Turning faintly of the ocean, I transformed into a line of names.

DUSK IN MALACCA

In the year 1620-1630. The Portuguese in Malacca were confronted by Aceh Darussalam and Johor. Dutch in Batavia in the face by Mataram and Banten, while the Spanish in the Philippines faced by Ternate and Tidore. The Western foreign powers, the Portuguese, the Spanish, the English and French interchanged with each other, but the powers of the archipelago themselves were unable to mobilize unity of the struggle to confront it, even to each other. This is a story about the situation before the Dutch came out as the sole winner in the oceans and the archipelago. A story about the attack on Aceh to the Portuguese-controlled Malacca.

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His Majesty Sultan Iskandar Muda handled the preparations for the Malacca invasion. As a soldier, I look at what is being prepared. Yes, I was really amazed to see the fleet of the Sultanate of Aceh Darussalam, which the king described as an “unbeatable” fleet. Our ship will depart from Bandar Aceh is very much, not to mention who will join from other ports on the east coast of Aceh.

Finally, according to the calculations of the fleet, we set out, consisting of ships war and ships carrying land-soldiers. I was on one of the boats. Not too big, but incredibly lively, because of the number and the oarsmen of choice. From this ship I can witness the largest ship where the Majesty Sultan Iskandar Muda is located, The Portuguese named her Espanto del Mundo. To the ship, the Sultan gave her name Cakradonya. How not! The length of 100 meters, erect three mast stands that Look like coconut trunks only. At a glance, I counted there were about 50 different types of cannon guns on each stomach. Yes, I can not imagine what it would be if all the guns were fired. In the middle of a voyage to Malacca, I mused.

Throughout the voyage. I imagined Sultan King Iskandar Muda must be smiling. We believe that Malacca will fall into the hands of Aceh. As our dream as another son of Aceh is to seize Malacca. Expel Portugal forever from Southeast Asia.

Malacca Attack (Portuguese) by the Sultanate of Aceh Darussalam in 1629

The year 1629. The hundred-ship shipwreck finally arrived. The cannon shells from the Malacca fortress can be offset by gun shots from Aceh’s fleet ships. Troops have been landed. The city of Malacca has been occupied and remains the fortress of Malacca.

However, we were surprised by the arrival of the Portuguese fleet from the West, from Goa (India). The balance of forces at sea has changed completely. Even from the land, we were surprised by the Johor army came to help the Portuguese fort from the land. Traitor! The balance of troops on land has also changed completely.

For the first time, I felt, maybe I would die in this battle. The battle of the sea grew horribly, the ships burned, falling apart, and drowning around the Great Ship of Cakradonya. It looks like we’re going to lose. Sultan Iskandar Muda has ordered the ship to turn.

I ordered our ship to protect Cakradonya backward movement. Yes, I Ahmad determined to be part of the history of the Sultanate of Aceh Darussalam expel the Portuguese from the earth and the waters of the archipelago. And if we had to lose today, then there would be another day. Sultan must be saved, to build strength again. I’m willing to die today. Allah is the Greatest!

The attack from the rear by the Portuguese fleet had overwhelmed us, coupled with the betrayal of Johor who was more willing to cooperate with the kafir. There appeared to be hundreds of bodies of soldiers from our side and the opponents floating on the reddish Strait of Malacca.

My tears dripped to see the fresh blood bands of comrades flowing from the shattered bodies of the ship, accompanied by the cries of shouting cries, the terrifying screams of the shoot-out soldiers, and the grievous moans of the severely wounded.

“Forward Aceh!” I yelled. Twoaaar !!! It felt like I felt some bullets pierce my chest. I fell into the sea, then twisted, and turned upside down. There was a faint sound that his Cakradonya had escaped from the siege.

I smiled, see you, Sultan. Having finished my devotion in the world, it is time for me to account for all my actions in the world to the God. My chest tightened by bullets and seawater filled the cavities in my lungs. For the last time, before death picked me up I recited. “Asyhadu an-laa ilaaha illallaah Wa asyhadu anna Muhammadan rasuulullaah.” I testify that there is no god but Allah and I bear witness that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah.

Turning faintly of the ocean, I transformed into a line of names.

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hi The extent of Aceh Sultanate during the reign of Iskandar Muda, 1608–1637. Source Wikipedia

The attack on the Sultanate of Aceh Darussalam to Malacca (Portuguese) in 1629 failed miserably. According to Portuguese sources, the entire Aceh fleet was destroyed by the loss of 19,000 troops. After the defeat, Sultan Iskandar Muda sent two other great sea expeditions. In 1630-1631 and 1634, to crush the rebellion in Pahang. During the time of Sultan Iskandar Muda, the Sultanate of Aceh Darussalam controlled the entire northern part of Sumatra Island and the northern region of the Malay Peninsula.

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About Aceh:

1. CUMBOK WAR, A SOCIAL REVOLUTION IN ACEH (1946-1947); 8 April 2017;
2. CIVILIZATION WITHOUT WRITING; 13 April 2017;
3. ACEH THE FIRST SOVEREIGN COUNTRY TO RECOGNIZING THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE NETHERLANDS; 27 April 2017;
4. VISITING THE EXHIBITION ACEH TOMBSTONE AS AN ISLAMIC CULTURAL HERITAGE IN SOUTH-EAST ASIA; 16 May 2017;
5. DUTCH RAID OPERATION AGAINST CUT MEUTIA (1910); 20 May 2017;
6. SAMUDERA PASAI AS THE FIRST ISLAMIC KINGDOM IN SOUTHEAST ASIA; 6 June 2017;
7. ISLAMIC SHARIAH WHO IS AFRAID, A CASE STUDY IN ACEH; 13 June 2017;
8. ACEH WOMEN FULL POWER; 13 June 2017;
9. DUSK IN MALACCA; 4 July 2017;
10. GOLD, INFIDELS, AND DEATH; 10 July 2017;
11. MANTE THE LOST PYGMY TRIBE; 13 July 2017;
12. HOW TO TELL HISTORY; 14 August 2017;
13. THE ORIGIN OF THE COFFEE CULTURE IN ACEH; 19 August 2017;
14. THE UNTOLD STORY ABOUT HISTORY OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF INDONESIA IN ACEH PROVINCE; 28 September 2017;
15. WHEN CRITICISM IS FORBIDDEN; 14 October 2017;
16. EXPLOITATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES, WHAT IS IT GOOD FOR ACEH; 5 November 2017;
17. PEUCUT KHERKOFF, ACEH-DUTCH WAR MONUMENT; 12 November 2017;
18. THE PRICE OF FREEDOM; 5 December 2017;
19. ACEH CRAZY OR ACEH PUNGO; 25 February 2018;