Bali History: Dutch Aggression and the Birth of the Republic
The arrival of the Hindu people from India marked the end of the prehistoric period in Indonesia. From the first centuries AD until the fall of the Majapahit kingdom in 1500, Indonesia was heavily influenced by Hinduism. According to an 8th-century AD inscription, the historical period of Bali ranged from the 8th to the 14th century AD, until the Majapahit's Gajah Mada expedition invaded and conquered Bali.
The term Balidwipa, which means Bali Island, has been in use since ancient times and has been found in various inscriptions. The Blanjong charter, issued by Sri Kesari Warmadewa in 913 AD, mentions the word Walidwipa, providing evidence of its long-standing use. Similarly, King Jayapangus' charters, including Buwahan D and Cempaga A inscriptions dated 1181 AD, also mention the term Balidwipa.
Bali's historical period is divided into three phases, which are:
882-1343 period
1. Kings and Queen; the following kings and queen governed Bali during this period:
- Singhamandawa Dynasty
- Warmadewa Dynasty
a. King Sri Kesari Warmadewa
b. Queen Sri Ugrasena
c. King Candrabhaya Singa Warmadewa
d. King Dharma Udayana Warmadewa
e. King Marakata
f. King Anak Wungsu
g. Sri Maharaja Sri Walaprabu
h. Sri Maharaja Sri Sakalendukirana
i. Sri Suradhipa
j. Sri Jaya Sakti
k. King Jayapangus
l. King Sri Astasura Ratna Bumi Banten
2. The System of Government
Several Balinese kings, including Udayana, Jayapangus, Jayasakti, and Anak Wungsu, left behind a wealth of written information detailing the structure of government during their reigns.
A central advisory board, known as the Panglapuan, assisted the king in governing the kingdom according to a charter dating back to 882-914 AD. Since the time of Udayana, the board was called Pakiran-kiran i Jro Makabaihan and consisted of several senapatis (commanders) as well as Siwa and Buddhist priests.
1343-1846 periods
This period started with the Gajah Mada's expedition in 1343. Here are the details:
1. The Expedition of Gajah Mada
During the rule of King Astasura Ratna Bumi Banten and his prime minister, Kebo Iwo, in the Bedahulu kingdom, Gajah Mada led an expedition to Bali. With the help of commander Arya Damar and his troops, they defeated the Bedahulu army led by Pasungripis in a battle that resulted in the death of the king and his son. After Pasungripis surrendered, there was no king to govern Bali.
To fill this void, Majapahit appointed Sri Kresna Kepakisan to lead the government in Bali, considering his blood relation to the people of Bali Aga.
2. Samprangan Period
Upon his arrival in Bali, Sri Kresna Kepakisan established Samprangan as the centre of the government. The kings during this period were Dalem Sri Kresna Kepakisan (1350 – 1380) and Raden Agra Samprangan (1380), who was the eldest son of Dalem Sri Kresna Kepakisan.
3. Gelgel Period
Dalem Ketut Ngulesir replaced Raden Agra Samprangan and moved the centre of government to Gelgel, marking the beginning of the Gelgel period. Dalem Ketut Ngulesir became the first regent, followed by Dalem Watu Renggong (1460-1550), who inherited a stable kingdom and brought prosperity to the Gelgel kingdom through his ability and integrity.
Under the reign of Dalem Watu Renggong, Bali achieved its highest point of prosperity. Dalem Bekung (1550-1580) succeeded Dalem Watu Renggong upon his death. The last king of the Gelgel period was Dalem Di Made (1605-1686).
4. Klungkung Kingdom Period
The Klungkung Kingdom was established after the Gelgel kingdom was destroyed due to the rebellion of I Gusti Agung Maruti. After defeating I Gusti Agung Maruti, the son of Dalem Di Made, Gusti Agung Jambe, chose Semarapura as the new centre of government instead of restoring the Gelgel palace. This resulted in Dewa Agung Jambe (1710-1715) becoming the first Klungkung king. The second king was Dewa Agung Di Made I, and the last Klungkung king was Dewa Agung Di Made II. During the Klungkung period, the kingdom was divided into small kingdoms that later became autonomous regencies during the time of independence.
1846-1949 periods
1. Fight against the Dutch
This period in Bali's history was characterized by a series of conflicts and battles fought against the Dutch colonial forces. These years were marked by the outbreak of several wars in Bali, which were fought with varying degrees of intensity and resulted in significant losses on both sides.
Buleleng (1846)
Jagaraga (1848-1849)
Kusamba (1849)
Banjar (1868)
Puputan Badung (1906)
Puputan Klungkung (1908)
After the Dutch emerged victorious in all their battles and took control of the Klungkung kingdom, Bali fell under foreign influence.
2. Dutch Colonization Period
After the Dutch took control of Buleleng, they began to exert their influence on the management of government in Bali. This included changing the title of the king to regent for Buleleng and Jembrana areas and appointing P L Van Bloemen Waanders as the first controleur in Bali.
Despite these changes, Bali's government structure remained rooted in tradition, with customary leadership continuing to play a key role in local governance. The king held the highest position of power, with a controleur serving as a counterpart during the colonial period. The king reported directly to the Resident of Bali and Lombok, who was based in Singaraja, while kings in South Bali reported to the Assistant Resident in Denpasar.
To meet the need for administrative personnel, the Dutch government established the Tweede Klasse School in Singaraja in 1875, followed by the Erste Inlandsche School in 1913. The Hollandsche Inlandsche School (HIS) was later opened, catering mainly to students from aristocratic and wealthy families.
The Birth of the Movement Organization
Due to the influence of education, some students and workers in Singaraja founded an organization called Suita Gama Tirta with the aim of teaching Balinese people about science through religious teachings. However, this organization was short-lived. In 1923, a group of teachers who still had an interest in religious education founded an organization named Shanti. They published a magazine called Shanti Adnyana which was later changed to Bali Adnyana.
In the same year, another organization named Suryakanta was founded in Singaraja, and they published a magazine called Suryakanta. Like the Shanti organization, Suryakanta hoped that the Balinese people would progress in science and leave behind traditions that were no longer suitable for the times.
Meanwhile, in Karangasem, an organization called Satya Samudaya Buadana Bali Lombok was established. Its members consisted of civil servants and the general public, and their aim was to raise and save money for study funds.
3. Japanese Occupation Period
Following a series of battles, the Japanese army arrived at Sanur Beach on 18 and 19 February 1942. Without any resistance, they entered Denpasar and assumed control of Bali. Initially, the Japanese Army (Rikugun) established their power in Bali, but as the situation became more stable, a civilian government took over.
During the Japanese occupation, all activities were focused on the war effort due to the ongoing conflict. Young people were trained to become Pembela Tanah Air (Country Defending soldiers), or PETA, which was established in 1944. The education programs and conditions for PETA were developed after its success in Java.
4. Independence
On August 23, 1945, Mr I Gusti Ketut Puja arrived in Bali with a mandate to serve as Governor of Sunda Kecil, following the Proclamation of Independence. His arrival marked the spread of the Proclamation of Independence in Bali, and preparations were made to establish a government in Bali with Singaraja as its capital.
Efforts to disarm the Japanese began on December 13, 1945, but were unsuccessful. As a result, I Gusti Ngurah Rai and his team traveled to Java to seek assistance and weapons. After their return, the struggle in Bali was unified under the "Dewan Perjuangan Rakyat Indonesia Sunda Kecil" with Komando Markas Besar Oemoem (MBO) as the central command.
Bali was constantly in a state of conflict since the arrival of NICA, and Indonesian forces utilized guerrilla tactics in battle. The MBO, as the main force, was always on the move to strengthen defense. To bolster their efforts, the Indonesian Navy sent assistance from Java to Bali. Despite frequent battles, Balinese fighters refused to negotiate with the Dutch and continued to involve the people in their defense.
In order to establish communication with Java, Rai developed a strategy to divert Dutch attention to eastern Bali. This led to the "Long March" of May 28, 1946, during which the guerrilla force was frequently ambushed by Dutch forces. The Tanah Arun battle, which occurred on July 9, 1946, was a major victory for the Indonesian forces, resulting in the death of many Dutch soldiers.
Following the Tanah Arun battle, Ngurah Rai's force moved west and arrived in Marga Village (Tabanan). Due to limited weapons, some members of the force were ordered to fight alongside the people to conserve energy.
Puputan Margarana
When MBO staff were stationed in Marga Village, Ngurah Rai gave an order to his force to seize the NICA police weapons in Tabanan. The mission was successfully accomplished on the night of November 18, 1946. They managed to take several weapons and ammunition, and a Nica police commandant even joined forces with Ngurah Rai's army. Afterwards, they returned to Marga Village.
Two days later, on November 20, 1946, the Dutch forces began to encircle Marga Village, starting the violence at dawn. The battle between the Nica forces and Ngurah Rai's forces lasted for 10 hours. Many members of the Dutch advanced force were killed in the fighting. The Dutch quickly asked for reinforcements from all of their forces in Bali and even brought in bombers from Makasar.
Despite being heavily outnumbered, Ngurah Rai's forces were determined to fight to the bitter end. They held their ground and fought bravely until the last drop of blood was shed. In the end, Ngurah Rai's forces held Puputan, a Balinese term for a suicidal fight to the death. All 96 members of the force, including Rai himself, were killed.
On the other hand, about 400 members of the Dutch forces were killed in the battle. To honor the bravery and sacrifice of the Balinese fighters, a Hero Monument was erected on the former battleground.
Denpasar Conference
The Bali Hotel was the venue for the Denpasar Conference, which took place from December 18th to 24th, 1946. The conference was convened by Van Mook with the aim of establishing the Eastern Indonesia State (NIT) with Makasar (Ujung Pandang) as its capital.
The formation of the Eastern Indonesia State led to a restructuring of the Balinese government along the lines of the traditional monarchic system. The king was the head of the government, and he was supported by officials such as the patih, punggawa, perbekel, and kelian. In addition, there was a council of kings that held a position one step below the king.
Transfer of Sovereignty
The Dutch launched two military aggressions against Indonesian government forces, the first on 21 July 1947 and the second on 18 December 1948. During the second aggression, the focus was on Bali with the goal of establishing effective guerrilla fighting movements. As a result, the Gerakan Rakyat Indonesia Merdeka (GRIM) fighting organization was formed in July 1948. On 27 November 1949, GRIM merged with other fighting organizations called Lanjutan Perjuangan, and the name was changed to "Pemerintah Darurat Republik Indonesia (PDRI) Sunda Kecil."
During the Republik Indonesia Serikat (RIS) period, the East Indonesia Military Commission attempted to resolve the issue of freedom fighters in Bali, particularly those who remained in the mountains. The commission tried to integrate members of DPRI who remained in the mountains into an army force called Arjuna on 15 January 1950. Meanwhile, KNIL (Koninklijk Nederlands Indisch Leger) was transformed into the Army of the Republic of Indonesia Serikat since June 1950.
The Round Table Conference (KMB), which was based on the agreement between the Indonesian-Dutch Union, began at the end of August 1949. Finally, on 27 December 1949, the Dutch recognized RIS sovereignty. On 17 August 1950, RIS was changed to the Republic of Indonesia.
