Unveiling the History of the Glory of the Banten Kingdom and Its Legacy

The Banten Kingdom is one of the Islamic kingdoms located on the island of Java. The name Banten is used because of the location of this kingdom in Banten. Generally, the Banten Kingdom was a Hindu-structured kingdom that experienced a transfer of power due to a struggle for dominance. What is the story? Here is the tale of the history of the Banten Kingdom.

The Story of the Banten Kingdom

The Banten Kingdom was established in 1552 by Syarif Hidayatullah or Sunan Gunung Jati. This kingdom began when the spread of Islam, which started in Demak, tried to expand its influence to the west of the island of Java. 

The Sunda Kingdom, which had this territory, initially allied with the Portuguese to strengthen its military forces.

However, the strength of Syarif Hidayatullah, aided by the army of the Demak Sultanate, was eventually able to take over this territory. 

Nevertheless, Syarif Hidayatullah or Sunan Gunung Jati did not declare himself king. He even handed over this power to his son, Sultan Hasanuddin, as the Sultan of the Banten Kingdom in 1552. 

The rapid development of the Banten Kingdom allowed it to free itself from Demak. During this period, Banten even succeeded in becoming a trading center in the western part of Java. 

In addition to establishing a government center, the Banten Kingdom also introduced Islam to the community, attracting much interest and attention from the surrounding populace.

As it developed, the Banten Kingdom was led by 16 kings. Among them were Sultan Hasanuddin (1552-1570), Maulana Yusuf (1570-1580), Maulana Muhammad (1580-1596), Pangeran Ratu (1596-1651), Sultan Abu al-Ma’ali Ahmad (1647-1651), Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa (1651-1682), Sultan Abdul Qahar (1683-1687), Muhammad Yahya (1687-1690), Zainul Abidin (1690-1733), and others.

The history of the Banten Kingdom states that the reign of this kingdom lasted from 1552 to 1813. However, the peak of this kingdom's glory occurred from 1651 to 1682 during the reign of Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa. 

Tirtayasa had many effective strategies to expand the territory of the Banten Kingdom. Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa even attempted to resist the VOC, which was driven by the Dutch since 1596, because he wanted to control the trade that had been developed by the Banten Kingdom. 

Interestingly, Tirtayasa appointed his son, Sultan Abdul Qahar, as a co-king in 1671. Unfortunately, the effort to defeat the VOC ultimately failed due to his son's actions. 

Sultan Abdul Qahar, also known as Sultan Haji, even established good relations with the Dutch at that time. Given this situation, the history of the Banten Kingdom shows Tirtayasa's disappointment, leading him to revoke the co-king title previously granted to his son.

However, this situation made Sultan Haji unwilling to accept it. He even wanted to maintain that position by seeking help from the Dutch. As a result, this condition led to a civil war between father and son. 

Dutch assistance in attacking Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa led to his capture and imprisonment in Batavia until his death.

After the reign of Sultan Abdul Qahar, the Banten Kingdom essentially began to decline. The presence of the Dutch, who wanted to dominate the natural resources of this region, forced the government and the people to struggle hard against Dutch oppression. Ultimately, the Banten Kingdom officially ended in 1813.

Read also: Exploring the History of the Tarumanegara Kingdom and Its Legacy

Legacy of the Banten Kingdom

1. Kaibon Palace

This palace is part of the history of the Banten Kingdom as it was once used as the residence of Queen Aisyah, the mother of Sultan Hasanuddin. This place used to be a very magnificent palace. 

However, the wars that occurred between the Dutch and the Banten Kingdom left this place in ruins, with only remnants of buildings, trees, and a canal beside it.

2. Surosowan Palace

This place was also used as the residence of the sultans of Banten. The Surosowan Palace was built in 1552 at the beginning of the establishment of the Banten Kingdom. Unfortunately, this building only remains as a red stone fortress and coral stone with a height of 0.5-2 meters.

3. Great Mosque of Banten

Similarly, this mosque is also part of the Banten Kingdom as it was built by Sultan Hasanuddin. This building is characterized by its main structure with a five-tiered roof. 

The Great Mosque of Banten was even designed with Chinese architecture, complemented by additional buildings on the north side.

4. Speelwijk Fortress

The Speelwijk Fortress is believed to have a close connection with the history of the Banten Kingdom. This fortress, located directly facing the Sunda Strait, is suspected to have been a storage place for cannons and defensive tools to resist Dutch colonization. 

The Speelwijk Fortress even has a tunnel that is believed to connect directly with the Surosowan Palace.

5. Banten Archaeological Museum

In addition, the Banten Kingdom also left a museum located between the Surosowan Palace and the Old Great Mosque of Banten. The Banten Archaeological Museum houses many ancient artifacts. This museum is even presented with a building of about 778 m2 with traditional West Javanese architectural style.

The Banten Kingdom is one of the Islamic kingdoms located on the island of Java. This kingdom once reached its peak as a trading center in the western part of Java. However, the condition of abundant natural resources in Banten led the Dutch to come to this place to colonize.

Read Also: The History of the Pajajaran Kingdom, the Last Hindu Kingdom in Java