Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Cornelis de Houtman: Road Opener Dutch colonization of the archipelago

Cornelis de Houtman (born in Gouda, the Netherlands, 2 April 1565 - killed in Aceh, 1599), was a Dutch explorer who discovered the shipping route from Europe to the archipelago and the successful launch of the spice trade for the Dutch. When the arrival of de Houtman, Portuguese Empire had previously monopolized the trade routes of the archipelago. Although the expedition de Houtman many casualties on his side and could be said to fail, but de Houtman's first expedition was a symbolic victory for the Dutch, because since that time other ships set sail to trade to the East.
Beginning the journey
In 1592 Cornelis de Houtman was sent by the merchants of Amsterdam to Lisboa / Lisbon, Portugal to gather as much information as possible about the existence of the "Spice Islands". At the time of de Houtman returned to Amsterdam, another Dutch explorer Jan Huygen van Linschoten also returned from India. After getting the information, the merchant is concluded that the Bantam is the best place to buy spices. At 1594, they founded the Compagnie van Verre company (which means "long-distance company"), and on 2 April 1595 the expedition set out under the leadership of this company Cornelis de Houtman. Noted there are four ships that participated in the expedition looking for the "Spice Islands" are: Amsterdam, Hollandia, Mauritius and Duyfken.
Expedition de Houtman was pestered a lot of problems early. Sprue disease broke out just weeks after the voyage began due to lack of food. The quarrel between the captain and the merchants led to several people killed or imprisoned on the ship. In Madagascar, where a planned stop for a moment, a further problem caused the death of another, and his ships hang in there for six months. (Gulf of Madagascar where they left off is now known as "Dutch Cemetery").
Arriving in Java
On June 27, 1596, the expedition de Houtman arrived in Banten. Only 249 people remaining from the initial voyage. Population initially hostile reception, but after some rude behavior indicated the Dutch crew, the Sultan of Banten, along with the Portuguese who had come first in Florida, expel the group "Wong Londo" this.
De Houtman expedition continues to the north coast of Java. This time, however, subject to the pirate ship. When I arrived at Madura bad behavior of this group leads to misunderstanding and violence: a prince of Madura were killed so that some of the Dutch crew was arrested and detained so that the de Houtman to pay a fine to release it. These ships then sailed to England, and met with King Bali. They finally managed to get some pepper pot on February 26, 1597.
While returning to the Netherlands, they stopped at the Islands St. Helena, near Angola to fill the water supplies and other materials. Their arrival was confronted by the Portuguese ships that are their competitors.
Finally at the end of 1597, three of the four ships of this expedition returned safely to Holland. Of the 249 crew, only 87 who made it back.
Result of the expedition de Houtman
Although the trip is arguably failed, but it can also be regarded as a victory for the Netherlands. Since that time the Dutch began to dare to set sail to trade to the East, especially in the land of the archipelago. Some of the expedition was a failure, while other successful resplendent with abounding advantages of the total issued capital of the expedition.
Total in the period between 1598 and 1601 there were 15 expeditions were sent to the archipelago, which includes 65 ships. Before Verenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie (VOC) was established in 1602, there were 12 companies have been on an expedition to the archipelago in a period of 7 years, namely: Compagnie van Verre (Company of the Far), De Nieuwe Compagnie (New Company), Compagnie De Oude (Company old), De Nieuwe Compagnie Brabantse Company (New Brabant), Compagnie De Verenigde Amsterdam (Amsterdam Companies Association), Compagnie De Magelaanse (Magelan Company), Compagnie De Rotterdamse Company (Rotterdam), De Compagnie van De Moucheron (De Company Moucheron), De Delftse Vennootschap (Company Delft), Compagnie De Veerse Company (De Veer), Compagnie De Middelburgse Company (Middelburg) and Compagnie De Verenigde Zeeuwse (Association of Corporate City Zeeuw).
Were killed in Aceh
In 1598, along with his brother Cornelis de Houtman Frederick de Houtman was sent again to the land of the archipelago where this expedition is an expedition in large numbers. Fleet, the fleet had been armed as warships.
In 1599, two ships led de Houtman who named de Leeuw and de Leeuwin docked in the capital of the Kingdom of Aceh. At first the ship was well received by the Aceh because it is expected to be able to build a mutually beneficial trade cooperation. With the arrival of the Dutch means Aceh will be able to sell their crops, especially pepper to the Dutch.
But in its development, due to the instigation of the Portuguese who had previously traded with the Kingdom of Aceh, the Sultan of Aceh became unhappy with the presence of Dutch and ordered to attack their ships. The leader of the attack was Admiral Keumala Conservation. In this attack, Cornelis de Houtman and some of his men were killed while Frederick de Houtman was arrested and thrown in jail. Frederick de Houtman Aceh kingdom languished in detention for 2 years. While in prison, he wrote a book of Malay-Dutch dictionary which is a Malay-Dutch dictionary first and oldest in the Archipelago.

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