Teuku Umar, born in 

Meulaboh of Aceh Barat in 1854, is the son of a

man named Uleebalang Teuku Achmad Mahmud from marriage to the sister of
the King of Meulaboh. He has two sisters and three brothers.

Ancestors of Umar was Datuk Makhudum Sati came from Minangkabau. He was

a descendant of Radm Nanta is representative of the Sultanate of Aceh, in the
reign ofSultan Iskandar Muda in Pariaman.. One of the
descendants Datuk Makhudum Satiever credited against the Sultan of Aceh,
which at that time was threatened by a general records wanted
to seize power. Thanks to these services, that person was appointed with the
title Uleebalang VI Mukim Teuku Nan Ranceh. Teuku Nan Ranceh had two
sons namely Teuku Nanta loyal and Brutal Ahmad Mahmud. The death
of Teuku Nan Ranceh, Teuku Nanta Loyal replacing his father as
the Uleebalang VI Mukim.La had a daughter named Cut Nyak Seat.
Teuku Umar from small children known as a smart, brave,
and sometimes scrappy with your peers. She also has traits that are harsh
and unyielding in the face of all theproblems. Teuku Umar never obtained formal
education. Nevertheless, he was able to become a leader of a powerful,
intelligent, and brave.

Teuku Umar was known as a child who was smart, brave, and sometimes liked
to fight with his peers. He also has a hard and unyielding nature in the face of all
problems. Teuku Umar never received a formal education. However, he is able to
become a strong, intelligent, and courageous leader.

When the Aceh war erupted in 1873, Teuku Umar participated in fighting with
other Acehnese fighters, he was only 19 years old. At first he fought in his own
village, then continued to West Aceh. At this young age, Teuku Umar has been
appointed as keuchik gampong (village head) in the Daya Meulaboh area.[2]

At the age of 20, Teuku Umar married Nyak Sofiah, the son of Uleebalang
Glumpang. To improve his status, Teuku Umar then remarried to Nyak Malighai,
the daughter of Panglima Sagi XXV Mukim.

In 1880, Teuku Umar married the widow of Cut Nyak Dhien, the daughter of his
uncle Teuku Nanta Setia. Cut Nya Dien's husband, Teuku Ibrahim Lamnga, died
in June 1878 in the war against the Dutch in Gle Tarun. The two then fought
together to launch attacks on Dutch posts.

Teuku Umar then looked for a strategy to get weapons from the Dutch. Finally,
Teuku Umar pretended to be a Dutch henchman. The Dutch made peace with
Teuku Umar's troops in 1883. Governor Van Teijn at that time also intended to
use Teuku Umar as a way to win the hearts of the Acehnese. Teuku Umar then
entered military service.

When he joined the Dutch, Teuku Umar subdued the Aceh defense posts, this
was done by Teuku Umar pretending to trick the Dutch into giving Teuku Umar a
bigger role. The tactic was successful, as compensation for his success, Teuku
Umar's request to add 17 commanders and 120 soldiers, including a Pang Laot
(Sea commander) as his right-hand man, was granted.

In 1884 the British ship "Nicero" ran aground. The captain and his crew were
taken hostage by the king of Teunom. King Teunom demanded a ransom of 10
thousand dollars in cash. By the Dutch colonial government, Teuku Umar was
assigned to free the ship, because the incident had resulted in tensions between
England and the Netherlands.

Teuku Umar stated that retaking the "Nicero" ship was a tough job because King
Teunom's army was so strong that the British themselves could not retake it. But
he was able to reclaim as long as he was given a lot of logistics and weapons so
that he could survive for a long time.

With enough war supplies, Teuku Umar departed by ship "Bengkulen" to West
Aceh carrying 32 Dutch soldiers and several commanders. Not long after, the
Dutch were shocked by the news that all the Dutch soldiers who participated
were killed in the middle of the sea. All weapons and other war equipment were
confiscated. Since then, Teuku Umar has again sided with the Acehnese fighters
against the Dutch. Teuku Umar also advised King Teunom not to reduce his
demands.

Teuku Umar distributed looted weapons to the Aceh army, and led the people's
resistance again. and Teuku Umar managed to reclaim the area of 6 Mukim from
the Dutch. Nanta Setia, Cut Nyak Dhien and Teuku Umar returned to the 6
Mukim area and lived in Lampisang, Aceh Besar, which was also the
headquarters of the Aceh army.

2 years after the Nicero incident, on 15 June 1886 docked at the port of Rigaih
the ship "Hok Canton" commanded by a Danish sailor named Captain Hansen,
with the intention of exchanging weapons for pepper. Hansen intends to trap
Umar into boarding his ship, kidnap him and take the pepper that will be loaded,
to the port of Ulee Lheu, and handed over to the Dutch who have promised a
reward of $ 25 thousand for Teuku Umar's head.

Umar was suspicious of Hansen's conditions, and sent an envoy. Hansen

insisted Umar had to come alone. Teuku Umar then devised a strategy. Early in
the morning one of the Commanders and 40 of his soldiers infiltrated the ship.
Hansen did not know that he was surrounded.

The next morning Teuku Umar came and demanded the payment of pepper as
much as $ 5 thousand. But Hansen broke his promise, and ordered his men to
arrest Umar. Teuku Umar was ready, and signaled to his men. Hansen was
incapacitated and shot while trying to escape. Mrs Hansen and John Fay were
held as hostages, while the crew were released. The Dutch were furious that the
plan had failed.

The war continued, in 1891 Teungku Chik Di Tiro and Teuku Panglima Polem
VIII Raja Kuala (father of Teuku Panglima Polem IX Muhammad Daud) died in
battle. The Netherlands was actually very difficult because the cost of the war
was too large and too long.

Teuku Umar himself felt that this war was very miserable for the people. People
can't work as usual, farmers can no longer work on their fields. Teuku Umar also
changed tactics by surrendering himself back to the Dutch.

September 1893, Teuku Umar surrendered to Governor Deykerhooff in Kutaraja

with 13 of his subordinate Commanders, after receiving assurances of safety and
forgiveness. Teuku Umar was awarded the title of Teuku Johan Pahlawan Great
Commander of the Nederland. His wife, Cut Nyak Dien, was confused,
embarrassed, and angry at her husband's decision. Umar likes to avoid when
there is a dispute.[3]

Teuku Umar showed his loyalty to the Netherlands very convincingly. Every
official who came to his house was always greeted pleasantly. He always fulfilled
every call from the Dutch Governor in Kutaraja, and gave a satisfactory report, so
that he received great trust from the Dutch Governor.

That trust was put to good use for the sake of the next Acehnese struggle. For
example, in the war, Teuku Umar only fought pretend wars and only fought
Uleebalang who blackmailed the people (eg Teuku Mat Amin). His troops were
deployed not to pursue the enemy, but to contact the leaders of the Aceh fighters
and convey a secret message.

One day in Lampisang, Teuku Umar held a secret meeting attended by the
leaders of the Acehnese fighters, discussing Teuku Umar's plan to return to the
side of Aceh by taking away all the weapons and war equipment belonging to the
Dutch that he controlled. Cut Nyak Dhien was aware that all this time her
husband had been playing a role in front of the Dutch to gain profits for the Aceh
struggle. Even the salaries given by the Dutch were secretly sent to the leaders
of the fighters to finance the struggle.[3]

On March 30, 1896, Teuku Umar left the Dutch military service with his troops
along with 800 weapons, 25,000 bullets, 500 kg of ammunition, and 18,000
dollars.

The news of the escape of Teuku Umar shocked the Dutch Colonial
Government. Governor Deykerhooff was sacked and replaced by General Vetter.
New troops were immediately brought in from the island of Java. Vetter
submitted an ultimatum to Umar, to return all weapons to the Dutch. Umar did not
want to comply with these demands. So on April 26, 1896, Teuku Johan
Pahlawan was dismissed as Uleebalang Leupung and Commander of the Great
War of the Dutch East Indies Governor.

Teuku Umar invited other uleebalangs to fight the Dutch. The entire Aceh war
command began in 1896 under the leadership of Teuku Umar. He was assisted
by his wife Cut Nyak Dhien and Panglima Pang Laot, and received support from
Teuku Panglima Polem Muhammad Daud. For the first time in the history of the
Aceh war, the Aceh army was held by one command.

In February 1898, Teuku Umar arrived in the VII area of Mukim Pidie with all his
troops and then joined the Panglima Polem. On April 1, 1898, Teuku Panglima
Polem together with Teuku Umar and the Uleebalangs and other prominent
scholars declared their oath of allegiance to the king of Aceh Sultan Muhammad
Daud Syah.

February 1899, General Van Heutsz received a report from his spies regarding
the arrival of Teuku Umar in Meulaboh, and immediately placed a number of
troops that were quite strong on the Meulaboh border. The night before February
11, 1899, Teuku Umar and his troops arrived on the outskirts of Meulaboh. The
Aceh troops were surprised when Van Heutsz's troops intercepted. The position
of Umar's troops was not profitable and it was impossible to retreat. The only way
to save his troops was to fight. In that battle, Teuku Umar was killed by an enemy
bullet that pierced his chest.
His body was buried at the Kampung Mugo Mosque in the Upper Meulaboh
River. Hearing the news of her husband's death, Cut Nyak Dien was very sad,
but that did not mean the struggle was over. With the death of her husband, Cut
Nyak Dhien was determined to continue the struggle of the Acehnese against the
Dutch. He also took over the leadership of the Acehnese resistance.

For his dedication and struggle as well as his self-sacrificing fighting spirit against
the Dutch colonialists, Teuku Umar was awarded the title of National Hero. The
name Teuku Umar is also immortalized as a street name in a number of areas in
the country. One of the Navy warships is called KRI Teuku Umar (385). In
addition, Teuku Umar University in Meulaboh was named after him.
Teuku Umar yang dilahirkan di Meulaboh Aceh Barat pada tahun 1854, adalah
anak seorang Uleebalang bernama Teuku Achmad Mahmud dari perkawinan
dengan adik perempuan Raja Meulaboh. Umar mempunyai dua orang saudara
perempuan dan tiga saudara laki-laki.

Nenek moyang Umar adalah Datuk Makhudum Sati berasal dari Minangkabau.
Dia merupakan keturunan dari Laksamana Muda Nanta yang merupakan
perwakilan Kesultanan Aceh pada zaman pemerintahan Sultan Iskandar Muda di
Pariaman.. Salah seorang keturunan Datuk Makhudum Sati pernah berjasa
terhadap Sultan Aceh, yang pada waktu itu terancam oleh seorang Panglima
Sagi yang ingin merebut kekuasaannya. Berkat jasanya tersebut, orang itu
diangkat menjadi Uleebalang VI Mukim dengan gelar Teuku Nan Ranceh. Teuku
Nan Ranceh mempunyai dua orang putra yaitu Teuku Nanta Setia dan Teuku
Ahmad Mahmud. Sepeninggal Teuku Nan Ranceh, Teuku Nanta Setia
menggantikan kedudukan ayahnya sebagai Uleebalang VI Mukim. la mempunyai
anak perempuan bernama Cut Nyak Dhien.

Teuku Umar dari kecil dikenal sebagai anak yang cerdas, pemberani, dan
kadang suka berkelahi dengan teman-teman sebayanya. Ia juga memiliki sifat
yang keras dan pantang menyerah dalam menghadapi segala persoalan. Teuku
Umar tidak pernah mendapakan pendidikan formal. Meski demikian, ia mampu
menjadi seorang pemimpin yang kuat, cerdas, dan pemberani.

Ketika perang Aceh meletus pada 1873 Teuku Umar ikut serta berjuang

bersama pejuang-pejuang Aceh lainnya, umurnya baru menginjak 19 tahun.
Mulanya ia berjuang di kampungnya sendiri, kemudian dilanjutkan ke Aceh
Barat. Pada umur yang masih muda ini, Teuku Umar sudah diangkat sebagai
keuchik gampong(kepala desa) di daerah Daya Meulaboh.[2]
Pada usia 20 tahun, Teuku Umar menikah dengan Nyak Sofiah, anak
Uleebalang Glumpang. Untuk meningkatkan derajat dirinya, Teuku Umar
kemudian menikah lagi dengan Nyak Malighai, puteri dari Panglima Sagi XXV
Mukim.
Pada tahun 1880, Teuku Umar menikahi janda Cut Nyak Dhien, puteri
pamannya Teuku Nanta Setia. Suami Cut Nya Dien, yaitu Teuku Ibrahim
Lamnga meninggal dunia pada Juni 1878 dalam peperangan melawan Belanda
di Gle Tarun. Keduanya kemudian berjuang bersama melancarkan serangan
terhadap pos-pos Belanda.
Teuku Umar kemudian mencari strategi untuk mendapatkan senjata dari pihak
Belanda. Akhirnya, Teuku Umar berpura-pura menjadi antek Belanda. Belanda
berdamai dengan pasukan Teuku Umar pada tahun 1883. Gubernur Van Teijn
pada saat itu juga bermaksud memanfaatkan Teuku Umar sebagai cara untuk
merebut hati rakyat Aceh. Teuku Umar kemudian masuk dinas militer.[3]
Ketika bergabung dengan Belanda, Teuku Umar menundukkan pos-pos
pertahanan Aceh, hal tersebut dilakukan Teuku Umar secara pura-pura untuk
mengelabui Belanda agar Teuku Umar diberi peran yang lebih besar. Taktik
tersebut berhasil, sebagai kompensasi atas keberhasilannya itu, pemintaan
Teuku Umar untuk menambah 17 orang panglima dan 120 orang prajurit,
termasuk seorang Pang Laot (panglima Laut) sebagai tangan kanannya,
dikabulkan.
Tahun 1884 Kapal Inggris "Nicero" terdampar. Kapten dan awak kapalnya
disandera oleh raja Teunom. Raja Teunom menuntut tebusan senilai 10
ribu dolar tunai. Oleh Pemerintah Kolonial Belanda Teuku Umar ditugaskan
untuk membebaskan kapal tersebut, karena kejadian tersebut telah
mengakibatkan ketegangan antara Inggris dengan Belanda.
Teuku Umar menyatakan bahwa merebut kembali Kapal "Nicero" merupakan
pekerjaan yang berat sebab tentara Raja Teunom sangat kuat, sehingga Inggris
sendiri tidak dapat merebutnya kembali. Namun ia sanggup merebut kembali
asal diberi logistik dan senjata yang banyak sehingga dapat bertahan dalam
jangka waktu yang lama.
Dengan perbekalan perang yang cukup banyak, Teuku Umar berangkat dengan
kapal "Bengkulen" ke Aceh Barat membawa 32 orang tentara Belanda dan
beberapa panglimanya. Tidak lama, Belanda dikejutkan berita yang menyatakan
bahwa semua tentara Belanda yang ikut, dibunuh di tengah laut. Seluruh senjata
dan perlengkapan perang lainnya dirampas. Sejak itu Teuku Umar kembali
memihak pejuang Aceh untuk melawan Belanda. Teuku Umar juga
menyarankan Raja Teunom agar tidak mengurangi tuntutannya.[3]
Teuku Umar membagikan senjata hasil rampasan kepada tentara Aceh, dan
memimpin kembali perlawanan rakyat. dan Teuku Umar berhasil merebut
kembali daerah 6 Mukim dari tangan Belanda. Nanta Setia, Cut Nyak Dhien dan
Teuku Umar kembali ke daerah 6 Mukim dan tinggal di Lampisang, Aceh Besar,
yang juga menjadi markas tentara Aceh.
2 tahun setelah insiden Nicero, pada 15 Juni 1886 merapatlah ke
bandar Rigaih kapal "Hok Canton" yang dinahkodai pelaut Denmark bernama
Kapten Hansen, dengan maksud menukarkan senjata dengan lada. Hansen
bermaksud menjebak Umar untuk naik ke kapalnya, menculiknya dan membawa
lari lada yang bakal dimuat, ke pelabuhan Ulee Lheu, dan diserahkan kepada
Belanda yang telah menjanjikan imbalan sebesar $ 25 ribu untuk kepala Teuku
Umar.
Umar curiga dengan syarat yang diajukan Hansen, dan mengirim utusan.
Hansen berkeras Umar harus datang sendiri. Teuku Umar lalu mengatur siasat.
Pagi dini hari salah seorang Panglima bersama 40 orang prajuritnya menyusup
ke kapal. Hansen tidak tahu kalau dirinya sudah dikepung.
Paginya Teuku Umar datang dan menuntut pelunasan lada sebanyak $ 5 ribu.
Namun Hansen ingkar janji, dan memerintahkan anak buahnya menangkap
Umar. Teuku Umar sudah siap, dan memberi isyarat kepada anak buahnya.
Hansen berhasil dilumpuhkan dan tertembak ketika berusaha melarikan diri.
Nyonya Hansen dan John Fay ditahan sebagai sandera, sedangkan awak kapal
dilepas. Belanda sangat marah karena rencananya gagal.[3]
Perang pun berlanjut, pada tahun 1891 Teungku Chik Di Tiro dan Teuku
Panglima Polem VIII Raja Kuala (ayah dari Teuku Panglima Polem IX
Muhammad Daud) gugur dalam pertempuran. Belanda sebenarnya pun sangat
kesulitan karena biaya perang terlalu besar dan lama.
Teuku Umar sendiri merasa perang ini sangat menyengsarakan rakyat. Rakyat
tidak bisa bekerja sebagaimana biasanya, petani tidak dapat lagi mengerjakan
sawah ladangnya. Teuku Umar pun mengubah taktik dengan cara menyerahkan
diri kembali kepada Belanda.
September 1893, Teuku Umar menyerahkan diri kepada Gubernur Deykerhooff
di Kutaraja bersama 13 orang Panglima bawahannya, setelah mendapat
jaminan keselamatan dan pengampunan. Teuku Umar dihadiahi gelar Teuku
Johan Pahlawan Panglima Besar Nederland. Istrinya, Cut Nyak Dien sempat
bingung, malu, dan marah atas keputusan suaminya itu. Umar suka menghindar
apabila terjadi percekcokan.[3]
Teuku Umar menunjukkan kesetiaannya kepada Belanda dengan sangat
meyakinkan. Setiap pejabat yang datang ke rumahnya selalu disambut dengan
menyenangkan. Ia selalu memenuhi setiap panggilan dari Gubernur Belanda di
Kutaraja, dan memberikan laporan yang memuaskan, sehingga ia mendapat
kepercayaan yang besar dari Gubernur Belanda.
Kepercayaan itu dimanfaatkan dengan baik demi kepentingan perjuangan rakyat
Aceh selanjutnya. Sebagai contoh, dalam peperangan Teuku Umar hanya
melakukan perang pura-pura dan hanya memerangi Uleebalang yang memeras
rakyat (misalnya Teuku Mat Amin). Pasukannya disebarkan bukan untuk
mengejar musuh, melainkan untuk menghubungi para Pemimpin pejuang Aceh
dan menyampaikan pesan rahasia.
Pada suatu hari di Lampisang, Teuku Umar mengadakan Pertemuan rahasia
yang dihadiri para pemimpin pejuang Aceh, membicarakan rencana Teuku Umar
untuk kembali memihak Aceh dengan membawa lari semua senjata dan
perlengkapan perang milik Belanda yang dikuasainya. Cut Nyak Dhien pun
sadar bahwa selama ini suaminya telah bersandiwara dihadapan Belanda untuk
mendapatkan keuntungan demi perjuangan Aceh. Bahkan gaji yang diberikan
Belanda secara diam-diam dikirim kepada para pemimpin pejuang untuk
membiayai perjuangan.[3]
Pada tanggal 30 Maret 1896, Teuku Umar keluar dari dinas militer Belanda
dengan membawa pasukannya beserta 800 pucuk senjata, 25.000 butir peluru,
500 kg amunisi, dan uang 18.000 dollar.
Berita larinya Teuku Umar menggemparkan Pemerintah Kolonial Belanda.
Gubernur Deykerhooff dipecat dan digantikan oleh Jenderal Vetter. Tentara baru
segera didatangkan dari Pulau Jawa. Vetter mengajukan ultimatum kepada
Umar, untuk menyerahkan kembali semua senjata kepada Belanda. Umar tidak
mau memenuhi tuntutan itu. maka pada tanggal 26 April 1896 Teuku Johan
Pahlawan dipecat sebagai Uleebalang Leupung dan Panglima Perang Besar
Gubernemen Hindia Belanda.
Teuku Umar mengajak uleebalang-uleebalang yang lain untuk memerangi
Belanda. Seluruh komando perang Aceh mulai tahun 1896 berada di bawah
pimginan Teuku Umar. la dibantu oleh istrinya Cut Nyak Dhien dan Panglima
Pang Laot, dan mendapat dukungan dari Teuku Panglima Polem Muhammad
Daud. Pertama kali dalam sejarah perang Aceh, tentara Aceh dipegang oleh
satu komando.
Pada bulan Februari 1898, Teuku Umar tiba di wilayah VII
Mukim Pidie bersama seluruh kekuatan pasukannya lalu bergabung dengan
Panglima Polem. Pada tanggal 1 April 1898, Teuku Panglima Polem bersama
Teuku Umar dan para Uleebalang serta para ulama terkemuka lainnya
menyatakan sumpah setianya kepada raja Aceh Sultan Muhammad Daud Syah.
Februari 1899, Jenderal Van Heutsz mendapat laporan dari mata-matanya
mengenai kedatangan Teuku Umar di Meulaboh, dan segera menempatkan
sejumlah pasukan yang cukup kuat di perbatasan Meulaboh. Malam
menjelang 11 Februari 1899 Teuku Umar bersama pasukannya tiba di pinggiran
kota Meulaboh. Pasukan Aceh terkejut ketika pasukan Van Heutsz mencegat.
Posisi pasukan Umar tidak menguntungkan dan tidak mungkin mundur. Satu-
satunya jalan untuk menyelamatkan pasukannya adalah bertempur. Dalam
pertempuran itu Teuku Umar gugur terkena peluru musuh yang menembus
dadanya.
Jenazahnya dimakamkan di Mesjid Kampung Mugo di Hulu Sungai Meulaboh.
Mendengar berita kematian suaminya, Cut Nyak Dhien sangat bersedih, namun
bukan berarti perjuangan telah berakhir. Dengan gugurnya suaminya tersebut,
Cut Nyak Dhien bertekad untuk meneruskan perjuangan rakyat Aceh melawan
Belanda. Ia pun mengambil alih pimpinan perlawanan pejuang Aceh.[3]
Atas pengabdian dan perjuangan serta semangat juang rela berkorban melawan
penjajah Belanda, Teuku Umar dianugerahi gelar Pahlawan Nasional. Nama
Teuku Umar juga diabadikan sebagai nama jalan di sejumlah daerah di tanah
air. Salah satu kapal perang TNI AL dinamakan KRI Teuku Umar (385). Selain
itu Universitas Teuku Umar di Meulaboh diberi nama berdasarkan namanya.