Banten–Dutch war (1656–1659)
| Banten–Dutch war (1656–1659) | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Depiction of Banten troops, 1646. | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||||
| Banten Sultanate | |||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
|
Sultan Abulfath Aria Wangsakara Saranurbaya (WIA) # Arya Mangunjaya Prayakarti † | Joan Maetsuycker | ||||||||
| Strength | |||||||||
|
Thousands of troops Hundreds of ships | Unknown, but larger | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
| Hundreds of troops were killed and numerous ships sunk | 1,000–2,000 killed | ||||||||
The Bantenese–Dutch War of 1656–1659 was a conflict between the Banten Sultanate and the Dutch East India Company (VOC) that took place in West Java from 1656 to 1659. The war began when the Banten Sultanate attacked Batavia, the capital city of the Dutch East Indies in present-day Indonesia. The war ended with numerous victories on the Banten side. The Dutch suffered heavy losses, with many of their strategic lodges destroyed and their gold and weapons seized.
Background
The Dutch conquered the Banten city of Jayakarta on 29 May 1619. On 30 May, the Dutch began rebuilding the city, renaming it "Batavia".[1]
When Ageng Tirtayasa of Banten was crowned Sultan of Banten in 1651, he worked to modernize the state and strengthen relations with the Danish East Indies and the Cirebon Sultanate. He also started to build irrigation at Pontang for the supplies of his forces in the ambush of Dutch ships.[2]
Sultan Ageng opposed the VOC's goal of ruling the north coast of Java and blockade Chinese and Persian traders coming to Java, limiting the trade activity of the Banten Sultanate. To prevent the VOC from achieving economic dominance in the region, Sultan Ageng declared war on the Dutch.[3]
Action at Angke-Tangerang
In 1655, Bantenese forces ambushed VOC ships that sailed in Angke-Tangerang. The forces also infiltrated and attacked the VOC's sugarcane factory. In the aftermath of the attacks, the VOC closed their office and lodges and the Bantenese prepared their forces to launch further military action upon the VOC.[4]
War
Sack on Batavia (1656)
In 1656, Bantenese forces launched action on Batavia, engaging in substantial robbery and rapture, mass killings of the civilians and VOC officials, burning, plundering, and attacking many VOC farms. Banten troops ambushed VOC troops who were conducting night patrols and killed their commander.[5] The Banten forces hijacked VOC ships when they sailed into Batavia from Malacca City, however, the VOC was worried by the Banten forces after massive damage on Batavia.[6]
Battle of Angke
To distract the VOC, the troops led by Ngabehi and Prayakarti got a mission to attack the villages and burn much of their sugarcane. Another troop, led by Senopati, moved into the enemy positions and encircled them with Demang Narapraksa and Demang Wirapraksa, who silently infiltrated the VOC positions and slowly started the sieges.[7]
The forces led by Ngabehi and Prayakarti were silently successful in burning and attacking numerous villages and sugarcane fields. The forces led by Senopati moved to the east and slowly encircled the VOC forces, making sure VOC movement was slowed.[8]
The forces led by Narapaksa and Wirapaksa attacked the VOC forces and inflicted heavy losses. While the Banten forces were successful, Bantenese commander Prayakarti was killed in the action.[9]
Battle of Pontang
Prince Bagus and his forces launched naval actions at Pontang, aiming to ambush the VOC ships by hiding between Dua islands. When the VOC fleets came into the islands, the Banten forces launched their attacks and easily defeated the VOC fleets, capturing many of their weapons.[8]
Balukbuk incidents
The Sarantaka and Sacantaka fleets placed many traps to destroy VOC junks in Balukbuk. When the VOC ships came into Balukbuk, the Banten unexpectedly attacked and stormed the junks. The VOC fleets and troops were trapped by this attack. In the end, many of the VOC forces were massacred in their ships by the Banten forces.[9]
Ambush on Tanjung Barangrang
Prince Bagus and his forces also launched naval action at Tanjung Barangrang to defeat the VOC junks from Malacca. Prince Bagus and his forces easily defeated the VOC fleets and most of the VOC crews were massacred or captured by Bantenese forces.[8]
Ambush on Gosong Busang
Kyai Haji Abbas troops conducted naval attacks at Gosong Busang, aiming to defeat the VOC junks. The forces were also able to capture most of their weapons and their flag, as well as treasure and canons.[8]
Battle of Karawang
The forces led by Rangga Natajiwa and Wirapana successfully defeated the VOC forces at Karawang. These forces also stormed many of the VOC outposts, causing the VOC to retreat in other places.[8]
Ambush on Port Ratu
The forces led by Saranurbaya launched naval actions at Port Ratu and successfully defeated the VOC fleets. The ambush affected the economy of the VOC, but Saranurbaya suffered heavy wounds and died five days later.[8]
Siege of Surosowan
On the Gulf of Banten, in the front of Surosowan town, the 11 warships of the VOC came and started to besiege the Banten forces from the Lima islands to the Dua islands. In Surosowan, the Banten forces with their strong cannon troops started to fire on many VOC ships, and thus occurred the major naval actions.[9]
A few of the Banten cannons were hitting their targets and causing heavy damage, such as Si Jaka Pekik and Si Muntab. The Si Kalantaka had success in shelling and putting fire to the VOC ships. Many of the VOC ships retreated because of the heavy losses and damage.[10][11]
Battle of Tangerang
The next day, the forces led by Arya Mangunjaya were marched from Surosowan to Tangerang, along with many wounded soldiers, POW, and many Dutch weapons and cannons which were captured by Banten forces.[9] The battle continued in the following days, many of the troops on both sides were heavily wounded and retreated to their bases.[12]
With the bravery of Arya Mangunjaya, his forces continued the attacks and penetrated the VOC troops into the border in the West Batavia. Many of the VOC officials and the military staff of Batavia retreated because of the attacks and the Banten forces successfully captured West Batavia.[11]
Aftermath
At the end of war, VOC suffered humiliating and heavy losses. To end the conflict, the VOC decided to offer a peace agreement to Ageng Tirtayasa of Banten, but Sultan Ageng refused to make peace with the VOC. To persuade the Sultans to make peace with the VOC, they called the Sultan of Jambi (an ally of Banten) to help the VOC. Sultan Jambi agreed to the VOC and giving their ambassadors to Banten, and with that, the Sultan Ageng finally agreed to make peace with the VOC and ended the war.[11][12][13]
References
- ^ Iswara, Raditya (2018-05-30). "Kala J.P. Coen Menaklukkan Jayakarta dan Mendirikan Batavia". tirto.id (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2025-02-12.
- ^ Yuda, Prinada (2021-05-22). "Sejarah Perlawanan Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa Terhadap VOC". tirto.id (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2025-02-12.
- ^ Nibras, Nada (2021-10-06). "Alasan Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa Melakukan Perlawanan terhadap VOC". kompas.id (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2025-02-12.
- ^ Nina 2024, p. 2.
- ^ Halwani 1989, p. 96.
- ^ Halwani 1989, p. 92.
- ^ Halwani 1989, p. 101.
- ^ a b c d e f Halwani 1989, p. 102.
- ^ a b c d Halwani 1989, p. 103.
- ^ Hoessein 1983, p. 76.
- ^ a b c "Jalannya Pertempuran di Banten". humas.pdg (in Indonesian). 9 May 2010. Retrieved 2025-02-12.
- ^ a b Halwani 1989, p. 104.
- ^ Hoessein 1983, p. 77.
Citations
- Nina, Herlina (2024-03-01). "Konflik Antara Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa Dengan VOC Dam Sultan Haji". Unpad.
- Halwani, Michrob (1989). Catatan Masa Lalu Banten [The Past Of Banten] (in Indonesian). Serang Regency: Indonesian Teachers Association (PGRI).
- Hoessein, Djajadiningrat (1983). Tinjauan kritis tentang Sejarah Banten. Djambatan.