Teuku Umar
Encyclopedia
Teuku Umar was the a member of the Aceh
nese guerrilla forces during the Aceh War
in Aceh
, later as a leader, from 1873 until his death. He was killed in a surprise attack in Meulabohis a Pahlawan Nasional Indonesia (National Hero of Indonesia). He led a guerrilla campaign
in Aceh
during the Aceh War
. He fell when Dutch troops launched a sudden attack in Meulaboh. His body was buried in the Mugo area. After Teuku Umar's death, his wife Cut Nyak Dhien
continued to lead guerrillas against the Dutch
.
At the age of 20, Umar married Nyak Sofia; not long after, he took Nyak Malighai as his second wife
. In 1880, Umar married his cousin Cut Nyak Dhien
; Dhien later joined him in the guerrilla campaign.
In 1883, the Dutch colonial government
signed a peace treaty with the Acehnese guerrillas. That same year Umar joined them as an undercover
operative over Dhien's complaints, working his way up through the colonial military's ranks. After war broke out again in 1884, Umar worked to stop the Acehnese people
's struggle. For his service, on 1 January 1894 Umar was given the title Johan Pahlawan and control of a legion of 250 fully armed soldiers. Eventually, Umar was given control of 120 more troops as well as 17 lieutenants.
On 30 March 1896, Umar and his troops deserted
, taking including 800 weapons, 25,000 bullets, 500 kilograms (1,102.3 lb) of ammunition, and 18,000 dollars. Together with 400 soldiers under the command of Teuku Panglima Polem Muhammad Daud, Umar attacked the Dutch forces, killing 25 and injuring 190.
In retaliation, the Dutch governor sent soldiers en masse to capture or kill Umar. Umar was killed in an ambush
on 10 February 1899 in Meulaboh.
described Teuku Umar as being one of the pahlawan tiga-sekawan (three heroic friends) along with Diponegoro
and Imam Bonjol.
Teuku was honored as a National Hero of Indonesia. There are many streets named after him throughout Indonesia, as well as a field in Meulaboh.
Aceh
Aceh is a special region of Indonesia, located on the northern tip of the island of Sumatra. Its full name is Daerah Istimewa Aceh , Nanggroë Aceh Darussalam and Aceh . Past spellings of its name include Acheh, Atjeh and Achin...
nese guerrilla forces during the Aceh War
Aceh War
The Aceh War, also known as the Dutch War or the Infidel War , was an armed military conflict between the Sultanate of Aceh and the Netherlands which was triggered by discussions between representatives of Aceh and the U.S. in Singapore during early 1873...
in Aceh
Aceh
Aceh is a special region of Indonesia, located on the northern tip of the island of Sumatra. Its full name is Daerah Istimewa Aceh , Nanggroë Aceh Darussalam and Aceh . Past spellings of its name include Acheh, Atjeh and Achin...
, later as a leader, from 1873 until his death. He was killed in a surprise attack in Meulabohis a Pahlawan Nasional Indonesia (National Hero of Indonesia). He led a guerrilla campaign
Guerrilla warfare
Guerrilla warfare is a form of irregular warfare and refers to conflicts in which a small group of combatants including, but not limited to, armed civilians use military tactics, such as ambushes, sabotage, raids, the element of surprise, and extraordinary mobility to harass a larger and...
in Aceh
Aceh
Aceh is a special region of Indonesia, located on the northern tip of the island of Sumatra. Its full name is Daerah Istimewa Aceh , Nanggroë Aceh Darussalam and Aceh . Past spellings of its name include Acheh, Atjeh and Achin...
during the Aceh War
Aceh War
The Aceh War, also known as the Dutch War or the Infidel War , was an armed military conflict between the Sultanate of Aceh and the Netherlands which was triggered by discussions between representatives of Aceh and the U.S. in Singapore during early 1873...
. He fell when Dutch troops launched a sudden attack in Meulaboh. His body was buried in the Mugo area. After Teuku Umar's death, his wife Cut Nyak Dhien
Cut Nyak Dhien
Cut Nyak Dhien or Tjoet Nja' Dhien was the widow of Teuku Umar. She led guerrilla actions against the Dutch after the death of her husband. She fought against the Dutch for 25 years...
continued to lead guerrillas against the Dutch
Dutch people
The Dutch people are an ethnic group native to the Netherlands. They share a common culture and speak the Dutch language. Dutch people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in Suriname, Chile, Brazil, Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and the United...
.
Biography
Umar joined the guerrilla forces in 1873 at the age of 19. At first, he fought in Meulaboh; he later expanded his operations to different parts of West Aceh.At the age of 20, Umar married Nyak Sofia; not long after, he took Nyak Malighai as his second wife
Polygamy
Polygamy is a marriage which includes more than two partners...
. In 1880, Umar married his cousin Cut Nyak Dhien
Cut Nyak Dhien
Cut Nyak Dhien or Tjoet Nja' Dhien was the widow of Teuku Umar. She led guerrilla actions against the Dutch after the death of her husband. She fought against the Dutch for 25 years...
; Dhien later joined him in the guerrilla campaign.
In 1883, the Dutch colonial government
Dutch East Indies
The Dutch East Indies was a Dutch colony that became modern Indonesia following World War II. It was formed from the nationalised colonies of the Dutch East India Company, which came under the administration of the Netherlands government in 1800....
signed a peace treaty with the Acehnese guerrillas. That same year Umar joined them as an undercover
Undercover
Being undercover is disguising one's own identity or using an assumed identity for the purposes of gaining the trust of an individual or organization to learn secret information or to gain the trust of targeted individuals in order to gain information or evidence...
operative over Dhien's complaints, working his way up through the colonial military's ranks. After war broke out again in 1884, Umar worked to stop the Acehnese people
Acehnese people
The Acehnese are a people in Aceh, Indonesia. Their homeland is located in the northern-most tip of the island of Sumatra and had a history of political struggle against the Dutch...
's struggle. For his service, on 1 January 1894 Umar was given the title Johan Pahlawan and control of a legion of 250 fully armed soldiers. Eventually, Umar was given control of 120 more troops as well as 17 lieutenants.
On 30 March 1896, Umar and his troops deserted
Desertion
In military terminology, desertion is the abandonment of a "duty" or post without permission and is done with the intention of not returning...
, taking including 800 weapons, 25,000 bullets, 500 kilograms (1,102.3 lb) of ammunition, and 18,000 dollars. Together with 400 soldiers under the command of Teuku Panglima Polem Muhammad Daud, Umar attacked the Dutch forces, killing 25 and injuring 190.
In retaliation, the Dutch governor sent soldiers en masse to capture or kill Umar. Umar was killed in an ambush
Ambush
An ambush is a long-established military tactic, in which the aggressors take advantage of concealment and the element of surprise to attack an unsuspecting enemy from concealed positions, such as among dense underbrush or behind hilltops...
on 10 February 1899 in Meulaboh.
Legacy
In the 1930s, SukarnoSukarno
Sukarno, born Kusno Sosrodihardjo was the first President of Indonesia.Sukarno was the leader of his country's struggle for independence from the Netherlands and was Indonesia's first President from 1945 to 1967...
described Teuku Umar as being one of the pahlawan tiga-sekawan (three heroic friends) along with Diponegoro
Diponegoro
Diponegoro , also known as Dipanegara, was a Javanese prince who opposed the Dutch colonial rule. He played an important role in the Java War...
and Imam Bonjol.
Teuku was honored as a National Hero of Indonesia. There are many streets named after him throughout Indonesia, as well as a field in Meulaboh.