Iskandar Muda

Iskandar Muda
Sultan Iskandar Muda's tomb in Banda Aceh
Sulṭān of Acèh Darussalam
Reign	4 April 1607 - 27 December 1636
Predecessor	Ali Ri'ayat Syah III
Successor	Iskandar Thani
Born	1583
Died	27 December 1636
Spouse	Kamaliah of Pahang (Putroe Phang)
Issue	Meurah Pupok Putri Sri Alam
Father	Sultan Mansyur Syah
Mother	Puteri Raja Inderabangsa
Religion	Islam

Iskandar Muda (1583? – 27 December 1636) was the twelfth Sulṭān of Acèh Darussalam, under whom the sultanate achieved its greatest territorial extent, and was the strongest power and wealthiest state in the western Indonesian archipelago and the Strait of Malacca. "Iskandar Muda" literally means "young Alexander," and his conquests were often compared to those of Alexander the Great. In addition to his notable conquests, during his reign, Aceh became known as an international centre of Islamic learning and trade.

The future Iskandar Muda was born in about 1583. His father was Mansur Syah, son of Sultan Abdul Jalil, son of third Sulṭān of Acèh Darussalam Alauddin al-Kahar. His mother Puteri Raja Inderabangsa was the daughter of tenth Sulṭān of Acèh Darussalam Alauddin Ri'ayat Syah Sayyid al-Mukammal. Through his parentage he therefore combined the two branches of the Acehnese sultan's dynasty. His childhood and youth are described at great length in the Hikayat Aceh which extols his personal qualities. He was known under a number of names and titles, especially Perkasa Alam which was also the name he used after his accession ("Iskandar Muda" is however not a posthumous name as sometimes suggested since it occurs on his coins). In about 1605 he fell out with his uncle, Sultan Ali Ri'ayat Syah III and fled to Pidië where another uncle, Husain, was the vassal ruler. Together they planned rebellion against Sultan Ali. Perkasa Alam was put in command of the Pidië troops, but in the end they refused to fight and Perkasa Alam was imprisoned by the sultan. However, when the Portuguese invaded Aceh in 1606 he was let out of prison and distinguished himself in the fight against the "infidels". The invasion force was beaten back and withdrew and Perkasa Alam rose in esteem at the court. When Sultan Ali suddenly died on 4 April 1607, Perkasa Alam was able to secure the throne on the same day. He imprisoned his other uncle Husain and later had him killed.