International Journal Of Humanities Education And Social Sciences (IJHESS) E-ISSN: 2808-1765 Volume 3, Number 1, August 2023, Page. 459 - 468 Email : editorijhess@gmail.com 459 https://ijhess.com/index.php/ijhess/ Lesson Learn The Leadership Period of Admiral Keumalahayati for the Development of Maritime Defense Strategy Anis Nur Laily 1) , Agus Adriyanto 2) , Rudy Sutanto 3) , Lukman Yudho Prakoso 4) 1,2,3,4) Sea Defense Strategy, Faculty of Defense Strategy, Republic of Indonesia Defense University *Corresponding Author Email: anisnurlaily500@gmail.com Abstract Aceh is one of the provinces in Indonesia which is located at the tip of Sumatra Island. History records that Aceh has a strategic position which is the starting point for trade from the sea. Both national and international traders use Aceh as a transportation route. The maritime history of the Kingdom of Aceh can be preserved and published, such as the story of Admiral Keumalahayati. The purpose of this research is to take lessons from the story of Admiral Keumalahayati's leadership for the development of a maritime defense strategy. This study uses qualitative methods and uses a socio-political approach to determine the character of leadership and historical methods to determine the journey of Admiral Keumalahayati's leadership. The results showed that Admiral Keumalahayati had been the leader of the Inong Bale Troop (widow woman), conducting diplomacy with countries that wanted to cooperate with the Kingdom of Aceh. Admiral Keumalahayati was the first female warlord to become the navy leader of the Kingdom of Aceh. This maritime history ultimately has a significant role in overcoming several problems related to Indonesia's position as the world's maritime axis country. Keywords: Leadership, Admiral Keumalahayati, Marine Defense Strategy INTRODUCTION Aceh Province is part of Indonesia which is located at the tip of the island of Sumatra, is a maritime area that is blessed with abundant marine and fishery potential with a coastline that covers 1,660 km2 with an area of 295,370 km sea area2. Astronomically Aceh is located between 95013' and 98013' east longitude and 2048' and 5040' north latitude. Aceh is an area that has a very strong maritime culture from ancient times. Judging from its position, Aceh can be called the gateway to the west of the Indonesian archipelago. In the course of history, Aceh's strategic position has attracted many foreign nations with various interests such as trade, diplomacy and so on. The arrival of various foreign nations is important for the development of Aceh itself, both culturally, politically and economically. Even so, among the foreign immigrants there were also immigrants who carried out actions driven by colonialism and imperialism (Ismail, 2021). History records that the city of Sabang was a city that used to have a free port which was the busiest port in the world. The influence of the geographical location of Aceh which is in the Malacca Strait makes Aceh one of the areas passed by many local and international traders in the past as a very strategic sea transportation route. Aceh's maritime history during the reign of the Kingdom of Aceh which should be preserved and published. An Acehnese hero, Sultan Iskandar Muda and Admiral Keumalahayati, are one of Aceh's most memorable heroes in the history of Aceh's maritime shipping. Both of them were important figures in the struggle for territory in Aceh when fighting colonialism (Saifullah, 2012). The coming of the Portuguese to Asia, especially the Malay area, was followed by the Spanish and the Dutch in 1596. The English also followed because the success of the Dutch nation with the aim of trade relations with the Indonesian nation. The desired trade is spices because Indonesia is a spice producing country. The shipping and trade of the British, which were once feared by the Portuguese at sea. During the voyage it was known that the power of the Portuguese was opposed by the Kingdom of Aceh, the only strong kingdom that could wage war with the Portuguese (Syafaah, 2017).