Dutch intervention in northern Bali (1846) explained

Conflict:Dutch intervention in northern Bali (1846)
Date:June 1846
Place:Bali
Result:Dutch victory
  • Dutch captured northern Bali
Combatant1: Dutch East Indies
Combatant2:
Kingdom of Karangasem
Commander1: Engelbertus Batavus van den Bosch
Gerhardus Bakker
Abraham Johannes de Smit van den Broecke
Cornelis Albert de Brauw
Commander2:I Gusti Ketut Jelantik
Strength1:2 frigates
4 steamships
12 schooners
40 smaller ships
1,700 soldiers
Strength2:+10.000 fighters

The Dutch intervention in Northern Bali in 1846 was the first in a long series of Dutch military interventions on Bali island, until total control was achieved with the Dutch intervention in Bali in 1908. The Dutch used as a pretext Balinese salvage claims over shipwrecks, which were customary to the Balinese, but unacceptable to the Dutch.[1]

The expedition arrived off Buleleng in June 1846. It was composed of 2 frigates, 4 steamships, 12 schooners, 40 smaller ships, 1,700 soldiers including 400 Europeans and 230 cannons.[2] The port was fortified by Balinese forces, and the frigates bombarded it.[2] After a landing, the Dutch forces were able to capture and destroy the royal palace at Singaraja.[2]

The Balinese agreed to recognize the treaties and to accommodate a small Dutch garrison.[2] Once the main Dutch force had returned to Java, the local Balinese ruler Jelantik refused to pay the agreed settlement to the Dutch and endeavoured to unite Balinese forces against them.[2]

A second expedition would be undertaken in 1848, Dutch intervention in Northern Bali (1848), which would also fail against Jelantik.[2] [3] Finally however in 1849, the Dutch intervention in Bali (1849), was able to take control of the northern Bali kingdoms of Buleleng and Jembrana.[4]

References

Notes and References

  1. https://books.google.com/books?id=ZRewlYFRXqgC&pg=PA31 Bali & Lombok by Ryan Ver Berkmoes p.31
  2. A short history of Bali: Indonesia's Hindu realm by Robert Pringle p.97ff https://books.google.com/books?id=5TOBKsLvjjkC&pg=PA97
  3. The dark side of paradise: political violence in Bali Geoffrey Robinson p.24 https://books.google.com/books?id=m3Gfir3Ju70C&pg=PA24
  4. Barski, p.48