Today's History : Kemalahayati, The First Woman Admiral Who Led the Battle

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Aceh has many insipiring women, and acknowledged as the influence figures in present. These following women had passed through difficult time. They were the leaders for the fighters during battle. They are Kemalahayati. Cut Mutia, Cut Nyak Dhin, Pocut Baren, Tengku Sakinah, and many other women who devoted themselve to freed this country from colonialism. Aceh had long time ago appriciated equality as the principle of life. In the world history has been recorded Kemalahayati as the first admiral, a woman who led the navy army during the battle in ancient time.Kemalahayati, a leader of the sea who was assigned by Sultan Alauddin Mansur Shah to strenghenend the navy, a widowed Aceh warior. The soldiers and others general had always respect Malahayati. She proved that she was a legendary commander during leading several battles with colonialism troop, Portuguese and Dutch.

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Malacca that stretch of water between the Malay Peninsula (Peninsular Malaysia) and the Indonesian island of Sumatra was conquered by Portugees troops. Following the fall of Malacca to Portuguese invaders, Aceh was regarded as stronger fraction and ensured that the merchant shipping routes in the Malacca Strait remained exclusively for Asian traders. In 1599, Dutch expedition commander Cornelis de Houtman arrived at the port of Aceh. The Sultan accepted him peacefully until de Houtman insulted him. The Dutchman, who had already clashed with the Banten Sultanate in northwest 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.

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In 1600, the Dutch Navy, led by Paulus van Caerden, robbed an Aceh merchant ship of its pepper off the Aceh coast. After this incident, In June 1601, Malahayati ordered the arrest of Dutch Admiral Jacob van Neck. After many incidents which blocked Dutch Navy expeditions and the threat from the Spanish fleet, Maurits van Oranje sent emissaries with diplomatic letter of apology to the Empire of Aceh. The emissaries were Admiral Laurens Bicker and Gerard de Roy. In August 1601, Malahayati met Maurits's emissaries for a treaty agreement. A ceasefire was agreed and the Dutch paid 50 thousand gulden as compensation for Paulus van Caerden actions, while Malahayati released Dutch prisoners. After the agreement, the Sultan sent three emissaries to the Netherlands.

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In June 1602, Malahayati's reputation as the guardian of the Aceh Kingdom led England to choose a peaceful, diplomatic method by which to enter the Malacca Strait. A letter from Queen Elizabeth I was brought by James Lancaster to the Sultan, and it was Malahayati who led the negotiation with Lancaster. The agreement 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.

Malahayati was killed in combat while attacking the Portuguese fleet at Teuluk Krueng Raya. She was buried at lereng Bukit Kota Dalam, a small fishing village 34 km from Banda Aceh.

Her bravery was acknowledged as the spirit of women today to examplify the determination and struggle of Malahayati. She was a woman who devoted her life to freed this country from invaders and colonialism. She was recorded as first admiral woman in Indonesia history and her reputations are still alive until today. Kemalahayati was awarded as Indonesia Heroine and her name has had naval ships, universities, hospitals and roads in several Sumatran cities named after her. Naval Port near her grave also named Malahayati Port

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Wikipedia