Amangkurat II

Amangkurat II
Tirto (maker, from Gresik) · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Name	Amangkurat II
Title	Susuhunan of Mataram
Reign	1677 – 1703
Predecessor	Amangkurat I
Successor	Amangkurat III
Birth date	c. 1648
Death date	1703
Death place	Kartasura, Mataram Sultanate
Dynasty	Mataram
Father	Amangkurat I
Religion	Islam

Amangkurat II. Amangkurat II (c. 1648–1703) was the Susuhunan (ruler) of the Mataram Sultanate in central Java from 1677 until his death. His reign is a pivotal case study in the expansion of Dutch colonial power in Southeast Asia, defined by his reliance on VOC military support to secure his throne, which transformed Mataram into a vassal state and entrenched European political and economic dominance. His rule exemplifies the complex dynamics of indigenous authority, internal rebellion, and the high costs of foreign military alliances during the era of Dutch colonization.

Early Life and Accession

Born as Raden Mas Rahmat, Amangkurat II was the son of the notoriously brutal and paranoid ruler Amangkurat I. His early life was spent in the politically volatile and oppressive court of the Mataram capital Plered, where his father's purges of the ulama (Islamic scholars) and regional elites, including the powerful Madurese lord Trunajaya, created deep-seated resentment. Following the outbreak of the massive Trunajaya rebellion in 1674, which saw rebel forces capture and sack Plered in 1677, Amangkurat I fled the court and died during his retreat. The crown prince, now Amangkurat II, inherited a kingdom in utter disarray, with the rebel leader Trunajaya in control of the heartland and the royal treasury depleted. His accession was thus not to a stable throne but to a desperate fight for survival, a situation he would resolve by seeking an unprecedented alliance with a foreign power.

Reign and Dutch Alliance

Facing existential threat from Trunajaya's forces, Amangkurat II's reign began with a fateful decision. In 1677, he formally requested military assistance from the Dutch East India Company (VOC), represented by Governor-General Joan Maetsuycker and later Cornelis Speelman. This marked a decisive turning point in Javanese-Dutch relations. The Treaty of Jepara was signed, granting the VOC extensive concessions in exchange for their support. These included a monopoly on the sugar trade in certain regions, control over the port of Semarang, repayment of all military costs, and the cession of the Priangan region in West Java. This alliance fundamentally shifted the balance of power, making the Susuhunan financially and militarily dependent on the Dutch. The VOC, under commanders like Anthonio Hurdt, now had a legitimate pretext to deploy large armies deep into the Javanese interior, ostensibly to restore a legitimate king but ultimately to advance their own colonial interests.

Trunajaya Rebellion and Dutch Intervention

The core of Amangkurat II's early reign was the suppression of the Trunajaya rebellion, a complex uprising fueled by popular discontent with Mataram's rule, regional aspirations (particularly from Madura), and millenarianism. With VOC forces now fighting on his behalf, the war entered a new phase. A combined Dutch-Javanese army, led by Captain Jonker and Bugis mercenaries, besieged Trunajaya's stronghold at Kediri in 1678. The campaign was brutal and costly, financed by the future revenues of Amangkurat II's own kingdom. Following the capture of Kediri, Trunajaya was eventually apprehended. In a stark demonstration of where ultimate power now resided, the rebel leader was handed over to the Dutch. In 1680, Amangkurat II was allowed to personally execute Trunajaya, a symbolic act meant to restore royal prestige but one entirely orchestrated by his European patrons. The rebellion's suppression came at a catastrophic price: massive war debts to the VOC and the formalization of Dutch political oversight.

Consolidation of Power and Vassalage

After the defeat of Trunajaya, Amangkurat II focused on consolidating his fragile authority, but his power was increasingly circumscribed by the terms of his alliance. He moved the court to the new capital of Kartasura, symbolizing a new but compromised era. His reign continued to face challenges, including conflict with his own brother, Pangeran Puger, and ongoing regional unrest. Each crisis required further Dutch intervention, leading to additional concessions and deeper indebtedness. The VOC stationed permanent garrisons near the court and its advisors gained significant influence over state affairs. This period saw the effective transformation of the Mataram Sultanate from a major independent indigenous power into a client state or protectorate. The economic exploitation was systematized through coercive contracts and monopsony practices, particularly in the trade of opium and textiles, draining wealth from the kingdom to benefit Company shareholders in Amsterdam.

Legacy and Historical Assessment

Amangkurat II's legacy is profoundly ambivalent and is critically assessed through the lens of colonialism and nationalism. To some, he was a pragmatic survivor who preserved the Mataram dynasty during its darkest hour. However, most historical analyses, particularly from post-colonial perspectives, view him as the ruler who irrevocably enabled Dutch imperialism in Java. 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