The Sultanate of Aceh, officially the Kingdom of Aceh Darussalam (Acehnese: Keurajeun Acèh Darussalam) is a sultanate centered in the modern area of Aceh Province, Sumatra, Indonesia, which is a major regional power in the 16th and 17th centuries, before experiencing a long period of decline.
Its capital is Kutaraja, the present Banda Aceh.
At its peak it is a formidable enemy of the sultanate of Johor and Portuguese-controlled Malacca, both on the Malayan Peninsula, as all three attempted to control the trade through the Strait of Malacca and the regional exports of pepper and tin with fluctuating success.
In addition to its considerable military strength, the court of Aceh becomes a noted center of Islamic scholarship and trade.
