Evidence of Aceh-Turkish Relations Part III
The letter of the Sultan of Aceh Alaaddin Syah Al-Kahhar to the Great Sultan Sulaiman on the request of military assistance and military experts from the Sultanate of Uthmani against the Portuguese. Further Turkish aid is also attached (3 pages). This Turkish letters are written Jumadil Akhir 973 H / 7 Jan 1566 M. (Repro)
Aceh had good relations with Ottoman Turks during the Caliphate. This is evidenced by the existence of Turkish civilization in the land of Aceh until now, including fort Indrapatra, Kuta Dianjong building structure, and Salahadin burial complex in Bittai, Banda Aceh.
In addition to cemetery buildings and complexes, the close relationship between Ottoman Turkey and Aceh is also evidenced by correspondence between the two kingdoms from the 15th century to the 19th century.
Some of these letters can now be seen in Istanbul, Turkey, precisely at the Ottoman Archives of Prime Ministership in Istanbul.
Several copies of the letters between the two kingdoms were also kept in the Aceh Museum.
A copy of Sultan Uthmani's letter, Sultan Salim II to the ruler of Aceh, Syah Al-Kahhar informing the sending of a fleet of navy along with a number of military equipment and experts to Aceh. The four-page letter dated 16 Rabi'ul Awwal 975 H / 20 Sept 1567 AD is in Turkish. (Repro)
The 3-page petition of 63 Acehnese leaders through the Turkish Governor of Yemen and Hijaz to the Uthmani Caliph, Sultan Abdul Aziz containing the request for protection and approval for Aceh to become a vassal kingdom under the Ottoman Empire. Several types and sources of income of the Aceh Sultanate are also included. The letter without date and the year 1868 is using the Arabic language. (Repro)