After the conquest of Egypt, the Ottomans descended into the Hijaz region, expanding towards the Indian Ocean and establishing contact with the Muslims in the region. The furthest of these contacts was with Aceh on the island of Sumatra in Indonesia. Even today, Aceh remains a distant geography, yet it embraced the Ottomans.
The Aceh Sultanate, which existed between 1496 and 1903, gradually expanded its domain over time, leading to its presence in the Red Sea for both trade and pilgrimage purposes.
However, this process was severely disrupted by the Portuguese attacks on the archipelago. In 1511, the Portuguese, who also attacked Aceh, seized control of the trade in the ocean.
To escape the oppression of the Portuguese, the people of Aceh appealed to the Ottoman Sultan. In response to this request, the Ottomans provided military assistance to the region.
In the second half of the 16th century, under the orders of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, a number of military expeditions were sent to the region, led by Lütfi Bey.
The issue of Aceh was of great importance to Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent's son, Sultan Selim II. During his reign, a fleet of around twenty ships, led by Kurdoğlu Hızır Reis, was sent to the archipelago.
However, due to a rebellion that broke out in Yemen at that time, this expedition, which was prepared for Aceh, had to be redirected to the rebellious area. As a result, only two ships were sent to support Aceh by the Ottomans.
The Ottomans who arrived in Aceh settled in the Bitay neighborhood of the city and trained the Acehnese to defend themselves against their enemies. There is even an Ottoman cemetery from that period still present in the area.
Thanks to the Ottoman aid, the Aceh Sultanate possessed the most powerful artillery and firepower against the Portuguese in the archipelago for two centuries.
As a result, Aceh became a regional political power. As an ally of the Ottoman Empire in the region, Aceh resisted the cruel attacks of the Portuguese for centuries.
In 1612, when the Acehnese conquered the major city of Deli, their war tactics were learned from the Ottomans who came to their aid.
Although the similarity focused on military matters, it was not limited to this field alone. Aceh's palace traditions and guard units were also organized according to the Ottoman style.
The construction of Aceh's castle and palace was also influenced by the Ottomans. However, the most prominent symbol of Ottoman influence in Aceh is the flag.
The Aceh flag, like the Ottoman flag, is made on a red background. On this background, there is a white crescent and star, below which is a white sword.
The Acehnese never forgot the Ottomans who stood by them in their most difficult times. In fact, this event is even mentioned in the epic of the Acehnese, "Hikayat Aceh."
Today, the majority of Acehnese people are aware of the importance of this legendary assistance. The Ottoman cemetery is a place frequently visited by the Acehnese.