Peeling the History of the Aceh Kingdom in the Past

The Aceh Sultanate was one of the sultanate kingdoms located in the Aceh region. Its peak occurred during the reign of Sultan Iskandar Muda. His 29-year reign enabled the people of Aceh to live in prosperity. So, what is the history of the Aceh Sultanate? Read the full story here.

Origin of the Aceh Sultanate

The Aceh Kingdom, also known as the Aceh Sultanate, was founded by Ali Mughayat Syah around 1496. This kingdom was a merger of several other kingdoms located in Daya, Lidie, Pedir, and Nakur.

Not only did it stop there, but the expansion of territory also continued until in 1524 the Pasai region joined and became one sovereignty with the Aceh Kingdom.

Location of the Aceh Kingdom

The Aceh Kingdom's center of government was in Banda Aceh, formerly known as Kutaraja Bandar Aceh Darussalam. The territory of the Aceh Sultanate continued to expand and grow larger.

In the historical narrative of the Aceh Kingdom, the territory of the Aceh Sultanate extended from the northern tip of Sumatra Island, the Minangkabau region, the Aru region, and even to the Malay Peninsula.

Founders of the Aceh Kingdom

The history of this kingdom began when Ali Mughayat Syah founded it in 1496. He officially ruled the Aceh Kingdom from 1514 to 1630.

He expanded the Aceh Kingdom, starting with a military campaign in 1520. As a result of this military campaign, the Aceh Kingdom was able to extend its power into Sumatra.

Kings Who Ruled

Sultan Ali Mughayat Syah (1514-1528 AD) was the first king and founder of the Aceh Kingdom or Sultanate. Initially, the Aceh Kingdom was part of a kingdom called the Pidie Kingdom, but eventually, Sultan Ali Mughayat Syah was able to free himself from the sovereignty of the Pidie Kingdom.

After Sultan Ali Mughayat Syah (1514-1528 AD), the governance of the Aceh Kingdom was continued by Sultan Salahudin (1630-1537 AD). He was the eldest son of the previous king, Sultan Ali Mughayat Syah. Sultan Salahudin only ruled for seven years and abdicated after failing in a battle. During his reign, the Aceh Kingdom weakened.

The next sultan who briefly ruled the Aceh Kingdom was Sultan Alaudin Riayat Syah (1589-1604 AD). During his reign, the Aceh Kingdom successfully expanded its territory to include Batak, Aru, Malaka, and Johor. He was also known as a good and pious sultan who was able to lead the people of the Aceh Kingdom to prosperity.

The name of the Aceh Kingdom is inseparable from the name of King or Sultan Iskandar Muda (1607-1636 AD). He is known as one of the kings who successfully led the Aceh Kingdom to its golden age.

Not only did his territory expand, but the Aceh Kingdom also became increasingly recognized internationally as a center for trade and Islamic learning.

In fact, the history of the Aceh Kingdom is still long. The last king or sultan to rule the Aceh Kingdom was Sultan Muhammad Daud Syah (1874-1923 AD).

He was appointed sultan to replace Sultan Alaidin Mahmudsyah (1870-1874 AD) as the previous leader. At the end of his reign, King Daud Syah refused to sign a treaty with the Dutch, resulting in his exile to Java.

The Golden Age of the Aceh Kingdom

The golden age of the Aceh Kingdom occurred during the reign of Sultan Iskandar Muda from 1607 to 1636. During this period, there were advancements in almost all fields, including power, education, economy, politics, and military.

Sultan Iskandar Muda continued to expand the territory and enhance spice trade for the prosperity of the people. The name Sultan Iskandar Muda is well-known among prominent figures due to his excellent leadership skills.

He was even quite recognized internationally due to his military prowess and trade. It is no wonder that during this time, Banda Aceh became a metropolitan city. His name is forever etched in the history of the Aceh Kingdom.

Heritage of the Aceh Kingdom

1. Baiturrahman Grand Mosque

The Baiturrahman Grand Mosque was built during the reign of King or Sultan Iskandar Muda. This mosque was constructed in 1612 AD.

During the turmoil, this mosque was burned, but four years later, when the Dutch arrived, the mosque was rebuilt to quell the anger of the Acehnese people.

Until now, the Baiturrahman Grand Mosque is still frequently used by Muslims for worship. Its grandeur makes it one of its attractions.

It is no wonder that its magnificence makes this mosque one of the suitable destinations for tourists visiting Aceh.

2. Indra Patra Fortress

In the history of the Aceh Kingdom, a fortress named Indrapatra was built during its time. This fortress began construction during the Lumuri kingdom's rule, but during the Aceh kingdom, it was repaired and used as a refuge from Portuguese attacks.

Thus is a brief overview from the origin to the heritage of the Aceh Kingdom. This kingdom is one of the proofs that in the past, Islam developed very well in the City of Aceh. Studying history has become the duty of the nation's children and should be preserved.

cc image: satujam.com