Flags of the Aceh Sultanate

Keurajeuën Acèh Darussalam
Alam Peudeuëng
Alam Peudeuëng Mirah
UseCivil and state flag
Adopted1412–1415 (by the unifications of Acehnese states)
1511 (by the Aceh Sultanate)
DesignA red field with a crescent moon and a star above a sword, having its tip pointed to the right.

The Alam Peudeuëng Mirah (Jawoë: علم ڤدڠ مره‎ pronounced [alam pɯdɯəŋ mirah]; The Red Sword Standard) or Alam Peudeuëng (Jawoë: علم ڤدڠ‎ pronounced [alam pɯdɯəŋ]; The Sword Standard) consists of a white crescent and star and a sword below, pointed to the right, on a red field. Alam Peudeuëng was used by the Aceh Sultanate as early as the 16th century until its annexation into the Dutch East Indies after the Aceh War.[1]

Nowadays, Alam Peudeuëng is often used to represent the Acehnese people as an alternative to the Moon Star flag used by the Free Aceh Movement, which would go against Indonesian law as it's a symbol tied to a separatist movement.[2]

Symbolism

The crescent and star symbolises Islam, which was taken from the flag of the Ottoman Empire, Aceh favoured the Ottoman Empire due to its assistance against Portuguese expansionism and later on being a key ally to the sultanate, even requesting protection under the Ottomans,[3] The sword represents the sovereignty of Aceh, but also a symbol of the Acehnese's firmness, feared by their opponents.[4]

History

Alam Peudeuëng had many variations throughout its history of usage due to the lack of standardisation of the construction and form of the flag. During its early days, variations of the flag often doesn't include the crescent and star in its flag, and the type of sword differs.

Before the creation of Alam Peudeuëng, the Aceh Sultanate used the Ottoman flag as its own.[4] Later on, Aceh took inspiration from the Ottomans and designed several flags of their own, using the crescent and star symbol, which later became a symbol of Aceh and its Islamic culture. Due to its influence across the archipelago, the crescent and star symbol was later adopted by several other Islamic kingdoms in Southeast Asia, especially in Indonesia and Malaysia.

The modern depiction of Alam Peudeuëng was first illustrated in the 1960s with a poem alongside it:[6]

Alam Atjeh (Original Spelling)
Di Atjeh na Alam peudeuëng
Tjap sikureuëng lam djaroë radja
Phon di Atjeh troih u Pahang
Tan soë teuntang Iskandar Muda
Bangsa Peutugèh angkatan meugah
Abèh geupinah di Atjeh raja
U Melaka keudèh di pioh
Keunan pih troih geupitjrok teuma
Iskandar Sani duk geugantoë
Lakoë putroë Tadjul mulia,
Kota Melaka teuma geu engkhoë
Peutugèh diwoë keudèh u Gua
English Translation
In Aceh, there's the sword standard
With the seal of nine at the king's hand
Starting from Aceh all the way to Pahang
No one dares to question Iskandar Muda
The Portuguese with their mighty forces
Cleared away from Greater Aceh
They then stopped to rest in Malacca
In there too they were quelled
Iskandar Sani sat in succession
The husband of princess Tajul Mulia
The city of Malacca he then razed
And so the Portuguese fled to Goa

Modern usage

Main article: Flags of Aceh

Parts of Acehnese society show support of using Alam Peudeuëng as the official flag of Aceh,[7] as they deem it to better represent Acehnese culture, history, and consider it as the original symbol of Aceh and its people.[8]

On 1 September 2019, a community who claims to be the extended family of the mandate bearers of the Aceh Sultanate held a flag raising ceremony of the Indonesian flag and the Alam Peudeuëng to celebrate the Islamic New Year of 1441 in the Darul Ihsan palace, located in Blang Oi Village, Banda Aceh,[9] alongside an edict by Tuanku Muhammad ZN, saying that the Alam Peudeuëng is not just a flag, but a symbol of the struggle to spread Islamic dawah in Aceh and the Malay world, as well as to restore the spirit of unification and harmony amongst the people of Aceh.[9] Afterwards, the flag raising ceremony became an occasional tradition on Islamic New Years.[10][11]

Other flags

State and civil flags

  • Eight-starred flag, commonly used as a state flag before the Alam Peudeuëng
  • Zulfiqar and moon flag (Alam Zulfiqar), used as a civil ensign of the Aceh Sultanate (1877)[12]
  • Alternative civil ensign of the Aceh Sultanate (1877)[12]
  • Alternative civil ensign of the Aceh Sultanate (1877)[12]
  • Alternative civil ensign of the Aceh Sultanate (1877)[12]

War flags

  • Plain sword and moon flag (1840), used as a war flag, sometimes seen with Arabic calligraphy enscribed within
  • The Aceh Sultanate's war flag used in the Second Aceh Expedition[12]
  • Swallow tail Zulfiqar flag (1902), used by Acehnese fighters in the Battle of Jambo Ayer[5]
  • Naval Ensign of the Aceh Sultanate (1877)
  • Naval Ensign of the Aceh Sultanate (1877)
  • Naval Ensign of the Aceh Sultanate (1877)
  • Naval Ensign of the Aceh Sultanate (1877)

Royal standards

  • Flag of the Aceh Sultanate (1873–1874),[13] possibly being a royal standard
  • Royal Standard of the King of Trumon (1877)[12]
  • Royal Standard of the Prince of Aceh (1877)[12]
  • Royal Standard of the King of Samalanga (1877)[12]

Other Aceh Sultanate flags

  • Variant of the eight-pointed star flag spotted in 1877, with a slightly tilted star[12]
  • Variant of Alam Zulfiqar (1877)[12]
  • Six-pointed star flag (1877), in the original sketch, a text in Dutch reads "Seen in Great Aceh (the Beginning of the Aceh Expedition)"[14]
  • West Coast Flag (1877)
  • Kuala Gigiëng Flag (1877)
  • Kuala Batèë Flag (1877)
  • Kuala Nibong Flag (1877)

Derived and similar flags

See also

References

  1. ^ "Muhammad Nazar: Bendera Asli Aceh 'Alam Peudeung' agar tak Ahistoris". Serambinews.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2024-10-25.
  2. ^ Siswoyo, Harry (2017-08-15). "Bendera Kerajaan Aceh Alam Peudeung Kembali Berkibar". www.viva.co.id (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2024-10-25.
  3. ^ Finkel 2005, p. 178.
  4. ^ a b indojayanews.com (2019-07-11). "Alam Peudeung Simbol Pemersatu Dimasa Kejayaan Aceh". IndoJayaNews (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2024-10-25.
  5. ^ a b Aceh, PDIA Pusat Dokumentasi dan Informasi (2017-01-01). "Bendera Aceh Oleh: A. H. Swaving". Seri Informasi Aceh.
  6. ^ Zainuddin 1961, p. 4.
  7. ^ Merdeka, Kupas (2019-07-06). "KPA: "Rakyat Aceh Rindukan Bendera Alam Peudeung"". KUPAS MERDEKA. Retrieved 2024-10-26.
  8. ^ "Bendera Alam Peudeung, Simbol Rakyat Aceh »". dialeksis.com. Retrieved 2024-10-26.
  9. ^ a b Network, AJNN net-Aceh Journal National (2019-09-01). "Pewaris Kerajaan Aceh Kibarkan Bendera Alam Peudeng di Istana Kerajaan". AJNN.net (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2024-10-26.
  10. ^ "Foto: Ahli Waris Kerajaan Aceh Darussalam Kibarkan Bendera Alam Peudeung". kumparan (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2024-10-26.
  11. ^ KBA.ONE (2022-07-30). "Pewaris Kerajaan Aceh Darussalam Kibarkan Bendera Alam Peudeng". KBA.ONE (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2024-10-26.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "NMVW-collectie". collectie.wereldmuseum.nl. Retrieved 2024-10-26.
  13. ^ "NMVW-collectie". collectie.wereldmuseum.nl. Retrieved 2025-02-27.
  14. ^ "NMVW-collectie". collectie.wereldmuseum.nl. Retrieved 2024-10-26.
  15. ^ "NMVW-collectie". collectie.wereldmuseum.nl. Retrieved 2025-12-17.

Bibliography

  • Zainuddin, H.M. (1961). Tarich Atjeh dan Nusantara [the History of Aceh and Nusantara] (in Indonesian). Medan: Pustaka Iskandar Muda.
  • Finkel, Caroline (2005). Osman's Dream: The History of the Ottoman Empire 1300-1923. England: John Murray Publishers. ISBN 0-465-02396-7.
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