Semarang was under the control of the British

1811

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Caption Bahasa Indonesia

Earl of Minto's portrait

Source: National Portrait Gallery St Martin's Place London

In May 1811, the Governor-General position formerly held by H.W. Daendels was succeeded by Willem Janssens. Shortly after, the British came through the Java Sea and began invading the Dutch East Indies, including Semarang, which started the British Interregnum.

Related events:

4 August 1811 - A group of 60 British Sovereign of the Seas warships were preparing to invade Java under the command of Rear Admiral Robert Stopford, General Sir Samuel Auchmuty, and Gillbert Elliot- Eart Minto the First (figure in portrait). The attack was to be carried out via Chillin-Ching, Batavia.

There was a battle between the British and French forces at Weltevreden (now the Sawah Besar area, Central Jakarta) that forced the French to retreat with more than 500 men killed.

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26 August 1811 - Batavia was occupied by British forces, while Janssens managed to retreat to Semarang where Mangkunegaran troops from Yogyakarta and Surakarta joined him. However, many Javanese troops later betrayed Janssens, leaving behind the troops of Prince Prangwadana (later Mangkunegara II). In the end, Janssens was pushed back to the Tuntang area (near Salatiga) and surrendered on 18 September 1811. Following Janssens' surrender, an expedition led by Lord Minto finally gained control of the Dutch East Indies and the start of British rule.