Jan Pieterszoon Coen Appoints Pieter De Carpentier As His Successor In Today's History, February 1, 1623

JAKARTA – Today's history, 400 years ago, on February 1, 1623, Jan Pieterszoon Coen appointed Pieter de Carpentier as his successor as Governor General of the VOC. The man who is also known as Pierre de Carpentier hopes that he will be able to carry out Coen's mandate properly. He wanted to continue Coen's policies.

Previously, the substitution was made because Coen did a controversy. He perpetuated the massacre of the British on Banda Island. Anglo-Dutch relations almost cracked. Coen was called back to the Netherlands for a while.

Coen's influence on the existence of the Dutch trading company VOC was second to none. He was the first person to spark the idea of ​​colonialism in the Nusantara. Coen wanted the Company to be able to monopolize trade.

His actions were realized by subduing Jayakarta. He changed Jayakarta to become a colony in 1619. The city of Batavia, its name. Coen then brought various ethnic groups --mainly Chinese people-- to Batavia to drive the wheels of the economy. Batavia was transformed into a trading center for the VOC which was able to promise huge profits.

Coen's leadership was not always smooth. His desire to control the spice trade in Banda Island, Ambon, actually brought disaster in 1621. He chose the war route to conquer local businessmen and foreigners – especially the English – who did not want to cooperate with the Dutch.

The whole of Banda Island was ransacked. Coen succeeded in making the Dutch control trade in Banda Island. However, Coen's move was criticized by many parties. This problem almost caused a rift in Dutch-English relations.

“In this way, the Company's aim was achieved to control the spice trade. They do not care about in what way, as long as the purpose is achieved. Viewed from the point of view of Dutch interests, Coen has indeed made a big contribution.”

"However, he did not escape the reproach of his own people, who said that Coen's actions in Ambon were an act of yours, that he lacked a sense of humanity and was far from being wise. These triumphs in Ambon will continue to form a 'black page' in Coen's history," explained M. Nasruddin Anshoriy Ch in the book Bangsa Inlander: Potret Kolonialisme di Bumi Nusantara (2008).

Instead, the Netherlands immediately withdrew Coen from his position. Coen wants to return to the Netherlands. However, the owner of VOC capital, Heeren XVII (Council 17) asked Coen to directly appoint a replacement.

Coen chose Pieter de Carpentier. The reason was that Carpentier faithfully accompanied Coen in raising the VOC. He was even involved in the conquest of Jayakarta. Even in full, Carpentier began serving as Governor-General on February 1, 1623. He was able to lead the VOC well and continued in the footsteps of the first period of Coen's leadership.

“On September 8, 1622, he was appointed governor-general by the XVII Council, and on February 1, 1623, he officially replaced Coen. To perpetuate colonialism, Carpentier improved relations with the local kings as well as the organization of the new city of Batavia."

"The steps taken included building a school and the mayor's building. He also drew up regulations for the police and courts as well as the establishment of church organizations," said Windoro Adi in the book Batavia 1740: Menyisir Jejak Betawi (2010).