Java War (1741–1743): Difference between revisions

Revision as of 03:23, 30 November 2024

Revision as of 03:25, 30 November 2024

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With more uprisings appearing in eastern Java, the company was approached by Prince {{nowrap|Cakraningrat IV}} of [[Madura]], who offered to ally himself with the Dutch if they would support his bid to establish his own kingdom in the area;{{sfn|Setiono|2008|p=148}} {{nowrap|Cakraningrat IV}}, formerly a great warrior for Mataram, had taken offence to being left out of {{nowrap|Pakubuwono II}}'s earlier war deliberations and was ready to launch a war of his own against the Sunan's forces.{{sfn|Ricklefs|1983|pp=278–280}} After the Dutch agreed, {{nowrap|Cakraningrat IV}} severed his ties with Mataram, returning his wife ({{nowrap|Pakubuwono II}}'s sister), to Kartosuro.{{sfn|Raffles|1830|p=241}} Throughout June and July {{nowrap|Cakraningrat IV}}'s troops attempted to kill all ethnic Chinese, first starting in Madura then spreading to Tuban, [[Surabaya]], Jipang, and Gresik.{{efn|Sources are unclear as to the number of deaths, although in Gresik the total is estimated to be 400.{{sfn|Raffles|1830|p=241}}{{sfn|Setiono|2008|p=149}}}}{{sfn|Setiono|2008|p=149}} By 12 July, all Chinese in the Surabaya and Gresik areas had either escaped or been killed.{{sfn|Setiono|2008|p=147}}

On 9 July {{nowrap|Pakubuwono II}} ordered the execution of Prince Tepasana and another younger brother, accused of being informants for Velsen; their families, including Tepasana's preteen son Raden Mas Garendi, were exiled.{{sfn|Ricklefs|1983|p=288}} {{nowrap|Pakubuwono II}} soon afterwards openly showed his support for the Chinese rebellion in July with a sneak attack.{{sfn|Setiono|2008|p=147}}{{sfn|Raffles|1830|p=241}} His troops entered the Dutch garrison in Kartasura, under the pretension of helping to prepare for a Chinese attack, on {{nowrap|20 July}}.{{sfn|Raffles|1830|p=241}} Once inside, the Javanese soldiers opened fire, surprising the Dutch; despite being caught unaware and losing thirty-five men in the initial attack, the Dutch were able to hold out for three weeks.{{sfn|Raffles|1830|p=241}}{{sfn|Ricklefs|1983|p=280}} However, after the Chinese joined the battle, the garrison soon fell, with Velsen being executed and other surviving troops being given the choice (or [[forced conversion|forced]]) to [[religious conversion|convert to Islam]] or be killed.{{sfn|Setiono|2008|p=147}}{{sfn|Raffles|1830|p=241}} They circumcised the Dutch and the Javanese seized the Dutch children and women as booty after executing the Dutch leader.<ref name="Raffles1817">{{cite book|author=Thomas Stamford Raffles|title=The History of Java|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FOhCAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA218|year=1817|page=218}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=The History of Java|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iWldAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA218\|year=1817|page=218|last1 = Raffles|first1 = Sir Thomas Stamford}}</ref> Meanwhile, Khe Pandjang's troops were driven out of Bekasi and joined with 1,000 soldiers under the command of Captain Ismail to capture [[Tegal (city)|Tegal]].{{sfn|Setiono|2008|p=147}}

On 25 July, Visscher's replacement Abraham Roos—sent in late June because Visscher was considered mentally unstable—arrived in Semarang with 170 men, noting that the company only controlled the fortress, European quarters and beachhead.{{sfn|Setiono|2008|p=146}}{{sfn|Ricklefs|1983|p=273}} After Roos' arrival, the Dutch government began sending more reinforcements, eventually totalling at least 1,400 Dutch and 1,600 Indonesian soldiers.{{sfn|Ricklefs|1983|p=273}} By November 1741, the company's fortress in Semarang was surrounded by 3,500 Chinese and 20,000 Javanese troops, who were armed with 30 cannons, as opposed to 3,400 Dutch and loyalist troops.{{sfn|Setiono|2008|p=145}}{{sfn|Ricklefs|1983|p=281}} With the superior Dutch firepower and tactics causing {{nowrap|Pakubuwono II}}'s troops to scatter, the siege was eventually broken and an expedition was able to reclaim Jepara.{{sfn|Ricklefs|1983|p=281}}