Tanjung Pura Kalimantan

Tanjung Pura

Various Islamic kingdoms arose in West Kalimantan, among them Tanjung Pura, which according to the available records was ruled by a descendant of the Kings of Majapahit in Java. Before the advent of Islam, the kingdom of Tanjung Pura was known to have had close relations with Majapahit under the government of Premier Gajah Mada. After the rise of Islam and the fall of Majapahit, the Tanjung Pura became a big Islamic kingdom. The rapid spread of Islam in this kingdom was due Sukadana, Simpang, Mempawah, Sambas, Landak, Tayan, Neliau, Sanggau, Sekadau, Sintang, Kubu and Pontianak.

The spread of the European influence in Kalimantan started with the arrival of the Dutch in the 17th century. Among the items that interested those early Dutch traders was the Kobi diamond, an exceptionally fine stone that belonged to the Landak kingdom, but was in the keeping of Tanjung Pura, due to the good relations between the two kingdoms. Later, however, the Dutch came not only to trade, but to assert their influence in West Kalimantan. The result was a spreading hostility towards the Dutch in the whole territory of West Kalimantan.

Several revolts can be mentioned: the Sintang War; the Tebidah War of 1890 under the leadership of Nata, Apang Labring, Abang Daung, Apang Rabat; the Melawi Wars and others.The British East India Company in the 17th century established a trading post in the region of Matan, Tanjung Pura kingdom. The British, however, never managed to gain a strong foothold in West Kalimantan.The Japanese occupation at the beginning of World War II ended the Dutch rule in West Kalimantan. However, it also spelled the end of the great influence of the kingdom.

Conflicts between the occupying forces and the rulers could not be avoided, and some of them were killed in skirmishes with the Japanese. Still remembered in West Kalimantan is the Mandor Affair of 1944. In an armed clash in the Mandor area, about 70 kilometers north of Pontianak, many people were killed. The Japanese occupation ended with the proclamation of Indonesia's independence in 1945, when West Kalimantan became a province of the Indonesian Republic.