Iskandar Muda (1583?-1636), was the greatest ruler of Aceh, a sultanate on the northern tip of Sumatra, in what is now Indonesia. He ruled from 1607 to 1636. After the Portuguese captured Melaka, on the Malay Peninsula, in 1511, the center of trade in the Strait of Malacca had shifted to northern Sumatra. Aceh enjoyed its greatest prosperity under Iskandar Muda.
During his reign, Iskandar Muda extended his influence down the eastern and western coasts of Sumatra until he controlled the whole Sumatran pepper trade. He had impressive military power. The main type of vessel in his navy was a heavy rowboat that carried between 600 and 800 men. He also had a cavalry force, an elephant corps, and large infantry forces. In 1613, his fleet raided Johor, on the Malay Peninsula, and captured Sultan Alauddin Riayat Shah. The following year, his navy defeated a Portuguese fleet at Bintan. In 1617, his forces raided Pahang and captured its sultan, Ahmad Shah. In 1620, Aceh conquered Kedah. But in 1629, a fleet of several hundred ships sent to attack the Portuguese in Melaka was destroyed. According to the Portuguese, he lost all his ships and 19,000 men. But he had established Aceh as the main power over the major trading ports of northern Sumatra.
During the time that Iskandar Muda ruled Aceh, many mosques were erected. He consolidated the Islamic faith and prohibited drinking alcohol and gambling.
