This thesis deals with the history of the Acehnese Islamic empire, focusing on the events leading up to its decline in both its internal stability and its hegemony in the surrounding regions in the second half of the seventeenth century. During the given period (1641-1699) the empire was ruled successively by four female rulers. The thesis deals with the political and economic developments in this period. / Aceh was an Islamic empire in the Indonesian archipelago which emerged as the greatest and most influential Islamic power in the region from the middle of the sixteenth century to the early seventeenth century. It reached its golden age during the reign of Sultan Iskandar Muda (1607-1636) who succeeded in developing the empire into an unrivaled Muslim power whose control included the West Sumatran coast and the Malay peninsula. During his reign, Aceh became the holder of the political and economic hegemony in the region. / Towards the second half of the seventeenth century, the power of Aceh gradually declined from its peak both internally and externally. Internally, political disintegration paved the way for the process of power transition between political groups within the empire. Externally, both the political importance and the economic supremacy of the empire in the region was drastically reduced. Consequently, its power again shrank back into the north-Sumatran area from which the empire originally emerged.

The present dissertation studies the Islamic nature of the Acehnese state in the seventeenth century---a subject much neglected by area scholars and Islamicists alike due to the hybrid nature of Southeast Asian Islam. It examines not only the state's Islamic institutions but also its political culture and policies towards Islam. The Acehnese theory of kingship during the period under study manifests a decidedly Islamic character. Deemed to possess both political and religions authority, the office of the sult&dotbelow;an was viewed as necessary and its incumbent responsible for both the prosperity of his people and the enforcement of Islamic dogma. The court's policies towards Islam, given outward expression in elaborate religious rituals and ceremonies, reveal an imperial tradition in which the ruler himself was the head of the Muslim state, despite the apparent admixture of Southeast Asian elements. Other more traditional Islamic institutions were also fundamental to the Acehnese state. The 'ulama' played a significant role in both the religions and political spheres, while Islamic law became a dominant part of the judicial system, alongside adat (customary law and royal edicts/tradition). Jihad as well served to define the ideology of the state. In spite of its Southeast Asian appearance, therefore, the Islamic nature of the Acehnese state was more evident than in many other Muslim states in the region, such as fifteenth-century Melaka and seventeenth-century Mataram, a situation induced by geography, historical Islam, and the nature of Acehnese tradition.

The coming of the Portuguese to Malacca in 1511 disrupted the existence of the people of the Malay-Indonesian archipelago, where trade and Islam were the main influences. The Christian European intruders were regarded as both economic competitors and religious enemies. The Muslim kingdoms of the region put up fierce resistance to the Portuguese. The strongest opposition was shown by Aceh. Its response was mainly expression in three aspects; military action, political maneuvering and economic reaction. Jihad (holy war) also played an important spiritual role in the response. This resistance combined with the strategic location of Aceh in the northern tip of Sumatra and the support of other Muslim powers accelerated the rise of Aceh in the sixteenth century.

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