Mudalovers certainly often sees this national hero. It is true that he is Kapitan Pattimura who is an Indonesian National Hero who comes from Maluku. Kapitan Pattimura is immortalized on Indonesian banknotes with a nominal value of one thousand rupiah. How did Kapitan Pattimura live and how did he struggle to protect Indonesia, especially Maluku?
Profile of Kapitan Pattimura
Thomas Matulessy or known as Kapitan Pattimura is a national hero of Indonesia who comes from Maluku. Kapitan is a rank title used by the Dutch to refer to leaders in military units at officer level. Kapitan Pattimura was born on June 8 1783 in Haria, Saparua, Maluku, Dutch East Indies. His father was named Antoni Matulessy who was the son of Kasimiliali Pattimura Mattulessy.
It is known that Kapitan Pattimura is a hero who is classified as having royal blood and comes from Nusa Ina or Seram. Kapitan Pattimura was born from the noble lineage of King Sahulau, a kingdom located in South Seram Bay. Kapitan Pattimura has a younger brother named Yohanis.
Kapitan Pattimura is an Indonesian hero who fought for the Maluku region against the Dutch VOC. Previously, Kapitan Pattimura had a career in the military as a former British military sergeant. The services and struggles carried out by Kapitan Pattimura had a huge impact on Indonesian independence which we can feel to this day. Even though hundreds of years have passed, the name Pattimura is still known to the Indonesian people to this day.
Kapitan Pattimura received the honorary title of hero on November 6 1973. The honorary title of hero is the highest level of award in Indonesia, this is because a hero provides real deeds to protect Indonesia in full or makes a contribution to the Indonesian people. This title was given so that his struggle and services could be remembered for life and made a role model for all Indonesian people.
Kapitan Pattimura died when he was only 34 years old, precisely on December 16 1817. Even though Kapitan Pattimura died decades ago, his name and struggle are still remembered. The name of Kapitan Pattimura is immortalized in several places, such as:
1. Pattimura University
Pattimura University is a state university located in Ambon, Maluku, Indonesia. Pattimura University was founded on August 8 1962. Pattimura University began when Dr. JB Sitanala and several community figures initiated the founding of a Higher Education institution in Maluku to realize the aspirations of the people who want to participate in building the nation and state, especially in the fields of higher education and scientific development.
2. Pattimura Park
Ambon city residents usually call Pattimura Park, which is next to Merdeka Square, the center of Ambon city activities. Pattimura Park is located around the Ambon government offices and is an activity for Ambon residents, especially young people who play sports.
Pattimura Park is not only used for sports, Pattimura Park is also a place to gather and carry out activities. Pattimura Park is also a place to play volleyball, run in the morning or just as a place to relax in the afternoon. Pattimura Park is also an attraction for tourists to come because it is one of the tourist attractions in Ambon City.
3. Regional Defense Command or Kodam XVI/Pattimura
Kodam XVI/Pattimura is a Regional Defense Command covering the Maluku Islands.
4. Pattimura International Airport in Ambon
Pattimura International Airport or also known as Ambon Airport, is an airport located in Ambon City, Maluku Province, Indonesia. This airport also serves domestic and international travel.
Ambon Pattimura Airport is thirty-five kilometers outside Ambon City with a travel time of approximately 30 to 45 minutes. At Pattimura Ambon Airport there are several immigration, quarantine, customs, cargo buildings, restaurants, public telephones and post offices. Ambon Pattimura Airport is a very strategically located area in the Maluku Islands which is divided into two provinces, namely North Maluku and Maluku.
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The Struggle of Kapitan Pattimura
Kapitan Pattimura is an Indonesian hero who comes from Maluku. The struggle carried out by Kapitan Pattimura against Dutch colonialism which entered Maluku to control the spice trade. On 13 August 1814, after the signing of the Anglo-Dutch Agreement, the Maluku Islands returned under Dutch rule. On May 14 1817, in order to defend their territory, all the people of Saparua took part in fighting against the Dutch.
Most of the people of Maluku also chose Kapitan Pattimura to lead the rebellion. Duurstede Fortress was captured from the Dutch and all its soldiers died, including Resident Van den Berg. However, on November 11, Kapitan Pattimura was captured by the Dutch and Fort Duurstede was again in Dutch hands.
In 1816 the British handed over their power to the Dutch. The Dutch implemented a policy of monopoly, tax on land or land rent, transfer of residents and Hongi or Hongi Tochten shipping, and ignored the London Treaty I contained in Article 11 which contained the provision that the British Resident in Ambon had to first negotiate the transfer of the Ambon corps with the Governor.
And the contents of the agreement stated clearly that if British rule ended in Maluku, the Ambonese soldiers had to be released. This means that in this sense they have the right to choose to enter the new government’s military service or leave military service, but in practice the transfer to military service is forced.
In 1817, the Dutch colonialists arrived again and faced strong challenges from the people. This is due to political, economic and social relations conditions that have been bad for two centuries. The people of Maluku finally rose and took up arms under the leadership of Kapitan Pattimura.
When the war broke out against the Dutch colonialists in 1817, the Patih Kings, Kapitans, traditional elders and the people appointed him as leader and warlord because he was experienced and had the qualities of a knight or cabaresi.
As war commander, Kapitan Pattimura began to organize the war strategy he would carry out with his assistants. As leader, Kapitan Pattimura succeeded in coordinating the patih kings in carrying out government activities, leading the people, organizing education, providing food and building defensive fortifications.
Kapitan Pattimura’s spirit of authority and charisma in leadership is widely recognized by the kings and ordinary people. Kapitan Pattimura was also known to be clever and able to gather a large force of Maluku people, making it difficult for the Dutch to advance in Maluku.
The name Kapitan Pattimura was also highly respected by the VOC leaders at that time who had to rack their brains to face the resistance of the Maluku people. It is not surprising that Pattimura was very skilled in fighting and guarding troops.
In the struggle against the Dutch, Kapitan Pattimura also united with the kingdoms of Ternate and Tidore, the kings of Bali, the king of Sulawesi and the king of Java. The war carried out by Kapitan Pattimura on a national scale was faced by the Dutch with a large and strong military force by sending Admiral Buykes himself, one of the Commissioners General, to face Patimura.
The great battle against the Dutch army on land and at sea was coordinated by Kapitan Pattimura who was also assisted by commanders, such as Melchior Kesaulya, Anthoni Rebhok, Philip Latumahina and Ulupaha. The battles that took place destroyed the Dutch troops and were recorded, such as the capture of the Dutch fort Duurstede in Saparua, the battles on Waisisil beach and the Hatawano coast, Ouw-Ullath, Jazirah Hitu on Ambon Island and South Seram.
The strategy of divide et impera, aka Dutch Colonial style divide and rule politics, ultimately succeeded in overthrowing Kapitan Pattimura and his followers and troops. As a result of their betrayal and information, Pattimura’s strategy was discovered by the Dutch and was able to be broken. Kapitan Pattimura was arrested on November 11, 1817 while in Siri Sori. The Dutch offered cooperation to Kapitan Pattimura but were always rejected.
The Pattimura War could only be stopped by the politics of fighting against each other, deception and scorched earth by the Dutch. In the city of Ambon, on December 16 1817 the warrior figures Kapitan Pattimura, Anthony Rhebok, Philip Latumahina, and Said Parintah were finally arrested and ended their service on the gallows in front of Fort Nieuw Victoria, Ambon City. As a sign of his service and sacrifice, Kapitan Pattimura was confirmed as a hero of the independence struggle by the Government of the Republic of Indonesia.
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Ambon City Today
Maluku has now changed in terms of arrangement and story. Maluku is currently a developed province. The beauty of the place, the delicious typical Maluku food and other beauties cannot be separated from the fighting spirit of the heroes and the people of Maluku.
Maluku is a province that covers the southern part of the Maluku Islands, Indonesia. Maluku Province borders the Seram Sea to the North, the Indian Ocean and Arafura Sea to the South, Papua to the East and Sulawesi to the West. The capital and largest city is the city of Ambon. Maluku Province is in 28th place in terms of population in Indonesia, where in 2020, the population of Maluku province was 1,848,923 people.
Before the colonial period, Maluku was the axis of the world spice trade with cloves and nutmeg as the main trade goods. This is what makes Maluku nicknamed the “Spice Islands” to this day. The people of Maluku traded with traders from various regions in the archipelago and abroad, such as Chinese, Arab and European traders. The richness of spices in Maluku attracted European nations who ultimately tried to control Maluku. The countries that began to colonize Maluku were the Portuguese and finally the Dutch.
The history of Maluku as a unit begins with the formation of three governorates by the Dutch East India Company in the 18th century, namely Ambon, the Banda Islands and Ternate which were united by the Dutch in the early 19th century under one name, namely Maluku. After the colonial period was over, Maluku was still maintained as a province before North Maluku was expanded into its own province at the end of the 20th century.
The origins of the name Maluku come from several opinions. The first opinion states that the Maluku Islands were owned by Arab traders. This term was also used in Kakawin Nagarakretagama in Indonesian history to refer to Ternate, then known by the Portuguese as Moloquo .
The term Miliki was also used by the Tang Dynasty to refer to an area used to determine the direction of Holing which is located to the west of the area, which is thought to refer to Maluku, although there is no certainty about this opinion. However, other sources refer to the islands in the Ternate, Tidore, Makian, Bacan and Moti areas as Mine.
There are also various opinions about the origins of Maluku, one opinion among the people is that the name Maluku comes from the word king in Arabic, namely Malik. Where grandiose is used as a plural form. Arab traders called the royal residences in the northern part of the Maluku Islands, consisting of Jailolo, Ternate, Tidore and Bacan, Jazirat Al-Muluk, which means islands of kings.
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Maluku is not only famous for its abundant spices and beautiful destinations, but Maluku is also famous for its art and culture. Maluku has a famous musical instrument, namely Tifa. Tifa is a type of drum and Totobuang. In Maluku culture, there are also stringed musical instruments, namely the Ukulele and Hawaiian, just as there are in Hawaiian culture in the United States. Another music is Sawat which is a combination of Maluku culture and Middle Eastern culture.
Maluku also has a famous dance, namely the Cakalele dance. The Cakalele dance depicts the strength of the Maluku people. This Cakalele dance is usually performed by adult men while holding Parang and Salawaku or shields. Next there is the Saureka Reka Dance, this dance uses sago tree fronds. This dance is usually performed by six girls. This dance really requires precision and speed while accompanied by very interesting musical rhythms.
Next, the dance that depicts the social interactions of young people is the Katreji Dance. The Katreji dance is played in pairs between women and men using varied and energetic movements and is certainly interesting.
This dance is almost the same as European dances in general because Katreji is also an acculturation of European culture, namely Portuguese and Dutch, with Maluku culture. This dance is accompanied by violin, bamboo flute, ukulele, karakas, guitar, tifa and bass guitar with a more prominent western (European) musical rhythm pattern. This dance is still alive and popular with the people of Maluku to this day.
Apart from Katreji, the dance that is influenced by Europe is the Polonaise dance which is usually performed by Maluku people. This dance is performed during a wedding event and is performed by each member of the party in pairs and forming light movements that can be followed by both parents and young people.
There is also the Crazy Bamboo Dance which is a special magical dance, this dance comes from Suli Village. The uniqueness of this dance is that the dancers seem to be burdened by bamboo which can move uncontrollably and anyone can participate in this dance.
Wow, isn’t it very interesting about the history of Maluku to Maluku today? To find out more information about Maluku Province, the national hero of Indonesia and its history, Mudalovers can read the articles available at mudabicara.com. We always try to provide the best!