Tirtayasa (1631–1695),
complete stylized name Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa, also known as Ageng and Abulfatah
Agung,[1] was the sultan of Banten (on Java in modernIndonesia)
during the kingdom's golden age.
Ageng built a strong fleet on European models, which did
considerable trade within the Indonesian archipelago, and, with help from the English, Danes,
and Chinese,
were able to trade with Persia, India, Siam, Vietnam,
China, the Philippines, and Japan in the Javanese
tradition of long-distance traders. This trade gave considerable wealth to
Banten, the greatest period for which was arguably under Sultan Ageng
Tirtayasa. In 1661 Ageng extended Banten rule to Landak in western Borneo.
In the 1670s he also acquired Cirebonarea
following civil war in Mataram. Ageng established trade with Spanish Manila for
silver and built canal for coconut palm and sugar plantations,
among other developments.
Ageng was a strong opponent of the Dutch East India Company (VOC), and
inevitably came into conflict with their headquarters at Batavia (modern Jakarta),
75 km to the east. In this sentiment Ageng also came into conflict with
his son, the crown prince and later sultan Haji.
Haji held considerable power in Banten, and was in favor of gaining support
from the VOC. The court split into two factions, supporting the father and the
son, and the more militant Muslim elite supported the father.
In 1656, the fragile 1645 treaty between the Dutch and Banten
broke, and war erupted, as Bantenese raided Batavian districts and VOC ships,
and the VOC blockaded the Bantenese port. A peace settlement was reached in
1659, but the VOC sought a stronger settlement, and was able to take advantage
of the internal division in Bantenese politics to achieve it.
Ageng withdrew to a residence outside Banten proper sometime
before 1671, in order to forestall a palace coup he anticipated from his son.
He supported Trunajaya's rebellion in the Mataram
Sultanate, and was highly critical of Amangkurat II and
his relationship with the VOC. He was able to gain control of Cirebon and
the Priangan highlands
when Mataram fell into disarray, thus surrounding Batavia with his troops.
However, he did not declare war on the Dutch until 1680, on the
pretext of some mistreatment of Bantenese merchants on the part of the VOC. The
Dutch were now stronger after their victory at Kediri over
the Mataram rebels. In May 1680, though, before hostilities began, Haji led a
coup and confined Ageng to his residence. His supporters gained the upper hand
in 1682, but when a VOC force came to support the compromises of Haji, they
drove Ageng from his residence into the highlands, where he surrendered in
March 1683. He was kept in Banten for a while, and later moved to Batavia,
where he died in 1695.
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