Battle of Gorong

The Battle of Gorong (Indonesian: Pertempuran Gorong; Dutch: Gorong Oorlog) or also called Battle of Gorom, is a series of 30 years war Sultan Nuku of the Tidore Sultanate. More than half of the Nuku war took place in East Seram. The people of East Seram are known to be the most loyal in protecting Nuku from VOC and Ternate pursuit.[1]

Battle of Gorong

The rebels of Gorom, allied with Sultan Nuku, are conquered by the Dutch Colonel Gobius in May 1791, the village being set on fire.
Date21–23 May 1791
Location
Gorom Island, Maluku
Result Tidore Sultanate victory
Belligerents
Tidore Sultanate
Gorom people		 VOC Troops
Commanders and leaders
Nuku of Tidore
Lukman of Kelu
Imam Sarasa
King Bessy		 Admiral A.H.C. Straring
Captain Silvester
Captain Hartman
Captain Isaak Welter Gobius
Captain Wolterbeek
Strength
Unknown ± 3,700 VOC troops

Causes

The Dutch were quite frustrated with losing a lot of guilders, troops, and trade stability in the East during the pursuit of Nuku. For that, a larger army with a larger fleet is needed strong. So in 1789 three ships were brought from Netherlands to Batavia to prepare an expedition to Maluku.[2]

Battle

The VOC expedition was led by Admiral A.H.C. Straring, who was at war with the Sultan of Palembang, summoned to Batavia to then wait for the arrival of three ships from the Netherlands.

December 1790, the fleet from Batavia to Ternate. In total there are 4 ships with 700 Dutch troops. The 4 ships are Thetis Ship, Bellona, Markurius, and Swalluw. Each led by Captain Silvester, Captain Hartman, Captain Isaak Welter Gobius, and Captain Wolterbeek all of whom are under the command of Admiral Straring.

The fleet arrived in Ternate in January 1791 by first stopping at Makassar. 3000 Ternate troops and Makassar joined forces to Ambon.[3] Resident Ambon and Saparua added hundreds of local kora-kora to join forces towards Banda Islands.[4]

In May 1791, the large army headed for Gorom Island, the point where Sultan Nuku was located. Nuku who was previously in Rarackit/Kilbat Country at this time, had to concentrate the troop gathering point there. Nuku was accompanied by two of his confidants, the rich (orang kaya) Lukman from Kelu Country and Imam Sarasa from Geser Country.[5] A year earlier, the heads of these two men were valued at 500 guilders each for those who could kill them and the price of the head of the sultan of Nuku 1000 guilders.[6]

The Straring Army first set fire to several countries namely Seran Rey, Geser, Urung, Guli-guli, and Kilmuri. After that go to the main point, namely Gorom.[7] Several villages such as Ondor, Kataloka, and its surroundings welcomed the VOC right in front of the Ondor Country. VOC burned several villages and captured local strongholds in Dullah, Ondor, and Kilalir. After that head to Kataloka where the concentration of Nuku and most of his troops are.[8]

On 23 May 1791, the peak of the battle took place on the coast of Kataloka. The two main VOC ships were burned. Captain Gobius is trapped in the creek between Ondor and Kataloka. Nuku's army and King Bessy from two opposite directions attacked Gobius' army. The captain, experienced in European warfare, fell with a gunshot wound to the left thigh and was stabbed in the left abdomen. Unfortunately he died on the spot. Hundreds of Gobius troops died on the shores of Gorom. Captain Walterbek caught up to help but was too late, Admiral Straring withdrew the troops and returned to Banda.[9]

Afterwards, there was almost no significant resistance from the VOC troops in East Seram until the recapture of Nuku's throne in Tidore.

Literatures
  1. Tri Indah (2020), Masa Penjajahan di Kesultanan Ternate
  2. M. Adnan Amal (2016), Kepulauan Rempah-rempah: Perjalanan Sejarah Maluku Utara 1250-1950
  3. E. katoppo (1984), Nuku: Sultan Saidul Jehad Muhammad el Mabus Amiruddin Syah Kaicil Paparangan
  4. Sartono Kartodirdjo (1987), Pengantar Sejarah Indonesia Baru 1500–1900
  5. Andaya, Leonard Y. (1993), The World of Maluku
  6. Abdul Hamid Hasan (2001), Aroma Sejarah dan Budaya Ternate
  7. M. Adnan Amal (2002), Maluku Utara: Perjalanan Sejarah 1250–1800

See also

References
  1. Kekalahan Belanda oleh Sultan Nuku: Sejarah yang Sengaja Dihilangkan www.laduni.id.
  2. Kekalahan Besar Belanda di Gorom thayyibah.com.
  3. Sejarah Kebudayaan Maluku books.google.co.id.
  4. Sejarah Kepulauan Maluku books.google.co.id.
  5. Kondisi Sosial Ekonomi Pulau-Pulau Kecil Di Semenanjung Al Mulk Kabupaten SBT pkspl.ipb.ac.id.
  6. Arkeolog Teliti Proses Penyebaran Islam di Gorom www.republika.co.id. Accessed on 21 September 2021.
  7. Periode Kolonial di Pesisir Timur Pulau Seram walennae.kemdikbud.go.id. Accessed on 21 September 2021.
  8. Sejarah Nusantara Pada Era Kerajaan Islam www.duniasejarah25.com.
  9. Sejarah Sultan Nuku dari Tidore: Lord of Fortune Tak Terkalahkan tirto.id.
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