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	1648
Death date	1703
Death place	Kartasura, Mataram Sultanate
House	Mataram Sultanate
Father	Amangkurat I
Religion	Islam

Amangkurat II was the Susuhunan (ruler) of the Mataram Sultanate in central Java from 1677 until his death in 1703. His reign was defined by a profound and costly dependence on the Dutch East India Company (VOC) to secure his throne, fundamentally reshaping Javanese-Dutch relations. This alliance marked a critical phase in the consolidation of Dutch political and economic influence in Java, setting a precedent for future colonial intervention in the archipelago's kingdoms.

Early life and accession

Born in 1648 as Raden Mas Rahmat, he was the son of the tyrannical Amangkurat I. His early life was spent in the volatile court of the Mataram Sultanate, which was plagued by internal dissent and his father's brutal purges of the Muslim ulama and regional elites. The simmering discontent erupted into a massive rebellion led by the Madurese prince Trunajaya, who, with support from disaffected Javanese nobles and the Makassarese warlord Karaeng Galesong, captured the Mataram capital of Plered in 1677. Amangkurat I died during the ensuing flight, and the crown prince, facing the collapse of the kingdom, claimed the throne as Amangkurat II. His accession was, however, purely nominal, as he was a ruler without a kingdom, forced to seek refuge in the north coast while Trunajaya controlled the heartland.

Alliance with the Dutch East India Company

Desperate to reclaim his throne, Amangkurat II turned to the only power capable of matching Trunajaya's forces: the Dutch East India Company. In 1677, he concluded a landmark treaty with VOC Captain Anthonio Hurdt at Jepara. This agreement, often called the "Jepara Treaty," granted the VOC extensive commercial privileges and the cession of the Preanger region. More critically, it committed the Dutch to military assistance against the rebels in exchange for reimbursement of all war costs. This formalized a client-patron relationship, making the Susuhunan's restoration contingent on Dutch military power and indebting the kingdom to the European company from the outset.

Trunajaya rebellion and Dutch intervention

The Trunajaya rebellion became the testing ground for the new Dutch-Javanese alliance. VOC forces, under commanders like Cornelis Speelman, launched a concerted campaign alongside Amangkurat II's loyalists. The pivotal moment came in late 1678 with the Dutch-led siege and capture of Trunajaya's stronghold at Kediri in East Java. The rebellion was effectively broken, and Trunajaya was captured in 1680. Notably, Amangkurat II personally executed the captured rebel leader, an act demonstrating his reclaimed authority but also performed under the watch of his Dutch allies. The military success cemented VOC influence, as the Company's troops were now the primary guarantor of the Mataram ruler's power.

Reign and centralization of power

Following the rebellion's suppression, Amangkurat II established a new capital at Kartasura in 1680, symbolizing a fresh start. His reign focused on centralizing power and rebuilding royal authority, but this was always under the shadow of the VOC. He worked to subdue remaining centrifugal forces, including dealing with his ambitious uncle, Pangeran Puger, who would later rebel. The court culture at Kartasura became a blend of Javanese tradition and new realities, where access to Dutch military support was a key political asset. However, this centralization was fragile, as regional lords and princes remained powerful and the kingdom's finances were crippled by debt to the Company.

Relationship with the Dutch and territorial concessions

Amangkurat II's relationship with the Dutch East India Company was complex and increasingly burdensome. The VOC consistently leveraged its military support to extract further concessions. A major treaty in 1705, negotiated partly in anticipation of his succession but reflecting the pressures of his reign, granted the Dutch control over the vital port of Semarang and extensive territories in East Java, including Surabaya and Rembang. Furthermore, the VOC secured a monopoly on the import of textiles and opium into Mataram. These concessions greatly diminished the sultanate's economic sovereignty and territorial integrity, embedding Dutch commercial and political interests at the heart of Javanese administration.

Death and succession

Amangkurat II died at Kartasura in 1703. His death triggered immediate instability, as the succession was contested between his son, Amangkurat III, and his brother, Pangeran Puger, who was supported by the Dutch. This conflict escalated into the First Javanese War of Succession (1704–1708). The VOC, favoring the more pliable Puger, intervened militarily, deposed Amangkurat III, and installed Puger as Pakubuwana I. This intervention demonstrated that the Dutch would directly determine the succession in Mataram, a precedent set during the reign of Amangkurat II. His reign thus established the template for 18th-century Javanese politics: a kingdom preserved by and subservient to the VOC, with its internal stability perpetually tied to Dutch imperial interests.