The Thousand Mask Warrior

Earth Sukadana

Before Giri Kedaton was conquered in 1636 AD, Mataram himself felt he had to control Surabaya as a large kingdom in the eastern part of Java. Only, the kingdom of Surabaya is a kingdom that is so big and strong. Jayaseta himself had already proven the toughness of the Surabaya soldiers and the wound on his left chest due to the stabbing of Kyai Plered spear by Raden Pekik, a Prince from the kingdom of Surabaya who led the army directly with his wife, Queen Pandhansari.

Therefore Sultan Agung Hanyakrakusuma felt the need to weaken Surabaya by first before weakening other kingdoms that have good relations with Surabaya.

As a result, in 1622 AD, Mataram crossed the sea to the island of Bakalapura or also known as Tanjung Pura to attack a kingdom called Sukadana using seventy Jung warships and two thousand fully armed troops led by the Duke of Kendal, Bahureksa.

Many of the reasons that Mataram used as justification for this attack besides wanting to weaken the power of Surabaya and conquer the archipelago. Mataram said that they were not happy with Walanda's cooperation with Sukadana in purchasing diamonds from a region in Sukadana's power called Landak.

It is well known that Walanda was hated by Sultan Agung Hanyakrakusuma. Especially with this trade relationship made Sultan Agung worried that the port of Sukadana would become crowded and make the Sukadana kingdom become rich and great and ultimately can rival the ports controlled by Mataram.

How not, since 1604 AD, Walanda negotiators led by Pieter Aert already in Sukadana. Then in 1608, the negotiator returned with 633 diamonds with a value of 257 carats.

In 1609, Pieter Aert signed a treaty with the Sultan of Sambas, in an attempt and Walanda's government to break Brunei's powerful rule over the Sambas sultanate and to build a refinery there. However, Walanda is more related to Sukadana which is located far to the south.

Sukadana Port which stands on Datok Island Beach itself is a port that is already very crowded. Buildings of buying wood, iron wood of a giant size are planted on the beach. This feature may explain why this wood got the name iron wood. In addition to being sturdy and hard like iron, the color is jet black, increasingly black shiny throughout its age, has a large cut shape.

The port can accommodate hundreds of Jung ships and can continue with ships or boats entering through the river to the interior of Tanjung Pura island. Sukadana port is recorded as a trade route from the west, east, north and abroad.

In addition to the Walanda people who came in 1617 AD and the United Kingdom who had mastered Sukadana in 1611 AD, Chinese sailors, Johor, Brunei, Bugis, Java, Malay, Banjarmasin, and others, Riau and Palembang went back and forth by trading spices, diamonds, agarwood and Chinese jars and of course wood.

The result of the Mataram attack a few years ago is indeed extraordinary, Sukadana defeat in plain sight. Datuk Mangku, the husband of the female king of Air Mala who ruled Sukadana could not do much for this defeat. Queen Air Mala was even taken captive and taken to Mataram until now there is no sign that the queen will return to the land of Sukadana.

Jayaseta took a deep breath, relieved that she would soon be able to touch the ground safely. Thick trees rise as the backdrop of the port.

Ooh .. how much he misses meeting the mainland. The air is quite different compared to his hometown, but that is not a problem.

Raja Nio explained to Jayaseta that another fundamental difference between Tanjung Pura island and Java is the amount of forest and grassy land, often dark black water. They will find rivers everywhere. Small rivers, large rivers, ditches and lakes in this land.

The story of King Nio about this river seems to be emphasized, given Jayaseta's fear of all things related to the waters.

Sukadana Sultanate is located on an island, far exceeding the large island of Java, which is widely known by various names. During the Singasari kingdom, the island was named Bakulapura in Sanskrit which means Tanjung tree, because there are many Tanjung trees that grow there.

Bakulapura itself is a royal name located in the southwest of the island where during the Majapahit kingdom famous name it with Tanjung Pura or ancient Malay for Bakulapura.

Tanjung Pura kingdom is patterned Hindu-Buddhist which is the conquest of Majapahit kingdom and also the forerunner of Sukadana kingdom itself. During the Majapahit kingdom, people from Jawadwipa also called it Tanjungnegara. While during the kingdom of Kadiri or Panjalu the island is called Nusa Kencana.

Jayaseta even remembered that people in Giri Kedaton often call this sabrang island with Banjar Island, which also refers to one of the Islamic Sultanates that stood on this island, namely the Sultanate of Banjar.

There is a map made by the Pranggi bule sailor in 1601 AD. The royal name Brunei is used to gaze at the entire island. In the tongue of the Pranggi people, the word Brunei is pronounced as Borneo. So the entire island since the 16th century and early 17th century has been named and known by foreign Caucasians as the island of Borneo.

Some say that the name Brunei or Borneo comes from the Sanskrit word vrana which means water or the god Baruna in Hinduism, the god of water and sea.

This also makes sense because the influence of Hinduism reached this island hundreds of years ago.

It can be said that the name of Brunei or Borneo is then better known and famous. Majapahit Kingdom in addition to naming it with Tanjungnegara or Nusa Tanjungnegara, also called it as Barune in Nagarakretagama script written by Mpu Prapanca in 1365 AD.

So did the travel records of the early Chinese, the, bo-ni was mentioned in 977 AD and was mentioned again by a Chinese official named Chau Ju-Kua who came to this island in 1225 AD.

No wonder, King Nio explained back to Jayaseta that the name of Brunei is widely used and Borneo is the most known by foreign people, especially the country of the Caucasians in the Western hemisphere.

Sukadana is an important port along with its neighbors such as Sambas, Kotawaringin, and Banjarmasin replacing previous ports such as Lawe, Sampit, Quodomdom and Tanjungpura.

Before Walanda and its VOC companies came to Sukadana, the United Kingdom had begun to pay attention to trade in the West Brunei island. After British traders reported about the possible benefits of buses, then in 1611 AD, the United Kingdom opened an office

trade in Sukadana.

The British trade activities certainly encouraged the VOC to engage in trade on the island of Brunei or Tanjung Pura island in the West. Initially, VOC Walanda held a trade of pepper and diamonds in Landak.

Sukadana Kingdom patterned marine and mining so it also distinguishes with Mataram more to agriculture. No wonder this kingdom is famous for its gold, silver and diamond mines.

Sukadana society has been able to process precious metals and precious stones into jewelry with high selling value. Even the capital city of the Sukadana kingdom has the fame as the best diamond craft center in the Nusantara sea region.

King Nio returned to Jayaseta the history and state of the country with a proud face and feeling like a teacher teaching his students.

Jayaseta tries to get all this knowledge to the best of his ability.

This diamond-producing country provides a lot of hope for many people, including himself. Of course it is not diamond gold that he wants, although maybe what is his business in this land is equally valuable.

He looked at the harbor and the buildings that were lined around him. All the neat and crowded buildings are made of wood and roofs of rumbia, some also use wood that is cut thinly in such a way as to be used as a roof.

A forest with huge trees soared into the sky. Jayaseta feels dwarfed in this new world she will step on.