"Herman Willem Daendels" by Raden Saleh (circa 1811–1880) - www.rijksmuseum.nl : Home : Info : Pic. Licensed under Public domain via Wikimedia Commons.
Enter Daendels "The Thundering Marshall"
Overview: Who was Daendels?
Marshal Herman Willem Daendels was the only non-French marshall of Napoleon's empire. He was a lawyer, revolutionary, politician and soldier, whose career was a direct result of the changes the French Revolution created. Daendels was a strong revolutionary, and had a forceful as well as violent streak to his personality. He was Governor-General in Batavia from 1808–11, and despite this short period of time he would leave a huge and contraversial legacy behind him. He was transferred to Africa shortly before the British invasion of 1811 and died there.
Why did he end up in Java?
As we have seen, France had controlled Holland since 1795, but in an attempt to strengthen his grip on Holland, Napoleon made his brother Louis King of the Netherlands in 1806. Louis would prove too independent for his older brother's tastes and was eventually removed from power, but while still King, Louis ordered Daendels to travel to Java and fortify it against possible British invasion from their empire in India.
What were Daendels' aims?
- To control the powerful local courts. They could have provided aid to any British invading force.
- To improve Java's defences against possible British invasion
- To build up the Franco-Dutch military on Java
- To reform the corrupt VOC administration (which was still largely the same)
- To enrich and strengthen the colonial administration
How did Daendels attempt to achieve his aims?
Daendels set about reforming the old VOC administration (which was still largely in place despite the VOC being declared bankrupt in 1800), and improving the military structure as soon as he arrived. As part of his plan to control the local courts, he had the Dutch residents at the Javanese courts report to him directly and made it clear that they were no longer ambassadors but his representatives. The residents were also instructed to act as equals to the local rulers. This move deeply offended the Sultan of Yogyakarta.
But perhaps his most significant act was to order the creation of the Great Post Road from 1808-1811. This huge highway was intended to speed up communications and allow Daendels to move troops quickly around Java. While in many ways this was an impressive achievement, the fact remains that thousands of Javanese labourers died building the road.
Daendels's actions upset many of the Javanese nobility, and eventually a minor noble Raden Ronggo led a rebellion against him. Ronggo's rebellion failed and he was hacked to pieces by Daendels' troops. This also gave Daendels the excuse he was looking for to raid the Yogyakarta treasury, and renegotiate the Dutch treaties with the local courts. Daendels was sent to Africa before the British invasion of 1811, but if the Javanese were expecting the British to be any different they were to be disappointed.
But perhaps his most significant act was to order the creation of the Great Post Road from 1808-1811. This huge highway was intended to speed up communications and allow Daendels to move troops quickly around Java. While in many ways this was an impressive achievement, the fact remains that thousands of Javanese labourers died building the road.
Daendels's actions upset many of the Javanese nobility, and eventually a minor noble Raden Ronggo led a rebellion against him. Ronggo's rebellion failed and he was hacked to pieces by Daendels' troops. This also gave Daendels the excuse he was looking for to raid the Yogyakarta treasury, and renegotiate the Dutch treaties with the local courts. Daendels was sent to Africa before the British invasion of 1811, but if the Javanese were expecting the British to be any different they were to be disappointed.
Source A Extract from Max Havelaar
"The actual military highway, with its many branches, which had been constructed by Marshall Daendels, sacrificing many of his people, is truly a wonderful masterpiece, and one can be amazed at the spiritual power of the man who, in spite of all objections from his envious opponents in the motherland, fought against the unwilling people and their unsatisfied masters, to produce something which until today deserves to be admired by any visitor." from Max Havelaar by Multatuli written in 1860
Questions to consider:
1. Which language in Source A suggests a positive view of the Post Road?
2. Why does Source A see the Post Road as a great achievement?
3. Which part of Source A suggests a reason why others may have a different interpretation of the Post Road?
4. Source A is a work of fiction, does that mean it is of no use to a historian? Tip: You may want to investigate the author Multatuli's background before answering.
Citation: Wikisource contributors. "Max Havelaar (Wikisource)/06." Wikisource . Wikisource , 22 Dec. 2010. Web. 26 Jul. 2014.