Java War
Java War | |||||||
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Part of the Dutch colonial campaigns | |||||||
From top, left to right: Submission of Dipo Negoro to De Kock, Attack of the column Le Bron de Vexela on Diepo Negoro near Gawok, Charge of the Hussars under Lieutenant Ferrouge at Magelang, Storming of Pleret. | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Javanese rebels | |||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
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Strength | |||||||
50,000 | 100,000 | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
15,000 killed (8,000 Dutch and 7,000 native)[1] | 20,000 killed | ||||||
200,000 Javanese civilian killed[1] |
The Java War (
The rebel forces laid siege to Yogyakarta, a move that prevented a quick victory. This gave the Dutch time to reinforce their army with colonial and European troops, allowing them to end the siege in 1825. After this defeat, the rebels continued fighting a guerrilla war for five years.
The war ended in a Dutch victory, and Prince Diponegoro was invited to a peace conference. He was betrayed and captured. Due to the cost of the war, Dutch colonial authorities implemented major reforms throughout the Dutch East Indies to ensure the colonies remained profitable.
History
The direct cause of the Java War was the decision by the Dutch to build a road across a piece of Diponegoro's property that contained his parents' tomb. Longstanding grievances reflected tensions between the Javanese aristocracy and the increasingly powerful Dutch. Javanese aristocratic families were resentful about Dutch laws restricting their rental profits. The Dutch, meanwhile, were unwilling to lose influence over the Yogyakartan court.
Dutch influence also affected the cultural dynamics of Java. A devout
Following a common colonial strategy, the Dutch worked to exacerbate a succession crisis for the Yogyakartan throne. Diponegoro was the eldest son of Hamengkubuwono III, but his right to succeed was disputed because his mother was not the queen. Diponegoro's rivals were his younger half-brother Hamengkubuwono IV and his then-infant nephew Hamengkubuwono V, who were supported by the Dutch.
Hostilities
The Java War began 21 July 1825 when Prince Diponegoro raised the standard of revolt on his estate at Selarong.[3] The rebel forces were successful in the early stages of the war, taking control of central Java and besieging Yogyakarta. The Javanese population was generally supportive of Prince Diponegoro's cause.
However, as the war persisted, Prince Diponegoro had difficulties retaining his army. By contrast, the Dutch colonial army was able to fill its ranks with indigenous troops from Sulawesi, and eventually received reinforcements of European troops from the Netherlands. Dutch commander General de Kock ended the rebel siege on Yogyakarta on 25 September 1825.
Prince Diponegoro then began an extensive
The rebellion ended in 1830, after Prince Diponegoro was tricked into entering Dutch-controlled territory near Magelang, under the pretense of negotiations for a possible ceasefire. He was captured and exiled to Manado, and then to Makassar, where he died in 1855.[5]
Aftermath
Dutch sources estimated 200,000 Javanese deaths; about one tenth in combat and the remainder from disease, starvation and other causes. Dutch military fatalities were 15,000, of which 8,000 were Europeans. [6]
Due to the Dutch forces' heavy losses, the colonial government decided to enlist African recruits in
The war was detrimental to Dutch finances; thus, the pacification of Java enabled the colonial government of the
Alternatively, peasants had to work in government-owned plantations for 60 days of the year. Dutch colonialists and their native allies amassed enormous wealth through this forced-export system. The profits from the colony more than repaid the Netherlands for the war, and made the Dutch East Indies self-sufficient.
References
- ^ a b Prasojo, Munif; Herlia, Tati (2021). "TOTAL WAR OF THE PAST IN INDONESIA, CASE STUDY: JAVA / DIPONEGORO WAR" (PDF). International Journal of Arts and Social Science. 4 (3): 13–44.
- ISBN 9781134691289.
- JSTOR 565191.
- ISBN 978-0804721950
- ISBN 0844299065
- ^ Koloniale oorlogen in Indonesië, Piet Hagen, Arbeiderspers, 2018, Pag. 310-338.
Bibliography
- Carey, P.B.R.Babad Dipanagara: an account of the outbreak of the Java War (1825–30): the Surakarta court version of the Babad Dipanagara Kuala Lumpur: Printed for the Council of the M.B.R.A.S. by Art Printing Works, 1981. Monograph (Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Malaysian Branch); no. 9.
- MC Ricklefs, A History of modern Indonesia since 1300, 2nd ed, 1993, pp. 116–117.
- Sagimun M. D. Pangeran Dipanegara: pahlawan nasional [Jakarta]: Proyek Biografi Pahlawan Nasional, Departemen Pendidikan dan Kebudayaan, 1976. (In Indonesian)
External links
- Media related to Java War at Wikimedia Commons