Battle of Siluk

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Battle of Siluk
Part of the Java War
Date17 September 1829
Location
Siluk, Yogyakarta Sultanate
Result Dutch victory
Belligerents
Dutch East Indies Javanese rebels
Commanders and leaders
Col. Cochius
Lt. Col. Sollewijn
Lt. Col. Le Bron de Vexela		 Diponegoro
Sentot Prawirodirdjo
Prabuningrat †
Strength
c. 1,500 c. 300
Casualties and losses
54 killed

The Battle of Siluk was an engagement at the closing stages of the Java War between rebel forces of Prince Diponegoro, commanded by Sentot Prawirodirdjo, and Dutch colonial forces on 17 September 1829. Dutch forces, pursuing Diponegoro, attempted to surround his force at the village of Siluk, and after a battle, scattered the remnants of the rebel force while failing to capture Diponegoro.

Prelude

In June 1829, the Dutch colonial army launched an offensive to defeat the last rebel forces under Diponegoro within the Yogyakarta Sultanate.[1] Diponegoro's forces was defeated in a series of engagements during the offensive, reducing their remaining numbers from 700 in June to around 300. Several villages used as their bases were also captured. By September, the remaining rebels were forced to the vicinity of the Selarong hills in modern Bantul.[2]

Battle

On 16 September, the Dutch pursuing force under Colonel Cochius learned of Diponegoro's arrival at the village of Siluk (or Selo).[3] The Dutch force consisted of three mobile columns: one under Cochius, and two more under lieutenant colonels Le Bron de Vexela and Sollewijn.[4] On average, a Dutch column comprised roughly 500 soldiers.[5] They quickly pursued, and managed to arrive at the village unnoticed the following day. Dutch troops took up positions to surround the village and cut off the rebels' escape. One of the Dutch units east of Siluk was discovered, and fighting ensued.[6]

The rebels, mostly cavalrymen, began to retreat in close order, with 50 cavalrymen under the command of Diponegoro's uncle Prince Prabuningrat covering their retreat. In the battle, 20 of the defending cavalrymen were killed, including Prabuningrat.[6] His body was later identified by his diamond-decorated kris.[7] Diponegoro managed to flee west across the Progo River, separated from his commander Sentot Prawirodirdjo who escaped southwards.[4] Diponegoro's knowledge of the Progo River enabled his escape, as Dutch cavalrymen pursuing him had their horses swept away by the river's currents.[8] 54 men were killed on the rebels' side, including seven leading nobles according to Diponegoro's account.[4]

Aftermath

Shortly after a battle, a bounty of 20 thousand

guilders was placed on Diponegoro.[9] A number of rebel commanders operating in the north of the Yogyakarta Sultanate surrendered to the Dutch upon news of the battle, with Sentot surrendering in October.[10] Another key rebel commander, Jayakusuma I [id], was killed on 21 September in an ambush.[7] After Siluk and the ensuing losses of his commanders throughout September and October, Diponegoro was "virtually alone", and would eventually agree to negotiations with the Dutch in person, leading to his capture in March 1830 ending the war.[11] Indonesian military historian Saleh Djamhari wrote that the defeat at Siluk virtually ended any military threat remaining from the rebels.[12]

References

  1. ^ Djamhari, Saleh A. (2002). Stelsel benteng dalam pemberontakan Diponegoro 1827-1830: suatu kajian sejarah perang (Thesis) (in Indonesian). University of Indonesia. pp. 255–261.
  2. ^ Djamhari 2002, pp. 262–268.
  3. ^ Djamhari 2002, p. 268.
  4. ^ a b c Djamhari 2002, p. 269.
  5. ISBN 978-90-6718-303-1
    .
  6. ^ a b Hageman, J. (1856). Geschiedenis van den oorlog op Java, van 1825 tot 1830 (in Dutch). Lange & Co. pp. 370–371.
  7. ^ a b Carey 2015, pp. 657–658.
  8. ^ Carey 2015, p. 660.
  9. ^ Djamhari 2002, p. 270.
  10. ^ Djamhari 2002, pp. 271–272.
  11. ^ Carey 2015, p. 659.
  12. ^ Djamhari 2002, p. 278.
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