Sultan Iskandar Muda (Aceh, Banda Aceh, 1593 or 1590 - Banda Aceh, Aceh, 27 September 1636) was the greatest sultan in the time of the Sultanate of Atjeh, which ruled from 1607 to 1636. Aceh achieved its former glory during Iskandar Muda's leadership, in the wake of his growing power and international reputation as the center of trade and learning about Islam. His name is now immortalized at Sultan Iskandar Muda International Airport in Aceh.
Aceh historical heritage
Aceh is a very rich and prosperous country in its heyday. According to a French explorer who arrived during the heyday of Aceh during the time of Sultan Iskandar Muda Meukuta Perkasa Alam, Aceh's power reached the west coast of Minangkabau. The power of Aceh also covers up to Perak.
When Iskandar Muda came to power in 1607, he immediately undertook a naval expedition which caused him to gain effective control in the Indonesian marine areas. The royal control performed smoothly at all important ports on the west coast of Sumatra and on the east coast, to Asahan in the south. The voyage of his conquest was waged to the far East, on the east coast of the Malay Peninsula, and foreign merchants were forced to submit to him. His empire is rich, and a center of knowledge.
According to the Aceh tradition, Iskandar Muda divides Aceh into the administrative region called ulèëbalang and mukim; this is reinforced by the report of a French explorer named Beauliu, that "Iskandar Muda cleared almost all the old nobles and created a new nobleman." Mukim was originally a collection of several villages to support a mosque led by an Imam (Aceh: Imeum) .Ulèëbalang (Malay: Hulubalang) was initially perhaps the main subordinate of the Sultan, who was awarded the Sultan of several mukim, to administer as feudal owner. This pattern is encountered in Aceh Besar and in important Acehnese conquests.
Relationship With Aceh With Foreign Countries
English
In the 16th century, Queen Elizabeth, sent her envoy named Sir James Lancester to the Kingdom of Aceh and sent a letter addressed to: "Dear Brothers, King of Darussalam." as well as a high set of jewelry. The Sultan of Aceh then accepted the intent of "his sister" in the UK and allowed the British to dock and trade in the territory of Aceh. Even Queen Elizabeth I also sent precious prizes including a pair of ruby bracelets and letters written on fine paper with gold ink. Sir James was awarded the title "White Rich".
The Sultan of Aceh also wrote a letter from Queen Elizabeth I. The following is a summary of the contents of the letter of the Sultan of Aceh, which is still kept by the British government, dated 1585:
I am the mighty ruler of the Regions below the wind, who hold sway over the land of Aceh and over the land of Sumatra and over all the land tributaries to Aceh, which stretch from sunrise to sunset. (Hambala sang penguasa perkasa Negeri -windows under the wind, which are collected on the land of Aceh and over the Sumatran land over all territories subject to Aceh, which extend from the horizon to sunset).
The friendly relationship between Aceh and Britain continued in the days of King James I of England and Scotland. King James sent a cannon as a gift to the Sultan of Aceh. The cannons are still maintained and are known by the name of King James's Meriam.
Netherlands
In addition to the British Empire, Prince Maurits - the founder of the Oranje dynasty had also sent a letter with the intention of requesting assistance from the Sultanate of Aceh Darussalam. The Sultan welcomed their good intentions by sending his entourage to the Netherlands. The delegation was led by His Majesty Abdul Hamid.
This group was known as the first Indonesian to stop in the Netherlands. During his visit Tuanku Abdul Hamid was sick and eventually died. He was buried massively in the Netherlands, attended by Dutch officials. But since the Dutch had never buried Muslims, he was buried in the way of Christianity in the yard of a church. Now in the tomb there is an inscription officially inaugurated by His Honorable Father Bernhard's husband, the late Queen Juliana and Queen's Honorable Queen Beatrix.
Utsmaniyah Turkey
During the Iskandar Muda, the Kingdom of Aceh sent his envoy to face the Ottoman Sultan who was domiciled in Constantinople. Because at that time the Sultan of Uthmaniyah was sick so the messenger of the Kingdom of Aceh was so long so they had to sell little by little gifts of gifts for their survival. Then in the end when they were accepted by the Sultan, their offerings were only Lada Sicupak or Pepper sack. However, the Sultan welcomed the prize and sent a cannon and several people who spoke in war science to help the Aceh kingdom. The cannon is still there until now known as the Meriam Lada Sicupak. In the future, the Ottoman Sultan sent a service star to the Sultan of Aceh.
France
The Kingdom of Aceh also received a visit to the French Government. The envoy of the King of France was originally intended to give a valuable mirror to the Sultan of Aceh. But in the course of the mirror it broke. Eventually they presented the mirror as a gift to the Sultan. In his book, Denys Lombard said that Sultan Iskandar Muda loved the precious things.
At that time, the Kingdom of Aceh was the only Malay kingdom that had Balee Ceureumeen or the Glass Hall inside his Istana. According to the French envoy, the Sultanate Palace of Aceh is no less than two kilometers. The palace is called Istana Dalam Darud Donya (now Meuligoe Aceh, the residence of the Governor). Inside it covers Khayali and Khaerani Medan that can accommodate 300 elephant troops. Sultan Iskandar Muda also ordered to dig a canal that flowed clean water from the spring in Mata Ie to the river Krueng Aceh where the canal passes through his palace, the river is still visible today, flowing calmly around the Moon. That's where the sultan often swims while entertaining his guests.