This Regent is the Richest in Java, but his People Suffer

The lavish lifestyle of officials amid the people’s difficulties often sparks public outrage. This phenomenon is not new. Since the colonial era, a similar pattern has formed and remains one of the roots explaining why such behaviour persists to this day.

For example, it occurred with one of the richest regents in Java at the time, namely the Regent of Cianjur, West Java, who served in the early 19th century. At that time, Cianjur was known as one of the most prosperous regions in Java.

Dutch historian Jan Breman, in his book Colonial Profits from Forced Labour: The Trade System of Compulsory Coffee Cultivation in Java 1720-1870 (2014), records that during the cultivation system (1830-1870), Cianjur became the largest coffee producer in the Priangan region. In 1806, its production even reached around 1.5 million coffee plants.

This wealth elevated the position of local elites, including the regent. According to historian Nina Herlina Lubis in The Life of the Priangan Nobility, 1800-1942 (1998), the regents were the wealthiest group in their regions. They obtained income from salaries, taxes, and unwritten feudal practices.

However, this prosperity was not felt by the people. The populace instead bore a heavy burden from the forced coffee cultivation system. The hard work of the farmers formed the foundation of the region’s wealth, but the results flowed more into the colonial coffers and were enjoyed by local elites, including the regent.

Moreover, the Regent of Cianjur was known for his lavish lifestyle. Jan Breman notes that the regent often travelled around in a gold-plated carriage, like a great nobleman.

“Like a consumptive great lord, they shopped for luxury goods at high prices. On their return, they brought opium, tobacco, and cotton, items that would be sold to their subordinates,” writes Breman.

This extravagance even had a direct impact on other regions. Dutch colonial official Multatuli, in his novel Max Havelaar (1860), highlighted how the Regent of Cianjur’s visit to Lebak burdened the area he passed through.

According to him, the regent arrived with a large entourage that had to be hosted by the local area.

“Hundreds of people, all of whom had to be accommodated and fed, as well as their horses,” writes Multatuli.

According to Nina Herlina Lubis, this condition was inseparable from the view of power at the time. The regency was positioned as a stage, with the regent as the main actor who had to display grandeur.

“The regency is like a performance stage with the regent as the lead actor who must act impressively,” states Nina.

In the end, history shows a pattern that continues to repeat. Power often walks hand in hand with the luxury of the elite, while the people continue to bear the suffering.