutch.
In 1599, Dutch expedition commander, Cornelis de Houtman
Cornelis de Houtman
Cornelis de Houtman , brother of Frederick de Houtman, was a Dutch explorer who discovered a new sea route from Europe to Indonesia and managed to begin the Dutch spice trade...
arrived at the port of Aceh. At first, the Sultan accepted him peacefully until de Houtman insulted him. The Dutchman, who had already clashed with the Banten Sultanate in north west Java
Java
Java is an island of Indonesia. With a population of 135 million , it is the world's most populous island, and one of the most densely populated regions in the world. It is home to 60% of Indonesia's population. The Indonesian capital city, Jakarta, is in west Java...
before his arrival in Aceh, decided to attack. Malahayati led her Inong Balee Army in response to the Dutch challenge and after several violent battles, finally killed de Houtman on September 11, 1599.
Her reputation as the guardian of the Aceh Sultanate led England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
to choose a peaceful, diplomatic method by which to enter the Malacca Strait. A letter from Queen Elizabeth I, brought by James Lancaster
James Lancaster
Sir James Lancaster was a prominent Elizabethan trader and privateer.Lancaster came from Basingstoke in Hampshire. In his early life, he was a soldier and a trader in Portugal...
to the Sultan, opened the English route to Java and they were soon afterwards able to build merchant offices in Banten. Elizabeth I rewarded Lancaster with a knighthood for his successful diplomacy in Aceh and Banten
Today, Malahayati has become a well-known name for universities, hospitals and roads in several Sumatran cities.