Nuku Rebellion

Nuku Rebellion
Part of the Dutch colonial campaigns
Nuku, Sultan Muhammad Amiruddin Syah
Date 1780–1810 Location Maluku Islands and Western New Guinea Result Phase 1: Tidore victory Phase 2: Dutch victory
Belligerents
Dutch Empire Sultanate of Ternate	Sultanate of Tidore Tidore rebels Ceram rebels Papuan rebels
Commanders and leaders
Governor J. G. Budach Governor W. J. Cranssen Kamaluddin of Tidore	Nuku of Tidore Zainal Abidin of Tidore Muhammad Arif Bila of Jailolo

The Nuku Rebellion was an anti-colonial movement that engulfed large parts of Maluku Islands and Western New Guinea between 1780 and 1810. It was initiated by the prince and later sultan of Tidore, Nuku Muhammad Amiruddin (c. 1738 – 1805), also known as Prince Nuku or Sultan Nuku.^[1] The movement united several ethnic groups of eastern Indonesia in the struggle against the Dutch and was temporarily successful, helped by an alliance with the British East India Company. After the demise of Nuku it was however defeated, and Maluku was restored under European rule. In modern time, Nuku was officially appointed a National Hero of Indonesia.

Background

Nuku or Amiruddin was born in Soa Siu, Tidore, in about 1738.^[2] His father was Sultan Jamaluddin, a ruler of the Sultanate of Tidore, who was arrested and exiled to Batavia by the Dutch colonials in 1779.^[3] His junior kinsman was Kamaluddin who later became sultan and a rival of Nuku.^[4][5]

Fighting against the Dutch

After the exile of his father, the Dutch appointed Kaicil Gay Jira as regent of the sultanate, who was later replaced by his son, Patra Alam; Amiruddin opposed this replacement. Amiruddin then built a kora-kora armada around Seram Island and Papua, while Patra Alam ruled as Dutch-appointed sultan in 1780–1783.^[4][5]

In 1781, Amiruddin declared that he bore the title "Sri Maha Tuan Sultan Amir Muhammad Saifuddin Syah" ("The Great Overlord Sultan Amir Muhammad Saifuddin, the Shah"). Responding to this, the Dutch attacked and defeated Amiruddin's army; however, Amiruddin was not caught. In 1783, the Dutch attacked Amiruddin's army again. The Dutch commander and most of his men were killed, and the survivors were captured.^[6]

In October 1783, the Dutch post on Tidore was attacked by Amiruddin's force, and all the Europeans were killed. This was heating up the rivalry between the kingdom of Ternate and Tidore. In November of the same year, Ternate helped the Dutch attack Tidore. The Dutch then, in December, enforced an agreement and appointed Sultan Hairul Alam Kamaluddin Kaicili Asgar, a prince exiled to Ceylon, as the new puppet sultan.^[6]

In 1787, Amiruddin's base in eastern Seram was attacked and seized by the Dutch forces; however, Amiruddin managed to escape. Amiruddin then built a new base in Gorong island. He also entered a friendly relationship with Britain.^[5] After receiving some armaments from Britain, Amiruddin's army attacked the Dutch and won the battle.^[7] The Dutch then offered Amiruddin a position, if he would negotiate with Sultan Kamaluddin; however, Amiruddin refused the proposition. Instead, he increased the frequency of his attacks against the Dutch, who were assisted by Sultan Kamaluddin's forces.^[8] In 1794, Jamaluddin's son Zainal Abidin, who had returned from exile, supported Amiruddin's effort. Several rulers of Papua also sided with him. In February 1795, Abdulgafur, Amiruddin's son, led a force to Tidore.^[9]

Course of the Hostiles

Early Conflict (1780-1781)

Records show that Prince Nuku did not need long to gather troops in the outskirts of Tidore. Papuans from Raja Ampat, Gamrange people from Southeast Halmahera (Maba, Weda and Patani), Gebe and East Seram people are very ready to support his struggle. They have been connected with Tidore for more than a century through one day in November or December 1780 Prince Nuku 1781 to the Governor of Ambon, Van Pleuren, he called himself Sultan Muhammad Saifudin Sah, King of Papua. Since the attack on Toloa, relations between Tidore and the three governments, especially Ternate, have revolved around Prince Nuku's rebellion. Prince Nuku repeatedly attacked Dutch subjects. In response, the Dutch invaded areas whose residents were considered supporters of Prince Nuku. The newly appointed Sultan of Patra Alam became powerless, almost completely overshadowed by the power of the Nuku prince over the outskirts of Tidore.^[10]

Sack of Nusatelu (1780)

In the following months in 1780 Prince Nuku's troops attacked and plundered the Nusatelu Islands (Drie Gebroeders), Amblau, Haia, and Luhu, capturing and enslaving 134 residents.^[10]

Two European soldiers and eight native soldiers were injured in clashes near Kramat Di Buru. Many residents in Hatileng were massacred or fled ^[10]

Battle of Amahai (1781)

In December 1781, together with a combined fleet of 160 ships they attacked and looted Amahai, one of the villages under Saparua's rule. Even though one of Prince Nuku's captains was beheaded, the rebels managed to kill Sergeant Cornelis Stephanus and a European soldier who dared to attack them in Itawaka.^[11]

Saparua Campaign (1782)

The attackers then looted other countries in Saparua and attacked Hatuana in the northern part of the island. In early February 1782 the attackers again attacked the inland of Saparua and invaded Nusa Laut Island, burning Negeri Amet and killing a Dutch officer.^[11]

Ambush at Babi Island (1782)

Before the fleet could unite, 64 rebel ships ambushed them on Babi Island. a ship belonging to the king of Nusa Laut and three other ships along with all their weapons were captured. Gnatahoedij Mardika drowned, Raja Soya and 29 of his men also drowned, were killed or captured by the rebels.^[11]

Battle of Gorong (1791)

The 'Battle of Gorong' (Dutch: Gorong Oorlog) or also called the Battle of Gorom, was a series of the 30 year war of Sultan Nuku from the Sultanate of Tidore. More than half of the Nuku war took place in East Seram. The people of East Seram are known to be the most loyal in protecting Nuku from VOC and Ternate pursuit.^{[12] [13]} On May 23, 1791, the peak of the battle occurred on Kataloka beach. Two VOC flagships were burned. Captain Gobius was trapped in a small river between Ondor and Kataloka. Nuku and King Bessy's troops from two opposite directions attacked Gobius' troops. The captain, who had experience in European wars, fell with a gunshot wound to the left thigh and a spear in the left stomach. Unfortunately, he died on the spot. Hundreds of Gobius troops died on the coast of Gorom. Captain Walterbek followed to help but it was too late, Admiral Straring withdrew his troops and returned to Banda. ^[14]

Reconquest Of Tidore (1796-1797)

In 1796, British forces seized Banda Island. They also gave limited assistance to Amiruddin to take control of Tidore Island on 12 April 1797, after surrounding the island with 79 of Kora-Kora and one British Ships. However On a few month Nuku's get his Victory on 1797 in this Military Campaign ^[15]

Conquest Of Ternate (1798-1801)

The idea of conquering Ternate has become increasingly clear since the British occupation began in 1796. Ambon and Banda have fallen into the hands of this lurking enemy, but the Dutch in Ternate are still determined to fight back. After the Siege of Ternate, Sultan Nuku and his Forces was conquered the Ternate.^[16]

First Siege of Ternate 22,January 1801

In the first Siege of Ternate on January 22 1801, British troops under the command of Colonel Daniel Burr on the orders of Resident Farquhar, rejected the offer of assistance from Sultan Nuku even though a large fleet of prahu and Kora-Kora had appeared at the anchorage under the command of Prince Mayor.^[17]

The prince remained a short distance away during the failed attack.^[18]

Second Siege of Ternate, 21 June 1801

In the second siege a stronger force was placed in the vanguard after Resident Farquhar concluded that he had no choice but to accept the help of the prince of Tidore.^[19]

A traveling salesman named Captain Lynch was ordered to organize the Tidore troops, teaching them to fire 9-pound cannons

The siege lasted for two months before the Ternate government finally surrendered on June 21, 1801. However, Governor Cranssen refused to admit defeat.^[19]

Second Phase of Nuku Rebellion

^[8][9] Sultan Kamaluddin escaped to Ternate Island, and Amiruddin was unanimously elected as the new sultan of Tidore. In 1801, Amiruddin and the allied British freed Ternate from the Dutch. This marked the climax of Nuku's movement, and was one of the few victories of indigenous forces over Dutch colonial rule. However, Britain withdrew from Maluku in 1803, leaving Amiruddin to fend for himself. Amiruddin died in 1805.^[8] His brother and successor Zainal Abidin was driven out of Tidore by a renewed Dutch attack in 1806 and finally died in 1810 after a largely unsuccessful resistance.

Legacy

Amiruddin was awarded the title National Hero of Indonesia 1995 through Presidential Decree number 071/TK/1995.^[20][21]

See also

• Battle of Gorong
• Invasion of the Spice Islands

References

Notes

Bibliography

This page was last edited on 10 April 2024, at 12:43