The VOC Failed Monopoly Lada In Lampung In History Today, August 29, 1682

Black land which is one of the main commodities of trade in Lampung since the VOC period. (Antara/Dian Hadiyatna)

JAKARTA History today, 340 years ago, August 29, 1682, a fleet of Dutch trading airlines VOC and Sultanate Banten landed in Lampung. The arrival of the two fleets in the context of handing over the power of spice trade (lada) in Lampung to VOC. The handover was a gift.

However, the agenda did not go well. The VOC failed to monopolize the local pepper. Because not all Lampung rulers immediately bowed to Sultan Haji, who incidentally was the son of the previous ruler, Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa.

War tactics were often chosen by the VOC to control the spice trade in the archipelago. The VOC is confident that the practice of war can have a deterrent effect on the enemy. Then, the trade monopoly can take place. In fact, the strategy was less effective.

The VOC's spending was rising because of that. Not to mention the fall of the victim which made the VOC's strength decline. Instead of profit, even the VOC is the end. Sikat was changed. The VOC advanced with a new strategy that was more precise. Minimizing funds also came out, rather than inflamed the war. Device et Impera (andu sheep), his name.

The politics of fighting each other brought the VOC to the peak of glory. Even the colonialists had never thought about before. The VOC just looked for the parties who clashed with an area. They came like old friends. One side was approached.

The VOC offers all kinds of assistance. The average recitation worked. Many were tempted. Sultan Haji, for example. He is in conflict with his father, Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa, who needs the help of the Dutch the most. Sultan Haji made the Dutch an ally.

"With its powerful weapon, which is famous in Indonesian History under the name Devide et Impera or politics, finally the Dutch colonialists were able to control both the Banten Kingdom and the Mataram Kingdom."

"Even the Mataram Kingdom, which during the reign of Sultan Agung Hanakusuma (1613-1645) reached its peak of glory, because the weapons of the Dutch Foreign et Impera were finally divided into small kingdoms under Dutch colonial rule. This must be condemned truly and used as a lesson from history by the Indonesian people who want the glory of their homeland," said Sagimun MD in the book Jakarta from the Bank to the Proclamation City (1988).

The politics of fighting each other against the Banten Sultanate were successful. Sultan Haji managed to seize the throne of the number one Banten person. In exchange, Sultan Haji also gave the Dutch a lot of freedom to trade in his area. Banten also gave Dutch permission to monopolize the territory of Lampung's rule in 1682.

The VOC is impatient. Its fleet was moved to Lampung on August 29, 1682. It is far from burning. The VOC carrying the Sultan Haji's mandate had to harbor disappointment. Not all rulers in Lampung bowed to Sultan Haji. Moreover, the sympathizer of Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa. Therefore, the Dutch failed to monopolize the spices in Lampung.

"In relation to the embedded influence of Banten in Lampung, it needs to be put forward, that at that time Lampung was not an area unit controlled by a king or queen. So that the history of the kingdoms as they are in another unknown place here, wrote the book History of the Lampung Region (1997).