1670 to 1800: Court Intrigues and the Dutch

1671
Trunojoyo unites Madura under his control, drives out Mataram forces.	(Note: throughout this page, VOC stands for Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie, or the Dutch East India Company. The VOC had been granted many of the powers of a sovereign state by the government of the Netherlands.)
1672
Gunung Merapi erupts in Mataram.
1674
Famine in Mataram. Bugis under Arung Palakka attack Toraja. Makassarese unhappy with Arung Palakka settle in East Java.
1675
Rebellion in Mataram. Makassarese exiles attack ports on north coast of Java. Trunojoyo of Madura takes Surabaya. Rebels appeal to Islamic sentiments among the common people against both the court of Mataram and the VOC.
1676
Trunojoyo defeats Mataram army at Gogodog.
1677
Arung Palakka becomes King of Bone (until 1696). February VOC promises help to Amangkurat I. May VOC pushes Trunojoyo out of Surabaya, but Trunojoyo moves on to loot the court of Mataram at Plered. Both loyal and rebellious members of the family of Amangkurat I flee. Trunojoyo takes the royal treasury and retreats to Kediri. Banten forces occupy Cirebon and the Priangan. July Amangkurat I dies; Amangkurat II seeks VOC help. Balinese from Karangasem drive Makassarese off of Lombok. VOC occupies Sangir islands.
1678
Amangkurat II, without money to pay his debts to the VOC, promises to give up Semarang, his claims to the Priangan, and fees from coastal ports until debts are paid. VOC and Amangkurat II march on Kediri and destroy Trunojoyo. Inayatullah becomes Sultan of Banjar on Kalimantan.	Throughout this period, the rulers of Mataram borrowed money from the VOC, which turned out to be a bad deal for both. The rulers of Mataram lost power and sovereignty, but the debts to the VOC were never fully repaid, and the VOC lost money year after year.
1679
Trunojoyo captured and executed. VOC and Arung Palakka drive Makassarese out of East Java. Banten retreats from Cirebon and the Priangan. VOC makes treaty with Minahasans at Manado.
1680
VOC forces attack rebel areas in Mataram. Pangeran Puger continues to run court at Plered against Amangkurat II. Amangkurat II founds new court at Kartasura, then drives Puger out of Plered. Banten declares war on VOC. Sultan Ageng is replaced in coup by his son, Sultan Haji, who seeks help from the VOC. VOC forces invade Madura, supposedly on behalf of Mataram. Cakraningrat II, uncle of Trunojoyo, takes power in West Madura. VOC retains control of East Madura.
1681
Pangeran Puger builds new force and retakes center of Mataram, but not Kartasura. VOC forces push him back and defeat him. VOC intervenes in Roti, puts allies in power. Karangasem begins trying to take Lombok.
1682
Sultan Ageng's supporters retake Banten against his son. VOC reacts by taking Banten. VOC expels English and other European traders from Banten, and begins to control Cirebon, the Priangan, and Lampung. Syekh Waliyullah, Islamic scholar and enemy of the Dutch, is exiled to the VOC post in Ceylon.
1684
Surapati, a former slave and outlaw, now employed as a VOC soldier, attacks a VOC column, escapes, and is given refuge by anti-VOC members of the court of Mataram at Kartasura. VOC takes monopoly on pepper from Lampung.
1685
English found post at Bengkulu. VOC forces treaty on Sultan of Riau. Sa'dillah becomes Sultan of Banjar.
1686
VOC sends an embassy to the Mataram court at Kartasura. Amangkurat II stages a fake attack on Surapati's residence, then turns to cut down VOC representatives and soldiers. The remaining VOC presence at court leaves for Jepara. Surapati leaves Kartasura for Pasuruan; begins building new kingdom. Amangkurat II sends secret letters to Johore, Minangkabau, English East India Co, even Siam trying to find help against VOC.
1689
Plot against VOC in Batavia fails; rebels flee to Kartasura.
1690
Amangkurat II attacks Surapati, but fails.
1696
Arung Palakka, King of Bone, passes away.
1697
King of Buleleng in Bali takes Balambangan on Java.
1699
Surapati takes areas around Madiun. VOC introduces coffee cultivation to Java.
1700
Tahlilillah becomes Sultan of Banjar.
1701
Three years of confusion in VOC over post of Governor-General. Sultan of Banjarmasin tries to eject British post by force, but fails.
1702
Amangkurat II sends secret representative to VOC, hoping for help in the face of court intrigues.
1703
Amangkurat II dies, Amangkurat III faces opposition from Pangeran Puger.
1704
Puger leaves the court of Mataram at Kartasura for Semarang, seeking VOC help. Puger gets support from Cakraningrat II of Madura. VOC accepts Puger as Susuhunan Pakubuwono I; their army takes Demak, other coastal areas.
1705
Pakubuwono I makes deal with VOC: Mataram debts to VOC are wiped out, East Madura goes to VOC control, Semarang is officially a VOC city after years of occupation, Cirebon is officially a VOC protectorate, VOC gets extensive trade rights, Javanese sailors must stick to their home waters. Army of Pakubuwono I with VOC help takes the court of Mataram at Kartasura. Amangkurat III flees to Surapati with the pusaka (emblems or heirlooms of the house of Mataram). Four years of warfare begin.	VOC warehouse and docks in the Netherlands, from an old engraving.
1706
Surapati is killed, but the war on Java continues. Muhammad Mansur Jayo Ing Lago becomes Sultan of Palembang.
1707
VOC and Pakubuwono I of Mataram take Pasuruan; Amangkurat III flees to Malang. Cakraningrat III takes power in West Madura. Banjarmasin finally throws out the British.
1708
Amangkurat III surrenders and is sent into exile by Dutch.
1710
Dewa Agung (high king) on Bali moves court from Gelgel to Klungkung.
1714
British begin building Fort Marlborough at Bengkulu. Sultan of Tidore cedes claim on Irian Jaya to VOC. Komaruddin becomes Sultan of Palembang.
1717
King of Mengwi becomes most powerful king on Bali. Surabaya rebels against Mataram with help from Bali.
1718
VOC takes Surabaya from rebels. Some rebellions continue in east Java. Cakraningrat III of Madura is killed by VOC soldiers while travelling to talks; Cakraningrat IV takes power.
1719
Amangkurat IV takes rule in Mataram. Court rebellion breaks out almost immediately; rebel princes flee eastward. Several more years of war continue.
1722
Plot to overthrow VOC in Batavia is foiled.
1723
Rebel princes and Surapati's descendants in East Java are subdued by VOC forces. VOC begins compulsory coffee production in Priangan.
1724
Badaruddin becomes Sultan of Palembang.
1726
Pakubuwono II takes power in Mataram. Bugis prince Arung Singkang takes Pasir and Kutai in Kalimantan.
1728
Court intrigues in Kartasura result in Pangeran Mangkunegara being sent into exile by Dutch.
1729
King of Roti becomes a Christian.
1733
Arung Singkang attacks Banjarmasin. Mengwi defeats forces of Buleleng on Bali. Pakubuwono II agrees to heavier debt service payments to VOC; has minister Danureja sent into Dutch exile.
1735
Plague in Batavia. Official V.O.C. archives in Batavia are founded.
1738
VOC tells Pakubuwono II to exile Pangeran Purbaya.
1739
Arung Singkang attacks Bone and Makassar, but VOC drives him back.
1740
Anti-Chinese riots break out in Batavia. 10,000 or more Chinese are killed, Chinese district is burnt down. Karangasem on Bali takes Lombok.
1741
Escaping Chinese from Batavia attack Semarang and Rembang, VOC leaves Demak. Pakubuwono II changes sides, sends force to attack VOC at Semarang, destroys VOC garrison at Kartasura. Cakraningrat IV declares allegiance with VOC, starts taking East Java. Rival Governor-Generals in Batavia; Valckenier arrests Van Imhoff and sends him back to Europe, Heeren XVII in the Netherlands names Van Imhoff Gov-Gen, Valckenier eventually arrested and jailed
1742
Negotiations begin between VOC and Pakubuwono II as VOC and Cakraningrat IV spread their power; popular rebellion under Sunan Kuning against VOC and Mataram takes hold in countryside, then takes Kartasura. Cakraningrat IV retakes Kartasura from rebels; VOC is suspicious, orders Pakubuwono II put back on throne.
1743
Rebellion continues under Pangeran Mangkubumi, Pangeran Singasari, and Pangeran Mas Said. Pakubuwono II gives VOC Surabaya, Rembang, Jepara and claims to easternmost Java and West Madura. VOC receives a say in court appointments. Mixed-Portuguese locals attack VOC post at Kupang on Timor; VOC solidifies control of western part of Timor.
1745
February 17 Pakubuwono II moves into the Kraton Surakarta. Cakraningrat IV wages war with the VOC and retakes much of Madura and East Java. He is eventually defeated by VOC, caught and exiled. Cakraningrat V takes title in West Madura. Gov-Gen Van Imhoff founds Buitenzorg (today's Bogor). Tamjidillah becomes Sultan of Banjar.
1746
Pangeran Mangkubumi, disgusted with capitulations to the VOC, announces full-scale rebellion. He is joined by Pangeran Mas Said. August 26 First VOC Post Office opened in Jakarta.
1747
Bugis internal war begins over dissatisfaction with Arung Singkang.
1748
Mangkubumi's rebel forces attack Surakarta. VOC sends Sultan of Banten into exile, makes his wife Ratu Sarifa regent but take direct control.
1749
December Pakubuwono II becomes sick, signs treaty giving full sovereignty in all Mataram to VOC. (Treaty is widely ignored.) VOC declares Pakubuwono III as heir to throne. Mangkubumi claims title for himself, rules from Yogya. Pakubuwono II dies.
1750
Mas Said attacks Surakarta for Mangkubumi. Rebellion in Banten against Ratu Sarifa and VOC. Rebels threaten Batavia and Lampung.
1751
VOC forces destroy Banten rebellion; guerilla attacks continue against VOC plantations around Batavia.
1754
Mangkubumi considers negotiating with VOC, worries about possible disloyalty from Mas Said. Arung Singkang abdicates from power, continues guerilla attacks.
1755
Mangkubumi changes title from Susuhunan to Sultan, takes name Hamengkubuwono, is now Sultan Hamengkubuwono I. Treaty of Gijanti: Sultan Hamengkubuwono gets VOC recognition of title and lands. Builds Kraton at Yogyakarta. Mas Said, now without allies, attacks VOC force.	Keraton Ngayogyakarta The famous Kraton of Yogya began construction in the 1750s.
1756
Mas Said attacks new court at Yogyakarta. Bugis attack VOC at Melaka. October 7 Hamengkubuwono I officially moves into the Kraton Ngayogyakarta.
1757
Mas Said agrees to negotiations. Overt hostilities end; Mas Said becomes Pangeran Mangkunegara I with his court also at Surakarta.	The Courts of central Java as they were founded in the mid-1700s have continued down to the present day. There is still a Sultan of Yogya today, a Susuhunan of Surakarta, and a Pangeran Mangkunegara. The Sultan of Yogya still has special powers within the Daerah Istimewa or Special Area of Yogyakarta; the others retain their palaces and titles, but no special powers.
1758
Najamuddin becomes Sultan of Palembang.
1768
VOC expedition to Malang against descendants of Surapati captures Pangeran Singasari, who dies in custody.
1769
French expedition steals clove plants from Ambon to break VOC monopoly.
1770
English Captain James Cook visits Batavia.
1771
Last of Surapati's line is captured by VOC forces in Malang. Malang now falls under VOC control. VOC forces work to push Balinese out of easternmost Java. Syarif Abdurrahman from Arabia founds Pontianak, becomes first Sultan.
1773
Division of lands between Yogyakarta and Surakarta is formalized.
1776
Bahauddin becomes Sultan of Palembang.
1778
Tahmidillah becomes Sultan of Banjar. Gunung Api on Banda erupts.
1780
War between Netherlands and Britain; extra troops sent to Java. Plague in Batavia. Islamic reform movement grows in Minangkabau.
1784
Treaty of Paris opens VOC controlled Indies to free trade. Sultan of Riau dies without successor; VOC takes complete control. Bugis attack VOC at Melaka.
1785
Future Hamengkubuwono II of Yogya builds fortifications around Kraton.
1786
British found Penang in Malaya.
1788
Pakubuwono III succeeded by Pakubuwono IV.
1790
Rumors spread that Pakubuwono IV is planning massacre of Dutch in Java, takeover of Yogya and Mangkunegara court; forces from Yogya and VOC surround Surakarta; Pakubuwono IV orders his advisors to leave court, VOC sends them into exile.
1792
Hamengkubuwono I dies and is succeeded by Hamengkubuwono II. VOC declares that Mangkunegara title and possessions are hereditary.
1794
Netherlands invaded by France.
1795
Heeren XVII dismissed for last time.
1796
Mangkunegara II inherits court, but much of treasury is stolen by VOC resident at Surakarta. British occupy Ambon.
1797
Nederlands Zendelinggenootschap or Dutch Missionary Society is founded.	This was the beginning of heavy activity by Dutch Protestant missionaries in Indonesia, not only to Java and Sumatra but also to very remote areas, eventually even to Irian Jaya.
1798
Napoleonic Dutch government revokes charter of VOC, assumes debts and assets. Sultan of Tidore sets up subsidiary Sultan of Jailolo on Halmahera.	The VOC was losing money to corruption and political intrigues. By the end of the 1700s, it was fully bankrupt. On January 1st, 1800, it ceased to exist.