The History of Aceh's Rule in Perak
In the early 15th century, the Malacca Empire was recorded as a widespread conqueror and trading power. However, in the 16th century, this great kingdom collapsed under massive attacks from Western powers.
The rulers in Malacca were forced to retreat and constantly attempted to retaliate, but truly, all plans come from the Almighty Creator. The King, the former owner of the City of Malacca, had to watch in despair until the end of his life, never regaining his kingdom.
Amidst the Westerners' success in conquering the City of Malacca, there was another city no less magnificent than Malacca, located at the tip of the island of Sumatra, which people called the City of the Veranda of Mecca (Serambi Mekah). Perhaps they overlooked it at the time, or perhaps the excitement and joy of the Westerners in conquering Malacca still consumed them.
Sultan Ali Mughayat Syah was the ruler of the City of the Veranda of Mecca, namely Aceh, at that time. It is noted that he was a very wise administrator, and it was his wisdom that made his capital city as advanced as the City of Malacca. After 24 years passed, in 1564, all the strength of the war fleet and army was mobilized to attack Johor, which was then ruled by Sultan Alauddin Shah. The Johor Kingdom was easily defeated, and its King was captured and taken to Aceh. After Johor lost the war against Aceh, Perak became the next target. Perhaps this was to avenge an old, unhealed wound from the past, when the ruler of that state had helped Aru expel Aceh in 1540.
The year 1573 marked the moment when Perak was invaded by Aceh. Perak shared the same fate as the state of Johor. Due to this defeat, the entire family of Sultan Mansur I (Sultan Ahmad Mansur Shah - as noted in some Acehnese records), who was the ruler of Perak at the time, was taken to Aceh. In the true sense of the word, that same year marked the era where the State of Perak was also the State of Aceh. However, not long after, the Sultan of Perak was sent home to reorganize the kingdom.
In 1577, Raja Alauddin Mansur Shah, the son-in-law of the Sultan of Aceh and son of the second Sultan of Perak, was crowned Sultan of Aceh. Because he missed his father who was in Perak at the time, he ordered several of his most capable commanders in the City of Aceh to fetch his father from Perak and bring him home safely. In the Aceh commander's entourage to Perak, the Sultan's younger brother, Raja Ahmad, was included to replace his father in ruling their birthplace. It is said that when the era of the Sultan of Aceh from this Perak lineage began, the State of Perak seemed to have no Acehnese influence until the birth of a great Acehnese ruler, Iskandar Mahkota Alam, 34 years after the death of Sultan Alauddin Mansur Shah.
In 1619, the Sultan returned to Perak with the intention of bringing the entire family of Sultan Mukkadam Shah to Aceh, as he feared that the engagement between Raja Mansur, son of Raja Kechil Lasa, and the daughter of Sultan Mukkadam Shah would lead to a rise to the Perak throne. Raja Mansur managed to flee to Johor, and Sultan Mukkadam Shah, along with his children and wife, were taken to Aceh. After the Acehnese army left with the entourage of the Sultan of Perak's family, the Perak dignitaries who opposed Iskandar Mahkota Alam gathered and conspired to bring back Sultan Mansur II to be crowned in Perak without the knowledge of Sultan Iskandar Mahkota Alam. Finally, Sultan Mansur Shah II was crowned in the State of Perak. However, news of Sultan Mansur Shah II's ascension reached Sultan Iskandar Mahkota Alam, who was furious. Yet, Aceh did not rush back to Perak because at that time, Aceh was actively at war with the Portuguese, as Aceh believed that the Portuguese based in Malacca could threaten Aceh.
In 1627, an entourage from Mahkota Alam came to Perak to depose Sultan Mansur Shah II. The arrival of this entourage from Aceh was not resisted by Perak, and they brought along a prince, the youngest brother of Sultan Mukkadam Shah, known as Raja Bongsu, who had been taken to Aceh in 1619. The real name of Raja Bongsu was Raja Yusof, and he was crowned in the state with the title Sultan Mahmud Shah I.
Sultan Mukkadam Shah and Sultan Mahmud Shah I were born to the daughter of the late Sultan Mansur Shah I, the second Sultan of Perak. Their father was an Acehnese King of Bugis descent, Sultan Zain Al-Abidin (1576-1577). Indirectly, the kings who were educated in Aceh continued to implement government policies influenced by Aceh.
Sultan Mahmud Shah I passed away in 1630 and was succeeded by Raja Kobat, his son, who ascended the throne as Sultan Sallehuddin Shah, the 9th Sultan of Perak. He did not rule for long before a disease broke out, spreading to the common people. Many died as a result, so his dignitaries proposed that he retreat to Kampar, Sumatra. Not long after that, Sultan Sallehuddin passed away there.
A year later, the famous Sultan Iskandar Muda Mahkota Alam passed away in the City of Aceh, and his son-in-law, Raja Munghal, the son of Raja Ahmad who was the Sultan of Pahang, replaced the late Sultan Iskandar Muda Mahkota Alam.
The title of Raja Munghal on the throne was Sultan Iskandar Thani, and his real name was Raja Hussien. He was the grandson of the Sultan of Brunei, Sultan Hassan.
It was during the time of Sultan Iskandar Thani that Aceh's conquest of the State of Perak is said to have gradually faded. This situation can be seen when Sultan Iskandar Thani crowned a prince whose mother was a daughter of Raja Asif, named Puteri Munang or Putri Bongsu Chandra Devi Raja Dungu, based on what was narrated by Tun Sri Lanang regarding their connection.
And around the year 1700, during the reign of Sultan Mahmud Iskandar Shah, it could be said that Aceh's power over Perak simply vanished. It is highly likely that one of the contributing factors was that the Raja of Perak, who was appointed by Sultan Iskandar Thani, had close ties with him.
Five ships enter, Two ships depart, If I meet you with longing, That is the flower I pick to adorn.
-tokchangkatlanggor-
