Sentot Prawirodirdjo | |
|---|---|
 Drawing by Justus Pieter de Veer, c. 1900 | |
| Born | 1808 |
| Died | 17 April 1855 (aged 46–47) |
Ali Basah Abdul Mustapa Prawirodirdjo (1808 – 17 April 1855), also known as Sentot Ali Pasha or Sentot Prawirodirdjo, was a Javanese Muslim military commander during the Java War. Joining the rebel cause at the age of seventeen, he became a renowned commander in the war, leading rebel cavalry units in ambushes against Dutch forces. He became overall commander late in the war, before surrendering to the Dutch in October 1829.
Early life
editPrawirodirdjo was born in 1808 at Maospati as a son of Rongga Prawirodirdjo III, the bupati of Madiun, through a concubine.[1] Rongga was killed in a 1810 revolt against the Dutch.[2] His mother was likely Dayawati, Rongga's concubine who died in 1810.[1]
Java War
editUpon the outbreak of Prince Diponegoro's rebellion in 1825, seventeen-year old Prawiradirdja joined him. In the ensuing Java War, he was initially a cavalry commander of the rebels,[3] and he gained "Sentot" (Javanese for "to dash") as a nom de guerre.[4] Diponegoro awarded him the title "Ali Basah" (derived from Ottoman "Ali Pasha").[5] He developed a tactic involving the camouflaging of his horsemen behind bamboo fences in order to ambush Dutch columns.[6] Throughout early and mid 1826, Sentot and Diponegoro won a series of victories against the Dutch, including at Lengkong, Kejiwan, and Delanggu, before suffering a major defeat at the Battle of Gawok in October.[7]
As the war transitioned into guerilla campaigns, Sentot led a series of ambushes against Dutch column, such as one in Kroya in 1828 which annihilated a full column. Dutch commanders experiencing these ambushes praised Sentot's battlefield command, with H. J. J. L. de Stuers describing him as a "young, fiery and in every respect a brilliant Javanese […] who knew how to blaze a trail for himself by virtue of his energy and shrewdness". According to Diponegoro's account, Sentot was frequently injured, having eight different horses he rode killed throughout the war.[4] Throughout the war, Sentot and Diponegoro discussed the idea of conquering the Lesser Sunda Islands should they defeat the Dutch.[8]
In December 1828, Diponegoro agreed to Sentot's request to take over overall military command, and also grant him the authority to levy taxes from rebel-controlled territories.[9] The illiterate[4] Sentot became overwhelmed with rebel finances and reports, and became slow to react to Dutch actions. In one case, this lead to rebel defeat at the Battle of Nanggulon.[9] By late 1829, the rebels had lost much popular support, and after a major defeat at the Battle of Siluk in September 1829, Sentot became separated with Diponegoro and surrendered to the Dutch on 16 October 1829.[10][11]
Dutch service and exile
editAfter Sentot's surrender, he was given command of a native unit of 450 men, financed by the Dutch colonial government.[11][12] The unit was deployed to Batavia in 1831 and saw action in stamping down a 1832 riot of Chinese migrants, earning praise from Dutch commanders.[12] During the crackdowns, Sentot's unit reportedly beheaded 600 killed rioters and sent their heads to Batavia.[13]
The unit was then sent to West Sumatra in 1833, to take part in the Padri War.[12] There, the Dutch accused him of colluding with the Padri leaders,[11] with Sentot reportedly meeting in secret with Padri leader Tuanku Imam Bonjol.[14] He was arrested by the Dutch and exiled to Bengkulu, where he died on 17 April 1855.[11] His grave is located in what is today downtown Bengkulu, surrounded by a public cemetery.[15]
References
edit- 1 2 Carey, Peter B. R. (20 March 2015). The Power of Prophecy: Prince Dipanagara and the End of an Old Order in Java, 1785-1855. BRILL. ISBN 978-90-6718-303-1.
- ↑ Carey 2015, p. 259.
- ↑ Carey 2015, p. 192.
- 1 2 3 Carey 2015, p. 649.
- ↑ Carey 2015, pp. 152–153.
- ↑ Carey 2015, p. 608.
- ↑ Carey 2015, p. 642.
- ↑ Carey 2015, p. 590.
- 1 2 Carey 2015, pp. 650–651.
- ↑ Djamhari, Saleh A. (2002). Stelsel benteng dalam pemberontakan Diponegoro 1827-1830: suatu kajian sejarah perang (Thesis) (in Indonesian). University of Indonesia. pp. 268–269.
- 1 2 3 4 Carey 2015, p. 652.
- 1 2 3 "Legiun Sentot "Direndang" Belanda di Padang". Historia (in Indonesian). 12 March 2025. Retrieved 21 March 2025.
- ↑ "Wawacan Carita Perang Cina di Tanjungpura Kabupaten Purwakarta" (PDF) (in Indonesian). Ministry of Education and Culture. 2000. pp. 16–17. Retrieved 21 March 2025.
- ↑ "Buya Hamka: Saat Sentot Ali Basya Insaf Perangi Kaum Paderi". Republika Online (in Indonesian). 30 April 2020. Retrieved 21 March 2025.
- ↑ Sudibyo, Triono Wahyu (12 October 2015). "Sepotong Kisah di TPU Peristirahatan Terakhir Pangeran Sentot Alibasyah". detiknews (in Indonesian). Retrieved 21 March 2025.