Panglima Polém (Panglima Polém Sri Moeda Perkasa Dawot) was a Sagi head (Sagihoofd) of the XXII Moekims, Groot-Atjeh; great Acehnese strategist mentioned in Jongejan’s Land en Volk van Atjeh Vroeger en Nu in connection with Aceh. Still alive at time of writing; lives at Lam Sie near Seulimeum, ~40 km from Koetaradja.
Role
Sagi head (Sagihoofd) of the XXII Moekims, Groot-Atjeh; great Acehnese strategist
Account from Jongejans
Still alive at time of writing; lives at Lam Sie near Seulimeum, ~40 km from Koetaradja. Very pious, strict in faith. Full title: Panglima Polém Sri Moeda Perkasa Dawot. Tradition says he descends from Sultan Iskander Moeda via that Sultan’s son Panglima Polém Moeda Sertia Perkasa and an Abyssinian slave girl. The Polém lineage rivalled the Sultans in power; several times they besieged Sultans in their Dalem, drove them out and proclaimed new Sultans more compliant to them. Honest and loyal both in resistance and after submission. Resisted Pretendent-Sultan’s attempt to reconcile him with Teukoe Oemar; refused Polém’s sister’s marriage to Teukoe Oemar; even returned gifts. Eventually limited combined action with Pretendent-Sultan and Teukoe Oemar collapsed over dispute about firearms exchange. July 1896: Prang Sabil proclaimed; August 1896 Dutch ultimatum delivered to him and the oelèëbalangs of the XXVI moekims; Polém asked for a month’s delay (denied). End August 1896: chase began, his possession at Glé Jeuëng burned; retreated to Seulimeum; pushed through Pidië, Peusangan, Pasé; rested briefly behind Keureutòë and Geudong with brother-in-law Toeankoe Radja Keumala; Pretendent-Sultan joined. Pursued by marechausée brigades; fled to Gajo-landen, then Peutòë; constantly evaded capture while men like Webb, Colijn, Christoffel, Geertsema Beckering, Aukes pursued him like terriers. May 1903: his wife, mother and sister captured by Major Van der Maaten. September 1903: surrendered at Lho’ Seumawé to Colijn together with Toeankoe Radja Keumala and 150 followers. Restored as Sagihoofd der XXII moekims; wears Knight’s Cross of Order of Oranje-Nassau and the Great Golden Star for loyalty and merit.
Significance
Panglima Polém (Panglima Polém Sri Moeda Perkasa Dawot) appears in Jongejan’s account as one of the figures shaping the history of Aceh during the period covered by the book.
See Also
Source
Land en Volk van Atjeh Vroeger en Nu, by J. Jongejans, Oud-Resident van het Gewest Atjeh en Onderhoorigheden, with a foreword by Dr. H. Colijn (Baarn: Hollandia Drukkerij N.V., c. 1938), pp. 356, 357, 358, 359, 360, 361, 362, 363, 404, 405.