The Old Order in Java
Why were the Dutch in trouble in Java by 1800?
At the end of the eighteenth century, the Dutch looked to be in a great deal of trouble in both Europe and Indonesia. By 1800 the VOC was bankrupt and the powerful local courts of Yogyakarta and Surakarta largely ignored the Dutch. While there were internal tensions both within and between both local courts, the fact remains that they were not only rich, but that they could potentially draw on large armies from their surrounding lands. Indeed, during the Fourth Anglo-Dutch war when there was a genuine risk of attack by an invasion from British India, the VOC authorities in Batavia even asked the Javanese rulers of Yogyakarta and Surakarta to lend them 2300 troops to defend Batavia (Jakarta) against possible attack. The final nail in the VOC's coffin was their request to the Dutch government in Holland for money which prompted a complete investigation of their operations. The investigation revealed mismanagement, and widespread corruption as a result the VOC was disbanded.
Why were the Dutch in trouble in Europe?
The Dutch were also in trouble in Europe. They had gradually been eclipsed by the rise of the British at sea and the French Revolution of 1789 would leave the Dutch under pressure at home. The process of Dutch decline was begun when they were defeated by the British in the Fourth Anglo-Dutch War of 1780–3. This was the beginning of the end and due to massive debts and corruption the VOC was declared bankrupt on 1 January 1800.
What was the situation at the Javanese local courts by 1800?
The two powerful local courts of Surakarta and Yogyakarta were largely independent from the colonial government in Batavia. Yogyakarta was especially powerful and had a rich treasury, access to plentiful natural resources in surrounding lands, and a potentially large military force. The Javanese courts had normalised the presence of the Dutch administration on the coast of Java as a legal equal rather than a superior. Furthermore, the Dutch residents at the Javanese courts were seen as equally a servant of the Sultans as they were agents of the Dutch. Making matters worse the VOC itself was bankrupt and was no longer a going concern by 1800. To conclude, by 1800 the Dutch looked like they would have to leave Indonesia.