Sultan Agung

    Sultan Agung (Mataram Sultanate, 1593-1645), was the 3rd Sultan of Mataram (now Yogyakarta). Under his reign, Mataram became the biggest kingdom in Java and Nusantara at the time. He was mostly known for attacking Batavia as a result of hostility between Mataram and VOC (Dutch Trading Company) in Batavia. In 1614, VOC sent an ambassador to ask Sultan Agung to collaborate, but the Sultan refused.

    In 1619, VOC succeeded in overpowering Jayakarta and change its name to Batavia. Sultan Agung was thinking about taking advantages of VOC in rivalry towards Banten and Surabaya. So, in 1621, Mataram began to build relations with VOC. Both parties sent ambassadors, but VOC refused to help when Mataram wanted to attack Surabaya. This made the diplomatic relation end.

    To attack Banten, Mataram had to overpower Batavia. In April 1628, Mataram sent an ambassador to Batavia to convey peace offers, with some conditions from Mataram. VOC refused the offers, so Sultan Agung announced war.

    On August 27, 1628, Mataram troops arrived in Batavia. A big battle took place in Holandia fortress, but Mataram troops were defeated because they lacked of ammunitions. In May 1629, Mataram troops attacked Batavia again, but were defeated again by VOC. Although Mataram troops  were defeated, they were succeed to dam up Ciliwung River and made the water dirty, resulting in cholera plague in Batavia. General Governor of VOC, JP Coen, died because of cholera.

   Prior to his death, Sultan Agung commanded to build a mausoleum in Imogiri, where all the Sultans of Mataram would be burried.

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