A brief history of Mataram-VOC treaty: A glimpse of Javanese elite political dynamics

1677 - 1708

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Caption Bahasa Indonesia

Untung Surapati's ambush that killed Captain Tack at Kartasura; Amangkurat II (above right) is suspected to have participated in this ambush.

Source: Collectie Tropenmuseum Schildering voorstellende de moord op kapitein Tack in Kartasura. Painting by Tirto from Grisek (1686).

October 1677 & January 1678 - A new VOC-Mataram treaty was signed. In this treaty, the VOC is promised revenue from the coastal ports until the costs of supporting the military campaign to repel Trunajaya's advance are paid off. In addition, the VOC was granted a monopoly on the purchase of rice and sugar, a monopoly on the import of textiles and opium, freedom from taxation, as well as direct cession of the territory of Semarang and recognition of Batavia's boundaries reaching southwards to the Indian Ocean; thus the entire Priangan highlands became VOC territory.

1680 - Relations between Amangkurat II and the VOC deteriorate further. Debt payments due for VOC military expenses are not paid; supplies of rice, timber, and sugar are hampered; the costs of the VOC garrison at court are not met; jurisdictional and boundary disputes arise over the cession of Semarang to the VOC, so that the VOC has to postpone the transfer of its headquarters to Semarang, and temporarily use Jepara as the headquarters for the east-north coast of Java.

1682 - The VOC abolished interest on the king's debts, in order to motivate Amangkurat II to pay off some of his debts which had reached 1.540.000 reals (Spanish's reals); or five times the total amount estimated for Mataram at the time of Trunajaya's takeover in 1677.

1686 - The VOC discovers letters written earlier by Amangkurat II linking the Mataram king with the Raja Sakti of Minangkabau (Yang Dipertuan Ahmad Syah bin Iskandar), to forge a broad-based alliance against the VOC. Amangkurat II was also found to have sent letters to Cirebon in 1686 and to Siam in 1687, and apparently also attempted to establish contact with Johor and Palembang to form an anti-VOC alliance.

1703 - Amangkurat II passed away, the throne of Mataram was passed on to his son Raden Mas Sutikna with the title Amangkurat III. However, on the opposition axis emerged Pangeran Puger, who was the brother of Amangkurat II and uncle of Amangkurat III who also participated in the contestation of the Mataram throne.

1704 - Pangeran Puger came into conflict with Amangkurat III, which forced him to go to Semarang to try to convince the VOC while asking for military support against Amangkurat III who had formed an alliance with VOC enemy Untung Surapati. Pangeran Puger argued that he was the rightful ruler of Java, and the Javanese people supported and recognised this claim.

The Dutch, who were strongly influenced by Cakraningrat II of West Madura; who was considered the only reliable ally of the VOC, supported Prince Puger's claim and Cakraningrat II convinced the VOC that Prince Puger had the support of the majority of Javanese to become ruler. In June 1704, the VOC declared Prince Puger as Susuhunan Pakubuwana I.

October 1705 - A new contractual agreement is reached between Pakubuwana I and the VOC. The Dutch abolished the Mataram dynasty's debts accumulated up to 1705 in return for Pakubuwana I granting major concessions to the VOC. The major concessions granted to the VOC included:

1. Acknowledgment of Batavia's boundaries as far as Priangan;

2. Declaration of Cirebon as a protectorate (VOC-controlled area);

3. The acquisition of the eastern region of Madura;

4. Confirmation of the VOC's full control of Semarang;

5. Right to build defence forts/ strongholds in any part of Java Island;

6. There are no longer restrictions on the amount of rice commodity purchases;

7. Confirmation of the monopoly of opium and textile imports;

8. 800 koyans (approximately 1300 metric tonnes) of free rice annually over a period of 25 years;

9. Restoration of the VOC garrison at the king's expense;

10. Restrictions for Javanese to sailing further east than Lombok, further north than Kalimantan, or further west than Lampung (South Sumatra).

1706 - A battle between the VOC and the alliance of Untung Surapati and Amangkurat III occurred, Untung Surapati died in the battle at Bangil.

1707 - Pasuruan is conquered by the VOC, Amangkurat III and his son Untung Surapati flee to Malang.

1708 - Amangkurat III finally agreed to negotiate with the VOC, relying on his understanding of the VOC's promise that Amangkurat III would be allowed to rule part of Java and not be required to bow to Pakubuwana I. However, it seems that the VOC was better at fighting wars than keeping promises. Amangkurat III was captured and exiled to Ceylon (Sri Lanka) until his death in 1734.

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