Author: Ayu Rahmatillah
Student of Islamic History and Civilization Study Program, Faculty of Adab and Humanities, UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta

Aceh is a fertile land that has produced many Nusantara warriors. Many fighters fell in battle, but even more emerged who were unyielding. The struggle for independence of their land was carried out collectively by the people of Aceh from various backgrounds. Old and young, men and women all worked together to support resistance against foreign invasions.

Because of its strategic location, Aceh’s ports were frequently visited by foreign traders. This also made Aceh a target for foreign powers seeking to control the region. In 1596, a ship belonging to a Dutch veteran arrived in Aceh. His initial purpose was simple: to find spice trade routes. He was Cornelis de Houtman. However, his mission was rejected by the people of Aceh, leading to clashes between the locals and Houtman’s forces.

At that time, there lived one of the many female warriors named Keumalahayati. She came from a family of warriors. She also formed a naval force consisting of widows whose husbands had died in war. This force was called the Inong Balee. They were trained to wield the rencong (traditional dagger), to fight, and to develop military strategies just like male warriors.

Keumalahayati’s heroic story reached its peak in 1599, when a Dutch trading ship led by Cornelis de Houtman attempted to impose its will and disrupt the Aceh port. Keumalahayati courageously led the Inong Balee naval force at the front line of resistance. The climax occurred on the ship’s deck, where a brutal one-on-one duel became unavoidable. Keumalahayati succeeded in defeating Cornelis de Houtman, an incident that became traumatic for Europe.

Keumalahayati’s strength did not emerge overnight. She was the product of a strong military system and aristocratic Acehnese family background. Born as Keumala into a family with a naval tradition, her father and grandfather were naval commanders. She studied at the Ma’had Baitul Maqdis Military Academy.

The most defining event in her life was the death of her husband and thousands of Acehnese soldiers in battles against the Portuguese. This grief became the origin of the Inong Balee combat fleet. Her existence as a female leader controlling a combat fleet and palace protocol is recorded in old Acehnese texts such as Bustanus Salatin, which documents the structure of power and navy of the Aceh Sultanate. These court records verify that Keumalahayati was not merely a symbolic figure, but a respected officer holding a strategic position under Sultan Alauddin Riayat Syah al-Mukammil, forming the foundation of her career which culminated in confronting and defeating the early Dutch expedition.

Keumalahayati’s victory was not only a local matter between Aceh and a small group of Dutch traders; its impact was felt widely across European maritime routes to the East. After the humiliating defeat at the hands of the female admiral, subsequent Dutch expeditions had to completely change their approach from violence to diplomacy. The Aceh Sultanate itself, which maintained close ties with global Islamic powers such as the Ottoman Empire, preserved its position as a major maritime player.

Aceh’s militant naval defense strategy and the existence of this unique female fleet have been analyzed by historians using Ottoman–Aceh correspondence archives, showing exchanges of military technology and intelligence. This demonstrates that the 1599 duel on the ship’s deck was the peak of a carefully designed geopolitical strategy, not a spontaneous act. Keumalahayati’s decision to fight and win sent a clear message to the world: Aceh was a maritime power to be respected, where leadership was not limited by gender.

Keumalahayati’s legacy extends far beyond the battlefield and diplomatic negotiations of the 17th century. Her story is clear evidence that women have long been key actors in shaping the fate of nations, not merely supporting figures. Her courage, strategic military intelligence, and diplomatic firmness place her alongside great global figures. Modern recognition of her contributions can be seen in symbolic honors such as the naming of an Indonesian warship after her, KRI Malahayati. Additionally, the structural remains of her resistance are preserved in the Inong Balee Fortress in Krueng Raya, Aceh, serving as both a silent witness and physical primary source of the maritime defense she led. Keumalahayati remains an enduring reminder—a blueprint of leadership that breaks gender boundaries and transforms grief into a vow to defend sovereignty. Ultimately, her story challenges us to view history more honestly and to recognize women’s power across all dimensions of struggle.

References:

Chamidah, Nur, dan Hikmah Wifaqi. 2025. “Laksamana Malahayati: Inspirasi

Kepemimpinan Wanita dalam Sejarah Nasional Indonesia.” Maliki Interdisciplinary Journal 3(5): 446-454.

Feriany, I. (2018). Keumalahayati: Laksamana wanita pertama di dunia. CV Beta Aksara.

Yani, E. N. P. D., Wahyuni, A., dan Purnomo, B. 2022. “Menganalisis Karakter Laksamana Malahayati dalam Novel Sang Perempuan Keumala.” Krinok:

Jurnal Pendidikan Sejarah dan Sejarah 1(1): 33-39.

Image Source: Illustration of Keumalahayati — https://www.posbagus.com/tokoh/biografi-laksamana-malahayati/