LAKSAMANA MALAHAYATI: Kisah Laksamana Wanita Pertama Di Dunia

Summary

Laksamana Malahayati, born in 1550 in Aceh, was the world’s first female admiral. A member of a noble military family, she pursued her dream of becoming a naval leader. After her husband's death in battle against the Portuguese, Malahayati formed the Inong Balee, a powerful fleet of widows, to avenge his death. She led 100 warships and 2,000 personnel, achieving a major victory in 1599 by defeating the Dutch and killing their leader, Cornelis de Houtman. Malahayati’s efforts were crucial in resisting colonial powers, and in 2017, she was posthumously honored as a National Hero of Indonesia.

Takeaways

• 😀 Laksamana Malahayati was the first female admiral in the world, born in Aceh in 1550.
• 😀 Malahayati was from a noble family, with both her father and grandfather being admirals in the Aceh Sultanate Navy.
• 😀 Despite being a woman, Malahayati aspired to be a sailor and aimed to become an admiral like her father and grandfather.
• 😀 She was given the freedom by her father to attend any school she desired and chose to enroll in the military academy of the Aceh Sultanate.
• 😀 After graduating from the academy, Malahayati married her love, but tragically lost her husband in battle against the Portuguese Navy in the Strait of Malacca.
• 😀 Grieving her husband's death, Malahayati vowed to avenge him and continue his fight against the colonizers.
• 😀 Malahayati requested the Aceh Sultan, Sultan Al-Mukammil, to form a fleet consisting of women who had lost their husbands in battle. This fleet was named Inong Balee.
• 😀 Inong Balee, made up of about 2,000 personnel, was a powerful naval force with at least 100 ships under Malahayati's command.
• 😀 Malahayati also built a coastal fortress with heavy cannons to protect Aceh from foreign invaders.
• 😀 In September 1599, Malahayati led her fleet to defeat the Dutch Navy, killing their leader Cornelis de Houtman, the first Dutchman to set foot in the archipelago.
• 😀 Malahayati's fight against colonial powers continued until 1606 when she was killed in battle against the Portuguese in the Strait of Malacca.
• 😀 Malahayati was buried in Lamreh, Aceh, and posthumously honored as a national hero by Indonesia in 2017 due to her bravery and leadership.

Q & A

Who was Laksamana Malahayati?

Laksamana Malahayati was the first female admiral in the world, hailing from Aceh, Indonesia. She was a fierce leader who led the Acehnese naval forces against the Dutch and Portuguese colonial powers in the 16th century.

What was Laksamana Malahayati's real name?

Laksamana Malahayati's birth name was Keumalahayati.

What was significant about her background and family?

Laksamana Malahayati was born into a noble family, with both her father and grandfather serving as admirals in the Aceh Sultanate's navy, which influenced her desire to become a naval leader.

What was Malahayati's ambition as a young woman?

Malahayati aspired to become a sailor and follow in the footsteps of her father and grandfather, despite being a woman in a male-dominated field.

What education did Malahayati pursue to become a naval leader?

She attended the military academy of the Aceh Sultanate, which had both army and navy divisions, and was taught by officers from the Ottoman Empire.

How did Malahayati respond to the death of her husband?

After her husband was killed in battle against the Portuguese navy, Malahayati vowed to avenge his death and continue his fight against colonial powers.

What was the Inong Balee?

The Inong Balee was a fleet of female soldiers led by Malahayati, made up of widows who had lost their husbands in battle. It was formed to resist the Dutch and Portuguese forces.

Why was the name 'Inong Balee' chosen for the fleet?

The name 'Inong Balee' means 'Widowed Women' in Acehnese, referring to the female soldiers who were widows due to the ongoing war against colonial invaders.

What were some of Malahayati's military achievements?

Malahayati led her forces to defeat a Dutch fleet in 1599, killing the Dutch leader Cornelis de Houtman. She also played a key role in defending the Aceh Sultanate in various battles against the Portuguese.

When did Malahayati pass away, and how was she honored?

Malahayati died in 1606 during a battle against the Portuguese in the Strait of Malacca. She was posthumously awarded the title of National Hero by Indonesia's President Joko Widodo in 2017 for her bravery and leadership.

What is the historical significance of Laksamana Malahayati's legacy?

Malahayati's legacy is significant as the world's first female admiral and a symbol of resistance against colonialism. Her leadership, courage, and determination make her an important figure in Aceh's history and Indonesia's national heritage.