Invasion of Java (1811): Difference between revisions

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The '''invasion of Java''' was a successful British [[Amphibious warfare|amphibious operation]] against the [[Dutch East IndiesJava]] in the [[JavaDutch East Indies]] between August and September 1811 during the [[Napoleonic Wars]]. Originally established as a colony of the [[Dutch East India Company]], Java remained in Dutch hands throughout the [[French Revolutionary Wars]], during which the French [[Low Countries theatre of the War of the First Coalition|invaded]] the [[Dutch Republic]], transforming it into the [[Batavian Republic]] in 1795 and the [[Kingdom of Holland]] in 1806. The Kingdom of Holland was annexed to the [[First French Empire]] in 1810, and Java became a French colony, though it continued to be administered and garrisoned primarily with Dutch personnel.

After their capture of the [[French West Indies]] between 1809 and 1810, and a successful [[Mauritius campaign of 1809–1811|campaign against France's possessions in Mauritius]] from 1810 to 1811, British attention turned to the Dutch East Indies. An expedition was dispatched from [[Company rule in India|British India]] in April 1811, while a small squadron of [[Royal Navy]] frigates was ordered to patrol off the island, raiding shipping and launching amphibious assaults against [[Target of opportunity|targets of opportunity]]. British troops landed on 4 August, and by 8 August the undefended city of [[Batavia, Dutch East Indies|Batavia]] capitulated. The defenders withdrew to a previously prepared fortified position, Fort Cornelis, which the British besieged, capturing it early in the morning of 26 August. The remaining defenders, a mixture of Dutch and French regulars and native militiamen, withdrew, pursued by the British. A series of amphibious and land assaults captured most of the remaining strongholds, and the city of [[Salatiga]] surrendered on 16 September, followed by the official capitulation of the island to the British on 18 September.