The land, the Dutch, Raffles<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): In the 17th century, this region was one of the
\nmany targets of the V.O.C, the Dutch trading company, in its bid
\nto take over and monopolize trading, especially that of spices,
\nin Lampung.<\/p>\n
Sultan Agung Tirtayasa claimed Lampung as his territory when
\nhe ruled Banten until 1683.<\/p>\n
According to the Lampung Dalam Angka (Lampung in Figures)
\nreport, issued by the Lampung administration in 1998, Banten, at
\nthe time, was a busy trading center.<\/p>\n
The Dutch were worried that their businesses in Java, Sumatra
\nand Maluku would be affected due to the active trading in Banten.<\/p>\n
Sultan Agung's efforts to expand Banten's territory was met
\nwith strong opposition from the V.O.C., which was based in
\nBatavia.<\/p>\n
To take control of Banten and Sultan Agung, the Dutch
\nconspired to pit the sultan's son, Sultan Haji, against his
\nfather.<\/p>\n
In his dispute with his father, the young sultan asked the
\nV.O.C for help and pledged that if he won, the Dutch may have
\nfull authority over Lampung.<\/p>\n
Finally on April 7, 1682, Sultan Haji ousted his father and
\nassumed the throne.<\/p>\n
Four months later, the new sultan and his Dutch patrons
\nreached an agreement whereby the V.O.C was given full authority
\nto control the trade of spices and other goods in Lampung.<\/p>\n
The first V.O.C fleet, under the command of Van de Schuur,
\nanchored in the Tanjung Tiram waters, off Lampung. The commander
\nhad with him a letter of authorization from Sultan Haji.<\/p>\n
The mission, however, failed. The local authorities and people
\napparently refused to bow to Sultan Haji whom they considered to
\nbe working with the V.O.C..<\/p>\n
The Dutch later realized that the Banten sultanate did not
\nhave full authority over Lampung. Banten's representatives,
\ncalled Jenang (sometimes referred to as governors), only managed
\nthe trading of pepper in Lampung. The real rulers of Lampung were
\nthe Adipati (regents), who were found in almost every village and
\ntown.<\/p>\n
When Thomas Stamford Raffles, a British colonial
\nadministrator, established a settlement in Lampung in the early
\n19th century, he too refused to hand the area over to the Dutch,
\nsaying the land was never under the Dutch colony.<\/p>\n
It was only in 1829 when Raffles left Lampung that the area
\nhad its first Dutch ruler.<\/p>\n
At the time, the people of Lampung was led by Radin Inten, who
\nsince 1817 received strong support from the locals.<\/p>\n
In 1825, the Dutch ordered for Radin's capture, but they
\nfailed as the latter preemptively attacked and killed a Dutch
\ncommander and his personnel.<\/p>\n
After Radin Inten's death, his son, Radin Imba Kusuma, took
\nover. In 1834, the Dutch captured and sent Imba Kusuma into exile
\nin Timor.<\/p>\n
However, the Dutch still felt insecure because the locals
\ncontinued their efforts to drive them out of their land. The
\nDutch then formed mercenary troops by recruiting locals to
\nprotect their interests in Telukbetung and surrounding areas.<\/p>\n
A son of Imba Kusuma, Radin Inten II, who led attacks against
\nthe colonial masters, was captured and killed by the Dutch troops
\nfrom Batavia.<\/p>\n
Since then, the Dutch ruled freely in Lampung. Tobacco,
\ncoffee, rubber and oil palm plantations were then rapidly
\ndeveloped. (bsr)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/the-land-the-dutch-raffles-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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