Timeline of Indonesian history
Encyclopedia
This is a timeline of Indonesia
n history.
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
n history.
Pre-history
- PleistocenePleistoceneThe Pleistocene is the epoch from 2,588,000 to 11,700 years BP that spans the world's recent period of repeated glaciations. The name pleistocene is derived from the Greek and ....
: The modern geological form of Indonesia appears, linked to Asian mainland. - 2 million to 500,000 years ago: Indonesia is inhabited by Homo erectusHomo erectusHomo erectus is an extinct species of hominid that lived from the end of the Pliocene epoch to the later Pleistocene, about . The species originated in Africa and spread as far as India, China and Java. There is still disagreement on the subject of the classification, ancestry, and progeny of H...
, now popularly known as the 'Java ManJava ManJava Man is the name given to fossils discovered in 1891 at Trinil - Ngawi Regency on the banks of the Solo River in East Java, Indonesia, one of the first known specimens of Homo erectus...
'. - 69,000 to 77,000 years ago: The supervolcanoSupervolcanoA supervolcano is a volcano capable of producing a volcanic eruption with an ejecta volume greater than 1,000 cubic kilometers . This is thousands of times larger than most historic volcanic eruptions. Supervolcanoes can occur when magma in the Earth rises into the crust from a hotspot but is...
Toba (now Lake TobaLake TobaLake Toba is a lake and supervolcano. The lake is 100 kilometres long and 30 kilometres wide, and 505 metres at its deepest point. Located in the middle of the northern part of the Indonesian island of Sumatra with a surface elevation of about , the lake stretches from to...
in Sumatra, Indonesia) erupted, one of the Earth's largest and most devastating known eruptions. - 94,000 to 12,000 years ago: Homo floresiensisHomo floresiensisHomo floresiensis is a possible species, now extinct, in the genus Homo. The remains were discovered in 2003 on the island of Flores in Indonesia. Partial skeletons of nine individuals have been recovered, including one complete cranium...
, a small species of the genus HomoHomoHomo may refer to:*the Greek prefix ὅμο-, meaning "the same"*the Latin for man, human being*Homo, the taxonomical genus including modern humans...
inhabits the island of FloresFloresFlores is one of the Lesser Sunda Islands, an island arc with an estimated area of 14,300 km² extending east from the Java island of Indonesia. The population was 1.831.000 in the 2010 census and the largest town is Maumere. Flores is Portuguese for "flowers".Flores is located east of Sumbawa...
. - 40,000 BCE: The earliest human societies are thought to exist in parts of the Indonesian archipelago, highlands of the Malay PeninsulaMalay PeninsulaThe Malay Peninsula or Thai-Malay Peninsula is a peninsula in Southeast Asia. The land mass runs approximately north-south and, at its terminus, is the southern-most point of the Asian mainland...
, and the PhilippinesPhilippinesThe Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. - 3000 BCE: The present day peoples of Indonesia are of Austronesian descent and are thought to originate from an aboriginal Chinese society living in Taiwan (or South China). They are Neolithic peoples who learn open-water maritime skills about 3000 BCE. These light,brown-skinned people reached the Indonesian archipelago during the period 2500 BCE to 1500 BCE and virtually eliminated the existing, dark,brown-skinned inhabitants.
- 400 BCE - 100 CE: The prehistoric clay pottery Buni cultureBuni cultureBuni culture is a prehistoric clay pottery culture that flourished in coastal northern West Java and Banten around 400 BCE to 100 CE and probably suvived until 500 CE...
(near present-day BekasiBekasiBekasi is a city in West Java, Indonesia, located on the eastern border of Jakarta in the Jabodetabek metropolitan region. To the south is Bogor Regency, east is Bekasi Regency....
) were flourished in coastal northern West JavaWest JavaWest Java , with a population of over 43 million, is the most populous and most densely populated province of Indonesia. Located on the island of Java, it is slightly smaller in area than densely populated Taiwan, but with nearly double the population...
. - 200 BCE: "Dvipantara" or "Yawadvipa" HinduHinduHindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
kingdom is thought to have existed in Java or SumatraSumatraSumatra is an island in western Indonesia, westernmost of the Sunda Islands. It is the largest island entirely in Indonesia , and the sixth largest island in the world at 473,481 km2 with a population of 50,365,538...
as it was mentioned in IndiaIndiaIndia , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
's earliest epic, the RamayanaRamayanaThe Ramayana is an ancient Sanskrit epic. It is ascribed to the Hindu sage Valmiki and forms an important part of the Hindu canon , considered to be itihāsa. The Ramayana is one of the two great epics of India and Nepal, the other being the Mahabharata...
; Sugriva, the chief of RamaRamaRama or full name Ramachandra is considered to be the seventh avatar of Vishnu in Hinduism, and a king of Ayodhya in ancient Indian...
's army dispatched his men to Yawadvipa in search of SitaSITASITA is a multinational information technology company specialising in providing IT and telecommunication services to the air transport industry...
.
Early history
- 350-400 The KutaiKutaiKutai is the traditional name of a historic region in East Kalimantan in Indonesia on Borneo, a Dayak people of the region with a language of the same name and their historic states. Today the name is preserved in the names of three regencies in East Kalimantan, the Kutai Kartanegara Regency, the...
Martadipura phase are the earliest known stone inscriptions in Indonesia. - 5th century: Stone inscriptions in west Java announce decrees of Purnavarman, king of TarumanagaraTarumanagaraTarumanagara or Taruma Kingdom or just Taruma is an early Sundanese Indianized kingdom, whose fifth-century ruler, Purnavarman, produced the earliest known inscriptions on Java island...
. - 683: Dapunta Hyang Sri Jayanasa performed Siddhayatra as the journey to expand his influence. The event mentioned in several inscriptions such as Telaga Batu inscriptionTelaga Batu inscriptionTelaga Batu iscription is a 7th century Srivijayan inscription discovered in Sabokingking, 3 Ilir, Ilir Timur II, Palembang, South Sumatra around 1950s. The iscription is now displayed in National Museum of Indonesia, Jakarta, with inventory number D.155...
, Talang Tuwo inscriptionTalang Tuwo inscriptionTalang Tuwo inscription is a 7th century Srivijaya inscription discovered by Louis Constant Westenenk on 17 November 1920 on the foot of Bukit Seguntang near Palembang.The inscription was discovered in good condition with clear inscribed scripts...
and Kedukan Bukit InscriptionKedukan Bukit InscriptionThe Kedukan Bukit Inscription was discovered by the Dutchman M. Batenburg on 29 November 1920 at Kedukan Bukit, South Sumatra, on the banks of the River Tatang, a tributary of the River Musi. It is the oldest surviving specimen of the Malay language, in a form known as Old Malay. It is a small...
. The beginning of SrivijayaSrivijayaSrivijaya was a powerful ancient thalassocratic Malay empire based on the island of Sumatra, modern day Indonesia, which influenced much of Southeast Asia. The earliest solid proof of its existence dates from the 7th century; a Chinese monk, I-Tsing, wrote that he visited Srivijaya in 671 for 6...
hegemony over the maritime region around Malacca strait and Sunda StraitSunda StraitThe Sunda Strait is the strait between the Indonesian islands of Java and Sumatra. It connects the Java Sea to the Indian Ocean...
. - 686: Srivijaya launch naval invasion against Java, mentioned in Kota Kapur InscriptionKota Kapur InscriptionKota Kapur Inscription is an inscription discovered in western coast of Bangka Island, offcoast South Sumatra, Indonesia, by J.K. van der Meulen in December 1892. It was named after "Kotakapur" village, the location where this archaeological findings were discovered. This inscription is using old...
. Probably contributed to the end of TarumanagaraTarumanagaraTarumanagara or Taruma Kingdom or just Taruma is an early Sundanese Indianized kingdom, whose fifth-century ruler, Purnavarman, produced the earliest known inscriptions on Java island...
kingdom. - 7th to 15th century: The SumatraSumatraSumatra is an island in western Indonesia, westernmost of the Sunda Islands. It is the largest island entirely in Indonesia , and the sixth largest island in the world at 473,481 km2 with a population of 50,365,538...
-based SrivijayaSrivijayaSrivijaya was a powerful ancient thalassocratic Malay empire based on the island of Sumatra, modern day Indonesia, which influenced much of Southeast Asia. The earliest solid proof of its existence dates from the 7th century; a Chinese monk, I-Tsing, wrote that he visited Srivijaya in 671 for 6...
naval kingdom flourishes and declines.
8th century
- 700: Wet-field rice cultivation, small towns and kingdoms flourish. Trade links are established with ChinaChinaChinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and IndiaIndiaIndia , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. - 732: The Sanjaya dynastySanjaya DynastyThe Sañjaya Dynasty was an ancient Javanese dynasty that ruled the Mataram kingdom in Java during first millennium CE. The dynasty was an active promoter of Hinduism in ancient Java.-Origin and formation:...
is founded around this time according to the Canggal inscriptionCanggal inscriptionThe Canggal inscription is a Javanese inscription dated to 732, discovered in the Gunung Wukir temple complex in Kadiluwih village, Salam, Magelang Regency, Central Java. The inscription is written in the Pallawa script in the Sanskrit language...
. - 8th century to 832: The agriculturally-based Buddhist SailendraSailendraSailendra is the name of an influential Indonesian dynasty that emerged in 8th century Java.The Sailendras were active promoters of Mahayana Buddhism and covered the Kedu Plain of Central Java with Buddhist monuments, including the world famous Borobudur.The Sailendras are considered to be a...
kingdom flourishes and declines. - 752 to 1045: The Hindu Medang (Mataram) kingdom flourishes and declines.
- 760 to 830: BorobudurBorobudurBorobudur, or Barabudur, is a 9th-century Mahayana Buddhist monument near Magelang, Central Java, Indonesia. The monument comprises six square platforms topped by three circular platforms, and is decorated with 2,672 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues...
is constructed. - 778: Kalasan templeCandi KalasanKalasan , also known as Candi Kalibening, is an 8th century Buddhist temple in Indonesia. It is located 13 km east of Yogyakarta on the way to Prambanan temple, on the south side of the main road 'Jalan Solo' between Yogyakarta and Surakarta....
constructed according to Kalasan inscriptionKalasan inscriptionThe Kalasan inscription is an inscription dated 700 Saka , discovered in Kalasan village, Sleman Regency, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The inscription was written in Sanskrit with Pranagari script .-Contents:...
. - 792: The Manjusrigrha (Sewu) temple is completed according to Manjusrigrha inscriptionManjusrigrha inscriptionThe Manjusrigrha inscription is an inscription dated 714 Saka , written in Old Malay with Old Javanese script. The inscription was discovered in 1960 on the right side of stairs entrance of Sewu pervara no. 202 on west side. Sewu temple is located approximately 800 meters north of Prambanan...
.
9th century
- 856: PrambananPrambananPrambanan is a ninth century Hindu temple compound in Central Java, Indonesia, dedicated to the Trimurti, the expression of God as the Creator , the Sustainer and the Destroyer...
is completed. According to Shivagrha inscriptionShivagrha inscriptionThe Shivagrha inscription is an inscription from the Medang Kingdom of Central Java, dated in chandrasengkala ”Wwalung gunung sang wiku”, that is, the year 856 CE...
Rakai PikatanRakai PikatanRakai Pikatan was a king of the Sanjaya dynasty Medang Kingdom in Central Java who built the Prambanan temple, dedicated to Shiva, which was completed in 856 AD....
— the husband of Pramodhawardhani — defeated Balaputra. - 860: BalaputraBalaputraBalaputra was the maharaja of Srivijaya in the 9th century CE as well as the former head of the Sailendra dynasty. He was the youngest son of the preceding Sailendran maharaja, Samaratunga, through marriage with Dewi Tara who was in turn the daughter of another maharaja, Dharmasetu of...
the Maharaja of SuvarnadvipaSumatraSumatra is an island in western Indonesia, westernmost of the Sunda Islands. It is the largest island entirely in Indonesia , and the sixth largest island in the world at 473,481 km2 with a population of 50,365,538...
and the ruler of Srivijaya, constructs the buddhist temple and monastery in NalandaNalandaNālandā is the name of an ancient center of higher learning in Bihar, India.The site of Nalanda is located in the Indian state of Bihar, about 55 miles south east of Patna, and was a Buddhist center of learning from the fifth or sixth century CE to 1197 CE. It has been called "one of the...
IndiaIndiaIndia , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, on the land given by King Devapaladeva of Pala in Benggala, according to the Nalanda inscriptionNalanda inscriptionThe Nalanda inscription is an inscription located Nalanda, Bihar, India, dated 860. The inscription mentioned about king Devapaladeva of Bengala had granted the request of Sri Maharaja of Suvarnadvipa, Balaputra, to build a Buddhist monastery near Bodh Gaya...
.
10th century
- 907: Sumbing volcanoMount SumbingMount Sumbing or Gunung Sumbing is an active stratovolcano in Central Java, Indonesia, symmetrical with Sundoro. The only report of historical eruptions is from 1730. It has created a small phreatic crater at the summit....
erupted, according to Rukam inscription. - 914 to 1080: The Warmadewa dynastyWarmadewa dynastyThe Warmadewa dynasty, also Varmadeva dynasty, was a regnal dynasty in the island of Bali.-History:It is considered that the dynasty was founded by Sri Kesari Warmadewa in the 10th century...
rules BaliBaliBali is an Indonesian island located in the westernmost end of the Lesser Sunda Islands, lying between Java to the west and Lombok to the east...
. - 990 to 1006: King Dharmawangsa of Medang kingdom launches a naval invasion on PalembangPalembangPalembang is the capital city of the South Sumatra province in Indonesia. Palembang is one of the oldest cities in Indonesia, and has a history of being a capital of a maritime empire. Located on the Musi River banks on the east coast of southern Sumatra island, it has an area of 400.61 square...
in an unsuccessful attempt to conquer Srivijaya. - 996: Dharmawangsa commissioned the translation of the MahabharataMahabharataThe Mahabharata is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India and Nepal, the other being the Ramayana. The epic is part of itihasa....
into Old Javanese.
11th century
- 1016: King Dharmawangsa's Medang kingdom falls under invasion of King Wurawari from Lwaram (highly possible SrivijayaSrivijayaSrivijaya was a powerful ancient thalassocratic Malay empire based on the island of Sumatra, modern day Indonesia, which influenced much of Southeast Asia. The earliest solid proof of its existence dates from the 7th century; a Chinese monk, I-Tsing, wrote that he visited Srivijaya in 671 for 6...
n ally in Java). - 1019: AirlanggaAirlanggaAirlangga was the only raja of the Kingdom of Kahuripan, which was built out of the rubble of the Kingdom of Medang after the Srivijaya invasion...
establishes the Kingdom of Kahuripan. - 1030: Sanghyang Tapak inscription in the Cicatih River bank in Cibadak, Sukabumi, West Java, mentioned about the establishment of sacred forest and Kingdom of Sunda.
- 1041: AirlanggaAirlanggaAirlangga was the only raja of the Kingdom of Kahuripan, which was built out of the rubble of the Kingdom of Medang after the Srivijaya invasion...
divided Kahuripan into two kingdoms JanggalaJanggalaThe Kingdom of Janggala is one of the two Javanese kingdoms that was formed when Airlangga abdicated his throne in favour of his two sons in 1045. The other Kingdom was Kediri. The Kingdom of Janggala comprised the northern part of the Kingdom of Kahuripan....
and Kadiri and abdicated in favour of his successors.
12th century
- 1104: King Jayawarsa of Kadiri ascends to the throne.
- 1115: King Kamesvara of Kadiri ascends to the throne. JanggalaJanggalaThe Kingdom of Janggala is one of the two Javanese kingdoms that was formed when Airlangga abdicated his throne in favour of his two sons in 1045. The other Kingdom was Kediri. The Kingdom of Janggala comprised the northern part of the Kingdom of Kahuripan....
ceases to exist and united under Kadiri domination, highly possible under royal marriage. During his reign Mpu Dharmaja writes Kakawin SmaradahanaSmaradahanaSmaradahana is an old Javanese poem written by Mpu Dharmaja as a eulogy for King Kameçvara of Kediri in early 12th century East Java. The story tells about the disappearance of Kamajaya and Kamaratih from Svargaloka because being burnt by the fire burst out from the third eye of Shiva...
, a eulogy for the king and become the inspiration of Panji cyclePanji (prince)Panji was a legendary prince in East Java, Indonesia. His life has formed the basis of a cycle of Javanese stories. Along with the Ramayana and Mahabharata, this cycle is the basis of various poems and a genre of wayang known as wayang gedog -- "gedog" meaning "mask"...
, the tales that spreads across Southeast Asia. - 1130: King Jayabaya of Kadiri ascends to the throne.
13th century
- 13th century: IslamIslamIslam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
is thought to have become establishedThe spread of Islam in Indonesia (1200 to 1600)Islam was brought into Indonesia by traders from Gujarat, India during the eleventh century, although Muslims had visited the archipelago early in the Muslim era. By the end of the 16th century, Islam, through conversion, had surpassed Hinduism and Buddhism as the dominant religion of the peoples...
in the AcehAcehAceh is a special region of Indonesia, located on the northern tip of the island of Sumatra. Its full name is Daerah Istimewa Aceh , Nanggroë Aceh Darussalam and Aceh . Past spellings of its name include Acheh, Atjeh and Achin...
region. - 1222: Battle of Ganter, Ken ArokKen ArokKen Arok was the founder and first ruler of the Singhasari Kingdom, an ancient Hindu-Budhist kingdom in the East Java area of Indonesia. He was considered as the founder of Rajasa dynasty of both the Singhasari and Majapahit line of monarchs. He came from humble origins but subsequently rose to...
defeated Kertajaya, the last king of Kediri, thus established SinghasariSinghasariSinghasari was a kingdom located in east Java between 1222 and 1292. The kingdom succeeded Kingdom of Kediri as the dominant kingdom in eastern Java.-Foundation:...
kingdom Ken Arok ended the reign of Isyana DynastyIsyana DynastyThe Isyana Dynasty, rulers of the Kingdom of Medang, was a dynasty of the Hindu Medang Kingdom on the island of Java. It followed the Sanjaya Dynasty, and was established by Mpu Sindok, who moved the capital of the Mataram Kingdom from Central Java to East Java around the year 928...
and started his own Rajasa dynastyRajasa DynastyHouse of Rajasa was the ruling family of Singhasari kingdom and later Majapahit empire in 13th to 15th century eastern Java. The rulers of Singhasari and Majapahit trace their origins back to the mysterious figure of Ken Arok or Sri Ranggah Rajasa, who founded the Rajasa dynasty early in the 13th...
. - 1257: Baab Mashur Malamo established The Kingdom of TernateSultanate of TernateThe Sultanate of Ternate was originally named the Kingdom of Gapi, but later change the name base of its capital, Ternate. The sultanate is one of the oldest Muslim kingdoms in Indonesia, established by Baab Mashur Malamo in 1257...
in Maluku. - 1275-1290: King Kertanegara of Singhasari launched Pamalayu expeditionPamalayu expeditionThe Pamalayu expedition was a military expeditionary force sent by King Kertanegara of Singhasari to conquer the Sumatran Melayu Kingdom. It was decreed in 1275, though perhaps not undertaken until later.Little is known about the results of the expedition...
against Melayu KingdomMelayu KingdomMelayu Kingdom was a classical Southeast Asian kingdom that existed between the 7th and the 13th century of the common era. It was established around present-day Dharmasraya on Sumatera, Indonesia, approximately 300 km north of Palembang...
in Sumatra. - 1292: JayakatwangJayakatwangJayakatwang was the king of short lived second Kingdom of Kediri of Java, after his overthrow of Kertanegara, the last king Singhasari. He was eventually defeated by Raden Wijaya, Kertanegara's son-in-law using Mongol troop that was invading Java...
, duke of Kediri, rebelled and killed Kertanegara, ended the Singhasari kingdom.
Marco PoloMarco PoloMarco Polo was a Venetian merchant traveler from the Venetian Republic whose travels are recorded in Il Milione, a book which did much to introduce Europeans to Central Asia and China. He learned about trading whilst his father and uncle, Niccolò and Maffeo, travelled through Asia and apparently...
, on his voyage from China to Persia visited Sumatra and reported that on the northern part of Sumatra there were six trading ports including Ferlec, Samudera and Lambri. - 1293: Mongol invasion of JavaMongol invasion of JavaIn 1293, Kublai Khan, the Great Khan of the Mongol Empire and the founder of the Yuan Dynasty, sent a large invasion fleet to Java with 20,000 to 30,000 soldiers...
, Kublai KhanKublai KhanKublai Khan , born Kublai and also known by the temple name Shizu , was the fifth Great Khan of the Mongol Empire from 1260 to 1294 and the founder of the Yuan Dynasty in China...
of Yuan dynastyYuan DynastyThe Yuan Dynasty , or Great Yuan Empire was a ruling dynasty founded by the Mongol leader Kublai Khan, who ruled most of present-day China, all of modern Mongolia and its surrounding areas, lasting officially from 1271 to 1368. It is considered both as a division of the Mongol Empire and as an...
China, sent punitive attack against Kertanegara of Singhasari. The Mongol forces were repelled. The Hindu Majapahit kingdom was founded by Raden WijayaRaden WijayaRaden Wijaya was a Javanese King, the founder and the first monarch of Majapahit empire. The history of his founding of Majapahit was written in several records, including Pararaton and Negarakertagama...
in eastern Java.
14th century
- 1309: King JayanegaraJayanegaraJayanegara , reigned from 1309 to 1328, was a Javanese King and the second monarch of Majapahit empire. Jayanegara was the heir, crown prince, the son of Raden Wijaya, the founder of Majapahit...
succeeds Kertarajasa JayawardhanaRaden WijayaRaden Wijaya was a Javanese King, the founder and the first monarch of Majapahit empire. The history of his founding of Majapahit was written in several records, including Pararaton and Negarakertagama...
as ruler of Majapahit. - 1318-1330: an ItalianItalyItaly , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
Franciscan monk, MattiussiOdoric of PordenoneOdoric of Pordenone was an Italian late-medieval traveler...
visited Sumatra, Java, and BanjarmasinBanjarmasinBanjarmasin is the capital of South Kalimantan, Indonesia. It is located on a delta island near the junction of the Barito and Martapura rivers. As a result, Banjarmasin is sometimes called the "River City"...
in Borneo. In his record he described Majapahit kingdom. - 1328: Tribhuwana WijayatunggadewiTribhuwana WijayatunggadewiTribhuwana Wijayatunggadewi or known in her regnal name Tribhuwannottunggadewi Jayawishnuwardhani, was a Javanese queen regnant and the third monarch of Majapahit empire, reigning from 1328 to 1350...
succeeds Jayanegara as ruler of Majapahit. - 1350: Hayam WurukHayam WurukHayam Wuruk, also called Rajasanagara, , was a Javanese King and the fourth monarch of Majapahit empire. Together with his prime minister Gajah Mada, he reigned the empire at the time of its greatest power. He was preceded by Tribhuwana Wijayatunggadewi and succeeded by his son in law...
, styled Sri Rajasanagara succeeds Tribhuwana WijayatunggadewiTribhuwana WijayatunggadewiTribhuwana Wijayatunggadewi or known in her regnal name Tribhuwannottunggadewi Jayawishnuwardhani, was a Javanese queen regnant and the third monarch of Majapahit empire, reigning from 1328 to 1350...
as ruler of Majapahit; his reign is considered the empire's 'Golden Age'.
Under its military commander Gajah MadaGajah MadaGajah Mada was, according to Javanese old manuscripts, poems and mythology, a powerful military leader and mahapatih or prime minister of the Majapahit Empire, credited with bringing the empire to its peak of glory...
, Majapahit stretches over much of modern day Indonesia. - 1357: In the Battle of BubatBattle of BubatThe Battle of Bubat also known as Pasunda Bubat is the battle between Sundanese royal family and Majapahit army that took place in Bubat square on the northern part of Trowulan in 1279 Saka or 1357 CE...
, the SundaneseSunda KingdomThe Sunda Kingdom was a Hindu kingdom located on the western part of Java from 669 to around 1579, covering areas of present-day Banten, Jakarta, West Java, and the western part of Central Java...
royal family were massacred by the Majapahit army under the order of Gajah MadaGajah MadaGajah Mada was, according to Javanese old manuscripts, poems and mythology, a powerful military leader and mahapatih or prime minister of the Majapahit Empire, credited with bringing the empire to its peak of glory...
. The death toll including Sundanese King Lingga Buana and the princess Dyah Pitaloka CitraresmiDyah Pitaloka CitraresmiDyah Pitaloka Citraresmi or Citra Rashmi , was the princess of the Sunda Kingdom in Western Java. According to the Pararaton or Book of Kings, she was supposed to marry Hayam Wuruk, the new young king of Majapahit who had a great desire to take her as his queen. However in the tragedy known as the...
that committed suicide. - 1365: The Old Javanese text Nagarakertagama is written.
- 1377: Majapahit sends a punitive expeditionPunitive expeditionA punitive expedition is a military journey undertaken to punish a state or any group of persons outside the borders of the punishing state. It is usually undertaken in response to perceived disobedient or morally wrong behavior, but may be also be a covered revenge...
against PalembangPalembangPalembang is the capital city of the South Sumatra province in Indonesia. Palembang is one of the oldest cities in Indonesia, and has a history of being a capital of a maritime empire. Located on the Musi River banks on the east coast of southern Sumatra island, it has an area of 400.61 square...
in SumatraSumatraSumatra is an island in western Indonesia, westernmost of the Sunda Islands. It is the largest island entirely in Indonesia , and the sixth largest island in the world at 473,481 km2 with a population of 50,365,538...
. Palembang's prince, Parameswara (later Iskandar Syah) flees, eventually finding his way to MalaccaMalaccaMalacca , dubbed The Historic State or Negeri Bersejarah among locals) is the third smallest Malaysian state, after Perlis and Penang. It is located in the southern region of the Malay Peninsula, on the Straits of Malacca. It borders Negeri Sembilan to the north and the state of Johor to the south...
and establishing it as a major international port. - 1389: WikramawardhanaWikramawardhanaWikramawardhana was a Javanese king and succeeded Hayam Wuruk as the fifth monarch of the Majapahit empire, reigning from 1389 to 1429. He was the nephew and also the son-in-law of the previous monarch after taking princess Kusumawardhani, Hayam Wuruk's daughter, as his wife. His co-reign with his...
succeeds Sri Rajasanagara as ruler of Majapahit.
15th century
- 15th century: Islam becomes Indonesia's dominant religion.
- 1405-1406: Paregreg war, Majapahit civil war of succession between Wikramawardhana against Wirabhumi.
- 1429: Queen SuhitaSuhitaSuhita was a Javanese queen regnant and the sixth monarch of the Majapahit empire, ruling from 1429 to 1447. She was the daughter of Wikramawardhana, her predecessor, by a concubine who was the daughter of Wirabhumi, who was killed in the civil war with Wikramawardhana...
succeeds Wikramawardhana as ruler of Majapahit. - 1447: Wijayaparakramawardhana, succeeds Suhita as ruler of Majapahit.
- 1451: Rajasawardhana, born Bhre Pamotan, styled Brawijaya II succeeds Wijayaparakramawardhana as ruler of Majapahit.
- 1453: Reign of Rajasawardhana ends.
- 1456: Girindrawardhana, styled Brawijaya VI becomes ruler of Majapahit.
- 1466: Singhawikramawardhana, succeeds Girindrawardhana as ruler of Majapahit.
- 1478: Reign of Singhawikramawardhana ends.
16th century
- 1509: The Portuguese king sends Diogo Lopes de SequeiraDiogo Lopes de SequeiraDiogo Lopes de Sequeira was a Portuguese fidalgo, sent to analyze the trade potential in Madagascar and Malacca, he arrived at Malacca on 11 September, 1509. He left the next year when he discovered that Sultan Mahmud Shah, the local leader, was devising his assassination...
to find MalaccaMalaccaMalacca , dubbed The Historic State or Negeri Bersejarah among locals) is the third smallest Malaysian state, after Perlis and Penang. It is located in the southern region of the Malay Peninsula, on the Straits of Malacca. It borders Negeri Sembilan to the north and the state of Johor to the south...
, the eastern terminus of Asian trade. After initially receiving Sequeira, Sultan Mahmud SyahMahmud Shah (Sultan of Malacca)Sultan Mahmud Shah ruled Malacca from 1488 to 1528. He was the son of Sultan Alauddin Riayat Shah.Upon his father's premature death, he was installed at a very young age. The regent at that time was the prime minister Tun Perak. During his initial years as a young adult, the sultan was known to...
captures and/or kills several of his men and attempts an assault on the four Portuguese ships, which escape. The JavaJavaJava is an island of Indonesia. With a population of 135 million , it is the world's most populous island, and one of the most densely populated regions in the world. It is home to 60% of Indonesia's population. The Indonesian capital city, Jakarta, is in west Java...
nese fleet is also destroyed in Malacca. - 1511, August: Afonso de AlbuquerqueAfonso de AlbuquerqueAfonso de Albuquerque[p][n] was a Portuguese fidalgo, or nobleman, an admiral whose military and administrative activities as second governor of Portuguese India conquered and established the Portuguese colonial empire in the Indian Ocean...
after sailing from Portuguese GoaGoaGoa , a former Portuguese colony, is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Located in South West India in the region known as the Konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its...
conquers the Sultanate of MalaccaMalacca SultanateEstablished by the Malay ruler Parameswara, the Sultanate of Malacca was first a Hindu kingdom in 1402 and later became Muslim following the marriage of the princess of Pasai in 1409. Centered in the modern town of Malacca, the sultanate bordered the Ayutthaya Kingdom of Siam in the north to...
with a force of 1,200 and seventeen or eighteen ships. - 1512: The first Portuguese exploratory expedition was sent eastward from Malacca to search for the 'Spice IslandsMaluku IslandsThe Maluku Islands are an archipelago that is part of Indonesia, and part of the larger Maritime Southeast Asia region. Tectonically they are located on the Halmahera Plate within the Molucca Sea Collision Zone...
' (MalukuMaluku IslandsThe Maluku Islands are an archipelago that is part of Indonesia, and part of the larger Maritime Southeast Asia region. Tectonically they are located on the Halmahera Plate within the Molucca Sea Collision Zone...
) led by Francisco SerrãoFrancisco SerrãoFrancisco Serrão was a Portuguese explorer and a cousin of Ferdinand Magellan. His 1512 voyage was the first known European sailing east past Malacca through Indonesia and the Indies. He became a member of the Sultan Bayan Sirrullah, the ruler of Ternate, becoming his personal advisor...
. Serrao is shipwrecked but struggles on to Hitu (northern AmbonAmbon IslandAmbon Island is part of the Maluku Islands of Indonesia. The island has an area of , and is mountainous, well watered, and fertile. Ambon Island consists of 2 territories: The main city and seaport is Ambon , which is also the capital of Maluku province and Maluku Tengah Ambon Island is part of the...
) and wins the favour of the local rulers. - 1520: The PortuguesePortugalPortugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
established a trading postTrading postA trading post was a place or establishment in historic Northern America where the trading of goods took place. The preferred travel route to a trading post or between trading posts, was known as a trade route....
in the village of Lamakera on the eastern side of SolorSolorSolor is a volcanic island located off the eastern tip of Flores island in the Lesser Sunda Islands of Indonesia, in the Solor Archipelago. The island supports a small population that has been whaling for hundreds of years. They speak the languages of Adonara and Lamaholot. There are at least five...
as a transit harbour between MalukuMaluku IslandsThe Maluku Islands are an archipelago that is part of Indonesia, and part of the larger Maritime Southeast Asia region. Tectonically they are located on the Halmahera Plate within the Molucca Sea Collision Zone...
and MalaccaMalaccaMalacca , dubbed The Historic State or Negeri Bersejarah among locals) is the third smallest Malaysian state, after Perlis and Penang. It is located in the southern region of the Malay Peninsula, on the Straits of Malacca. It borders Negeri Sembilan to the north and the state of Johor to the south...
. - 1520: Sultan Ali Mughayat Shah of AcehAcehAceh is a special region of Indonesia, located on the northern tip of the island of Sumatra. Its full name is Daerah Istimewa Aceh , Nanggroë Aceh Darussalam and Aceh . Past spellings of its name include Acheh, Atjeh and Achin...
begins an expansionist campaign capturing Daya on the west Sumatran coast, and the pepper and gold producing lands on the east coast. - 1521, November: Ferdinand MagellanFerdinand MagellanFerdinand Magellan was a Portuguese explorer. He was born in Sabrosa, in northern Portugal, and served King Charles I of Spain in search of a westward route to the "Spice Islands" ....
's expedition reaches Maluku and after trade with TernateTernateTernate is an island in the Maluku Islands of eastern Indonesia. It is located off the west coast of the larger island of Halmahera, the center of the powerful former Sultanate of Ternate....
returns to Europe with a load of cloves. - 1522: The Portuguese ally themselves with the rulers of TernateSultanate of TernateThe Sultanate of Ternate was originally named the Kingdom of Gapi, but later change the name base of its capital, Ternate. The sultanate is one of the oldest Muslim kingdoms in Indonesia, established by Baab Mashur Malamo in 1257...
and begin construction of a fort. - 1522, August: Luso Sundanese Treaty signed between PortugalPortugalPortugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
and Sunda KingdomSunda KingdomThe Sunda Kingdom was a Hindu kingdom located on the western part of Java from 669 to around 1579, covering areas of present-day Banten, Jakarta, West Java, and the western part of Central Java...
granted Portuguese permit to build fortress in Sunda KelapaSunda KelapaSunda Kelapa is the old port of Jakarta located on the estuarine of Ciliwung River. "Sunda Kalapa" is the original name, and it was the main port of Sunda Kingdom of Pajajaran. The port is situated in Penjaringan sub-district, of North Jakarta, Indonesia... - 1535: The Portuguese in Ternate depose Sultan Tabariji (or Tabarija) and send him to Portuguese Goa where he converts to Christianity and bequeaths his Portuguese godfather Jordao de Freitas the island of Ambon.
- 1546 - 1547: Francis XavierFrancis XavierFrancis Xavier, born Francisco de Jasso y Azpilicueta was a pioneering Roman Catholic missionary born in the Kingdom of Navarre and co-founder of the Society of Jesus. He was a student of Saint Ignatius of Loyola and one of the first seven Jesuits, dedicated at Montmartre in 1534...
works among the peoples of Ambon, Ternate and MorotaiMorotaiMorotai Island Regency is a regency of North Maluku province, Indonesia, located on Morotai Island. The population was 54,876 in 2007.-History:...
(Moro) laying the foundations for a permanent mission. - 1559: Sultan Khairun of Ternate protesting the Portuguese's ChristianisationChristianityChristianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
activities in his lands. Hostilities between TernateSultanate of TernateThe Sultanate of Ternate was originally named the Kingdom of Gapi, but later change the name base of its capital, Ternate. The sultanate is one of the oldest Muslim kingdoms in Indonesia, established by Baab Mashur Malamo in 1257...
and the Portuguese. - 1562: Portuguese DominicanDominican OrderThe Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...
priests build a palm-trunk fortress which Javanese MuslimMuslimA Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
s burned down the following year. The fort was rebuilt from more durable materials and the Dominicans commenced the ChristianisationChristianityChristianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
of the local population. - 1569: Peace treaty was signed by Sultan Khairun of Ternate and Governor Lopez De Mesquita of Portuguese.
- 1570: Sultan Hairun of Ternate is killed by the Portuguese. The reign of Sultan Baabullah.
- 1575: Following a five-year war, the Ternateans under Sultan Baabullah defeated the Portuguese.
- 1578: The Portuguese establish a fort on TidoreTidoreTidore is a city, island, and archipelago in the Maluku Islands of eastern Indonesia, west of the larger island of Halmahera. In the pre-colonial era, the kingdom of Tidore was a major regional political and economic power, and a fierce rival of nearby Ternate, just to the north.-Geography:Tidor...
but the main centre for Portuguese activities in Maluku becomes Ambon. - 1579: The British navigator Sir Francis Drake passes through Maluku and transit in TernateTernateTernate is an island in the Maluku Islands of eastern Indonesia. It is located off the west coast of the larger island of Halmahera, the center of the powerful former Sultanate of Ternate....
on his circumnavigation of the world. The Portuguese establish a fort on TidoreTidoreTidore is a city, island, and archipelago in the Maluku Islands of eastern Indonesia, west of the larger island of Halmahera. In the pre-colonial era, the kingdom of Tidore was a major regional political and economic power, and a fierce rival of nearby Ternate, just to the north.-Geography:Tidor...
but the main centre for Portuguese activities in Maluku becomes Ambon. - 1583: Death of Sultan Baabullah of TernateSultanate of TernateThe Sultanate of Ternate was originally named the Kingdom of Gapi, but later change the name base of its capital, Ternate. The sultanate is one of the oldest Muslim kingdoms in Indonesia, established by Baab Mashur Malamo in 1257...
. - 1595: First Dutch expedition to Indonesia sets sail for the East Indies with two hundred and forty-nine men and sixty-four cannons led by Cornelis de HoutmanCornelis de HoutmanCornelis de Houtman , brother of Frederick de Houtman, was a Dutch explorer who discovered a new sea route from Europe to Indonesia and managed to begin the Dutch spice trade...
. - 1596, June: de Houtman’s expedition reaches BantenBantenBanten is a province of Indonesia in Java. Formerly part of the Province of West Java, it was made a separate province in 2000.The administrative center is Serang. Preliminary results from the 2010 census counted some 10.6 million people.-Geography:...
the main pepper port of West Java where they clash with both the Portuguese and Indonesians. It then sails east along the north coast of JavaJavaJava is an island of Indonesia. With a population of 135 million , it is the world's most populous island, and one of the most densely populated regions in the world. It is home to 60% of Indonesia's population. The Indonesian capital city, Jakarta, is in west Java...
losing twelve crew to a Javanese attack at Sidayu and killing a local ruler in MaduraMaduraMadura is an Indonesian island off the northeastern coast of Java. The island comprises an area of approximately 4,250 km². Madura is administered as part of the East Java province. It is separated from Java by the narrow Strait of Madura.-History:...
. - 1597: de Houtman’s expedition returns to the Netherlands with enough spices to make a considerable profit.
- 1598-1599: The Portuguese require an armada of 90 ships to put down a Solorese uprising.
- 1598: More Dutch fleets leave for Indonesia and most are profitable.
- 1599, March: Leaving Europe the previous year, a fleet of eight ships under Jacob van Neck was the first Dutch fleet to reach the ‘Spice Islands’ of Maluku.
- 1599 - 1600: The van Neck expedition returns to Europe. The expedition makes a 400 per cent profit.
17th century
- 1600: The Portuguese win a major naval battle in the bay of Ambon. Later in the year, the Dutch join forces with the local Hituese in an anti-Portuguese alliance, in return for which the Dutch would have the sole right to purchase spices from Hitu.
- 1600: Elizabeth I grants a charter to the British East India CompanyBritish East India CompanyThe East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
beginning the English advance in Asia. - 1602: The Portuguese send a major (and last) expeditionary force from Malacca which succeeded in reimposing a degree of Portuguese control.
- 1602: The Dutch East India CompanyDutch East India CompanyThe Dutch East India Company was a chartered company established in 1602, when the States-General of the Netherlands granted it a 21-year monopoly to carry out colonial activities in Asia...
(VOC) is established by merging competing DutchNetherlandsThe Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
trading companies.
- 1602, June: British East India Company's first voyage, commanded by Sir James Lancaster, arrives in AcehAcehAceh is a special region of Indonesia, located on the northern tip of the island of Sumatra. Its full name is Daerah Istimewa Aceh , Nanggroë Aceh Darussalam and Aceh . Past spellings of its name include Acheh, Atjeh and Achin...
and sails on to BantamBantam (city)Bantam in Banten province near the western end of Java was a strategically important site and formerly a major trading city, with a secure harbor on the Sunda Strait through which all ocean-going traffic passed, at the mouth of Banten River that provided a navigable passage for light craft into...
where he is allowed to build trading post which becomes the centre of British trade in Indonesia until 1682. - 1603: First permanent Dutch trading post is established in BantenBantenBanten is a province of Indonesia in Java. Formerly part of the Province of West Java, it was made a separate province in 2000.The administrative center is Serang. Preliminary results from the 2010 census counted some 10.6 million people.-Geography:...
, West JavaWest JavaWest Java , with a population of over 43 million, is the most populous and most densely populated province of Indonesia. Located on the island of Java, it is slightly smaller in area than densely populated Taiwan, but with nearly double the population...
. - 1604: A second English East India Company voyage commanded by Sir Henry Middleton reaches Ternate, Tidore, Ambon and Banda. Fierce VOC hostility is encountered in Banda thus beginning Anglo-Dutch competition for access to spices
- 1605, February: The VOC in alliance with Hitu prepare to attack a Portuguese fort in Ambon but the Portuguese surrender.
- 1606: A SpanishSpainSpain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
fleet occupies Ternate and Tidore. - 1608-1637: Iskandar MudaIskandar MudaIskandar Muda was the twelfth Sultan of Aceh, under whom the sultanate achieved its greatest territorial extent, and was the strongest power and wealthiest state in the western Indonesian archipelago and the Strait of Malacca. "Iskandar Muda" literally means "young Alexander," and his conquests...
of Aceh SultanateAceh SultanateThe Sultanate of Aceh, officially the Kingdom of Aceh Darussalam was a sultanate centered in the modern area of Aceh Province, Sumatra, Indonesia, which was a major regional power in the 16th and 17th centuries, before experiencing a long period of decline...
launched series of naval conquest on coastal Sumatran and Malay peninsula states. - 1610: The VOC establishes the post of Governor General to enable firmer control of their affairs in Asia.
- 1611-1617: The English establish trading posts at SukadanaSukadanaSukadana is the capital city of North Kayong regency , on the island of Borneo. North Kayong regency is one of the regencies of West Kalimantan province in Indonesia...
(southwest KalimantanKalimantanIn English, the term Kalimantan refers to the Indonesian portion of the island of Borneo, while in Indonesian, the term "Kalimantan" refers to the whole island of Borneo....
), MakassarMakassarMakassar, is the provincial capital of South Sulawesi, Indonesia, and the largest city on Sulawesi Island. From 1971 to 1999, the city was named Ujung Pandang, after a precolonial fort in the city, and the two names are often used interchangeably...
, Jayakarta and JeparaJeparaJepara is a small town in the province of Central Java, Indonesia.Jepara is on the north coast of Java, north-east of Semarang, not far from Mount Muria. It is also the main town of the district of Jepara, which has a population of about 1 million. Jepara is famous as the center of Javanese teak...
in JavaJavaJava is an island of Indonesia. With a population of 135 million , it is the world's most populous island, and one of the most densely populated regions in the world. It is home to 60% of Indonesia's population. The Indonesian capital city, Jakarta, is in west Java...
, and Aceh, PariamanPariamanPariaman is a coastal city in West Sumatra, Indonesia. Pariaman has 72,089 inhabitants , an area of and a coastline. "Pariaman" means "safe area".-History:...
and Jambi in (SumatraSumatraSumatra is an island in western Indonesia, westernmost of the Sunda Islands. It is the largest island entirely in Indonesia , and the sixth largest island in the world at 473,481 km2 with a population of 50,365,538...
) threatening Dutch ambitions for a monopoly on East Indies trade. - 1611: The Dutch establish a post at Jayakarta (later 'Batavia' and then 'Jakarta').
- 1613: The Dutch expel the Portuguese from their SolorSolorSolor is a volcanic island located off the eastern tip of Flores island in the Lesser Sunda Islands of Indonesia, in the Solor Archipelago. The island supports a small population that has been whaling for hundreds of years. They speak the languages of Adonara and Lamaholot. There are at least five...
fort. - 1619: Jan Pieterszoon CoenJan Pieterszoon CoenJan Pieterszoon Coen was a officer of the Dutch East India Company in the early seventeenth century, holding two terms as its Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies....
appointed Governor-General of the VOC who would show he had no scruples about using brute force to establish the VOC on a firm footing.
- 1619, 30 May: Coen, backed by a force of nineteen ships, storms the Jayakarta driving out the Banten forces, and from the ashes of Jayakarta, establishes BataviaJakartaJakarta is the capital and largest city of Indonesia. Officially known as the Special Capital Territory of Jakarta, it is located on the northwest coast of Java, has an area of , and a population of 9,580,000. Jakarta is the country's economic, cultural and political centre...
as the VOC headquarters. - 1620s: Almost the entire native population of Banda IslandsBanda IslandsThe Banda Islands are a volcanic group of ten small volcanic islands in the Banda Sea, about south of Seram Island and about east of Java, and are part of the Indonesian province of Maluku. The main town and administrative centre is Bandanaira, located on the island of the same name. They rise...
was deported, driven away, starved to death or killed in an attempt to replace them with Dutch colonial slave labour. - 1620: Diplomatic agreements in Europe commence a three-year period of cooperation between the Dutch and the English over the spice trade.
- 1623: In a notorious but disputed incident, known as the 'Amboyna massacreAmboyna massacreThe Amboyna massacre was the 1623 torture and execution on Ambon Island , of twenty men, ten of whom were in the service of the British East India Company, by agents of the Dutch East India Company, on accusations of treason...
', ten English and ten Japanese traders are arrested, tried and beheaded for conspiracy against the Dutch Government. The English quietly withdraw from most of their Indonesian activities (except trading in Bantam) and focus on other Asian interests. - 1628-29: Sultan Agung of MataramMataram SultanateThe Sultanate of Mataram was the last major independent Javanese empire on Java before the island was colonized by the Dutch. It was the dominant political force in interior Central Java from the late 16th century until the beginning of the 18th century....
launched a failed campaign to conquer Dutch BataviaJakartaJakarta is the capital and largest city of Indonesia. Officially known as the Special Capital Territory of Jakarta, it is located on the northwest coast of Java, has an area of , and a population of 9,580,000. Jakarta is the country's economic, cultural and political centre...
. - 1629: Iskandar MudaIskandar MudaIskandar Muda was the twelfth Sultan of Aceh, under whom the sultanate achieved its greatest territorial extent, and was the strongest power and wealthiest state in the western Indonesian archipelago and the Strait of Malacca. "Iskandar Muda" literally means "young Alexander," and his conquests...
of Aceh SultanateAceh SultanateThe Sultanate of Aceh, officially the Kingdom of Aceh Darussalam was a sultanate centered in the modern area of Aceh Province, Sumatra, Indonesia, which was a major regional power in the 16th and 17th centuries, before experiencing a long period of decline...
launched a failed attempt to took Portuguese MalaccaPortuguese MalaccaPortuguese Malacca was the territory of Malacca that, for 130 years , was a Portuguese colony.- History :From the writing of the Portuguese historian Emanuel Godinho de Erédia in the middle of the 16th century, the site of the old city of Malacca was named after the Myrobalans, fruit-bearing trees...
. - 1636: The Portuguese are expelled again from their Solor fort by the Dutch following a reoccupation.
- 1646: Sultan Agung of Mataram dies - and is buried at his graveyard at ImogiriImogiriImogiri is a royal graveyard complex in Yogyakarta, in south-central Java, Indonesia, as well as a modern village located near the graveyard in Bantul regency. Imogiri is a traditional resting place for the royalty of central Java, including many rulers of the Sultanate of Mataram and of the...
- 1667: As a result of the Treaty of Breda, the Dutch secured a worldwide monopoly on nutmegNutmegThe nutmeg tree is any of several species of trees in genus Myristica. The most important commercial species is Myristica fragrans, an evergreen tree indigenous to the Banda Islands in the Moluccas of Indonesia...
by forcing England to give up their claim on RunRun (island)Run is one of the smallest islands of the Banda Islands, which are a part of Indonesia...
, the most remote of the Banda IslandsBanda IslandsThe Banda Islands are a volcanic group of ten small volcanic islands in the Banda Sea, about south of Seram Island and about east of Java, and are part of the Indonesian province of Maluku. The main town and administrative centre is Bandanaira, located on the island of the same name. They rise...
.
18th century
- 1700: With the decline of the spice tradeSpice tradeCivilizations of Asia were involved in spice trade from the ancient times, and the Greco-Roman world soon followed by trading along the Incense route and the Roman-India routes...
, textiles are now the most important trade item in the Dutch East Indies. - 1704-1708: First Javanese War of Succession.
- 1717: SurabayaSurabayaSurabaya is Indonesia's second-largest city with a population of over 2.7 million , and the capital of the province of East Java...
rebels against the VOCDutch East India CompanyThe Dutch East India Company was a chartered company established in 1602, when the States-General of the Netherlands granted it a 21-year monopoly to carry out colonial activities in Asia...
. - 1712: The first shipment of coffeeCoffeeCoffee is a brewed beverage with a dark,init brooo acidic flavor prepared from the roasted seeds of the coffee plant, colloquially called coffee beans. The beans are found in coffee cherries, which grow on trees cultivated in over 70 countries, primarily in equatorial Latin America, Southeast Asia,...
from Java reaches AmsterdamAmsterdamAmsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
. - 1719-1723: Second Javanese War of Succession.
- 1735: Governor-General Dirk van Cloon dies, one of many victims of disease in Batavia.
- 1740, 9 October: A massacre of Batavia's ethnic Chinese begins after they are suspected by the VOC of planning a rebellion. Approximately 10,000 are killed and the Chinese quarter is burned.
- 1743: The capital Kartasura fell under Geger Pecinan uprising — Raden Mas Garendi (Sunan Kuning) led Chinese mercenaries revolted against Pakubuwono II.
- 1745, 17 February: Pakubuwono IIPakubuwono IIPakubuwono II was the last ruler of Kartasura and the first Susuhunan...
established a new kraton in Sala village and established Surakarta SunanateSurakarta SunanateSurakarta Sunanate is a Javanese monarchy centered in the city of Surakarta, in the province of Central Java, Indonesia. The Surakarta Kraton were established in 1745 by Pakubuwono II. Both of Surakarta Sunanate and Yogyakarta Sultanate are the successors of Mataram Sultanate...
. - 1755, 13 February: The Treaty of Giyanti is signed, effectively partitioning the Mataram SultanateMataram SultanateThe Sultanate of Mataram was the last major independent Javanese empire on Java before the island was colonized by the Dutch. It was the dominant political force in interior Central Java from the late 16th century until the beginning of the 18th century....
. The VOC recognizes Mangkubumi as Sultan Hamengkubuwana I, who rules half of Central Java. Hamengkubuwana I then established Yogyakarta SultanateYogyakarta SultanateYogyakarta Sultanate is a Javanese monarchy in the province of Yogyakarta, Indonesia.-History:...
, moves to Yogya and renames the city Yogyakarta - 1757, 17 March: Salatiga treaty between Prince SambernyawaMangkunegara IMangkunegara I was the first ruler of Mangkunegaran in Java. He was also known as Prince Sambernyawa...
with Pakubuwono IIIPakubuwono IIIPakubuwono III was the third Susuhunan . Also known as Sinuhun Paliyan Negari He was proclaimed by the Dutch as ruler of Mataram in 1749, but when the state was divided into the states of Surakarta and Yogyakarta in 1755, he was proclaimed as the first Susuhanan of Surakarta.-References:Miksic,...
and Hamengkubuwono IHamengkubuwono IHamengkubuwono I, born Raden Mas Sujana , was the first sultan of Yogyakarta.Sujana, the Crown Prince, was known as Prince Mangkubumi prior to becoming sultan of Yogyakarta Sultanate. As a son of Sultan Sunan Prabu of Mataram Mataram ruler, and brother to Prince Heir Apparent Pakubuwono II of...
further partitioning the remnant of Mataram Sultanate, the MangkunegaranMangkunegaranMangkunegaran is a small hereditary Grand duchy located within the region of Surakarta in Indonesia.It was established in 1757 by Raden Mas Said, when he submitted his army to Pakubuwana III in February, and swore allegiance to the rulers of Surakarta, Yogyakarta, and the Dutch East Indies Company,...
Grand Duchy was established. - 1769-72: French expeditions capture cloveCloveCloves are the aromatic dried flower buds of a tree in the family Myrtaceae. Cloves are native to the Maluku islands in Indonesia and used as a spice in cuisines all over the world...
plants in AmbonAmbon IslandAmbon Island is part of the Maluku Islands of Indonesia. The island has an area of , and is mountainous, well watered, and fertile. Ambon Island consists of 2 territories: The main city and seaport is Ambon , which is also the capital of Maluku province and Maluku Tengah Ambon Island is part of the...
, ending the VOC monopoly of the plant. - 1770: Captain James CookJames CookCaptain James Cook, FRS, RN was a British explorer, navigator and cartographer who ultimately rose to the rank of captain in the Royal Navy...
stops at Onrust Island in the Bay of Batavia for repairs to his ship EndeavourHM Bark EndeavourHMS Endeavour, also known as HM Bark Endeavour, was a British Royal Navy research vessel commanded by Lieutenant James Cook on his first voyage of discovery, to Australia and New Zealand from 1769 to 1771....
on his round the world voyage. - 1778, 24 April: Royal Batavian Society of Arts and SciencesRoyal Batavian Society of Arts and SciencesThe Royal Batavian Society of Arts and Sciences was a Dutch learned society in Batavia .The society was founded in 1778 by naturalist Jacob Cornelis Matthieu Radermacher as the Bataviaasch Genootschap der Konsten en Wetenschappen , and assumed its current name in 1910...
was established by a group of Dutch intellectuals. This institution is the pioneer of scientific efforts in Indonesia and the founder of National Museum of IndonesiaNational Museum of IndonesiaThe National Museum of Indonesia , is an archeological, historical, ethnological, and geographical museum located in Jakarta. Popularly known as Elephant Building after the elephant statue in its forecourt. Its broad and fascinating collections covers all of Indonesia's territory and almost all of...
. - 1792, March: Hamengkubuwana I dies.
19th century
- 1800, 1 January: The bankrupt Dutch East India CompanyDutch East India CompanyThe Dutch East India Company was a chartered company established in 1602, when the States-General of the Netherlands granted it a 21-year monopoly to carry out colonial activities in Asia...
(VOC) is formally dissolved and the nationalised Dutch East IndiesDutch East IndiesThe Dutch East Indies was a Dutch colony that became modern Indonesia following World War II. It was formed from the nationalised colonies of the Dutch East India Company, which came under the administration of the Netherlands government in 1800....
is established. - 1803-25: First phase of Padri WarPadri WarThe Padri War was fought from 1803 until 1837 in West Sumatra between two rival muslim factions. The Dutch intervened from 1821 and helped the Adats defeat the Padri faction.-Background:...
. - 1808: Herman Willem DaendelsHerman Willem DaendelsHerman Willem Daendels was a Dutch politician who served as the 36th Governor General of the Dutch East Indies between 1808 and 1811....
the Governor-general of the Dutch East IndiesGovernor-General of the Dutch East IndiesThe Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies represented the Dutch rule in the Dutch East Indies between 1610 and Dutch recognition of the independence of Indonesia in 1949.The first Governors-General were appointed by the Dutch East India Company...
(1808–1811) begin the construction of Java Great Post Road. - 1815: in April, Mount TamboraMount TamboraMount Tambora is an active stratovolcano, also known as a composite volcano, on the island of Sumbawa, Indonesia. Sumbawa is flanked both to the north and south by oceanic crust, and Tambora was formed by the active subduction zone beneath it. This raised Mount Tambora as high as , making it...
in SumbawaSumbawaSumbawa is an Indonesian island, located in the middle of the Lesser Sunda Islands chain, with Lombok to the west, Flores to the east, and Sumba further to the southeast. It is in the province of West Nusa Tenggara....
island erupted, it was the largest volcanic eruption in recorded history that wiped Tambora culture and killed at least 71,000 people. The eruption created global climate anomalies known as "volcanic winterVolcanic winterA volcanic winter is the reduction in temperature caused by volcanic ash and droplets of sulfuric acid obscuring the sun and raising Earth's albedo after a large particularly explosive type of volcanic eruption...
". - 1825-30: Java WarJava WarThe Java War or Diponegoro War was fought in Java between 1825 and 1830. It started as a rebellion led by Prince Diponegoro. The proximate cause was the Dutch decision to build a road across a piece of his property that contained his parents' tomb...
. - 1831-38: Second phase of Padri War.
- 1864, June: The first railway track in IndonesiaRail transport in IndonesiaMost rail transport in Indonesia is located on the island of Java, which has two major rail lines that run the length of the island, as well as several connecting lines...
was laid between SemarangSemarang- Economy :The western part of the city is home to many industrial parks and factories. The port of Semarang is located on the north coast and it is the main shipping port for the province of Central Java. Many small manufacturers are located in Semarang, producing goods such as textiles,...
and Tanggung, Central JavaCentral JavaCentral Java is a province of Indonesia. The administrative capital is Semarang. It is one of six provinces on the island of Java.This province is the province of high Human Development in Indonesia and its Points Development Index countries is equivalent to Lebanon. The province of Central Java...
by the Dutch colonial governmentDutch East IndiesThe Dutch East Indies was a Dutch colony that became modern Indonesia following World War II. It was formed from the nationalised colonies of the Dutch East India Company, which came under the administration of the Netherlands government in 1800....
. - 1868: The Batavian Museum (today National Museum of IndonesiaNational Museum of IndonesiaThe National Museum of Indonesia , is an archeological, historical, ethnological, and geographical museum located in Jakarta. Popularly known as Elephant Building after the elephant statue in its forecourt. Its broad and fascinating collections covers all of Indonesia's territory and almost all of...
) was officially opened by Dutch East Indies government. - 1870: Official dismantling of the Cultivation SystemCultivation SystemThe Cultivation System , or less accurately the Culture System, was a Dutch government policy in the mid-nineteenth century for its Dutch East Indies colony...
and beginning of a 'Liberal PolicyLiberal Period (Dutch East Indies)The Liberal Period refers to the economic polices instituted in the Dutch East Indies from the mid-nineteenth century.-Background: the cultivation system:...
' of deregulated exploitation of the Netherlands East Indies. - 1873: The beginning of the bloody Aceh WarAceh WarThe Aceh War, also known as the Dutch War or the Infidel War , was an armed military conflict between the Sultanate of Aceh and the Netherlands which was triggered by discussions between representatives of Aceh and the U.S. in Singapore during early 1873...
for Dutch occupation of the province. - 1879, 21 April: Kartini was born in JeparaJeparaJepara is a small town in the province of Central Java, Indonesia.Jepara is on the north coast of Java, north-east of Semarang, not far from Mount Muria. It is also the main town of the district of Jepara, which has a population of about 1 million. Jepara is famous as the center of Javanese teak...
, today the date is commemorated as women's emancipation day in Indonesia. - 1883, August: Mount KrakatoaKrakatoaKrakatoa is a volcanic island made of a'a lava in the Sunda Strait between the islands of Java and Sumatra in Indonesia. The name is used for the island group, the main island , and the volcano as a whole. The island exploded in 1883, killing approximately 40,000 people, although some estimates...
in Sunda StraitSunda StraitThe Sunda Strait is the strait between the Indonesian islands of Java and Sumatra. It connects the Java Sea to the Indian Ocean...
erupted1883 eruption of KrakatoaThe 1883 eruption of Krakatoa began in May 1883 and culminated with the destruction of Krakatoa on 27 August 1883. Minor seismic activity continued to be reported until February 1884, though reports after October 1883 were later dismissed by Rogier Verbeek's investigation.-Early phase:In the years...
, killed 36,417 people. - 1888: Founding of the shipping line Koninklijke Paketvaart-MaatschappijKoninklijke Paketvaart-MaatschappijKoninklijke Paketvaart-Maatschappij was a Dutch shipping company in the Dutch East Indies....
(KPM) that supported the unification and development of the colonial economy. - 1894: Lombok War The Dutch looted and destroyed the Cakranegara palace of MataramMataram (city)Mataram is the capital of the Province of West Nusa Tenggara . The city is situated within Lombok Barat Regency and lies on the western side of the island of Lombok, Indonesia...
. J. L. A. Brandes, a Dutch philologist discovered and saved NagarakretagamaNagarakretagamaThe Nagarakretagama or Nagarakrtagama, also known as Desawarnana, is an Old Javanese eulogy to Hayam Wuruk, a Javanese king and the monarch of the Majapahit Empire. It was written as a kakawin by Mpu Prapanca in 1365 . The Nagarakretagama contains detailed descriptions of the Majapahit Empire...
manuscript in Lombok royal library. - 1898: General van Heutz becomes chief of staff of Aceh campaign. WilhelminaWilhelmina of the NetherlandsWilhelmina was Queen regnant of the Kingdom of the Netherlands from 1890 to 1948. She ruled the Netherlands for fifty-eight years, longer than any other Dutch monarch. Her reign saw World War I and World War II, the economic crisis of 1933, and the decline of the Netherlands as a major colonial...
becomes queen of the Netherlands.
1900–1942
- 1901: Ethical Policy is proclaimed.
- 1903: Aceh declared conquered.
- 1904, 16 January: Dewi SartikaDewi SartikaDewi Sartika , was the leading figure and pioneer for the education for women in Indonesia. She was acknowledged as a National Hero by the Indonesian government in 1966.Biography...
established the first school for women in Dutch East Indies in BandungBandungBandung is the capital of West Java province in Indonesia, and the country's third largest city, and 2nd largest metropolitan area in Indonesia, with a population of 7.4 million in 2007. Located 768 metres above sea level, approximately 140 km southeast of Jakarta, Bandung has cooler...
, she was considered as the pioneer of women's rightsWomen's rightsWomen's rights are entitlements and freedoms claimed for women and girls of all ages in many societies.In some places these rights are institutionalized or supported by law, local custom, and behaviour, whereas in others they may be ignored or suppressed...
in Indonesia. - 1904: Van Heutz becomes Governor General. Kartini established a school for women in Rembang, just like Dewi Sartika, she was considered as the pioneer of women's rightsWomen's rightsWomen's rights are entitlements and freedoms claimed for women and girls of all ages in many societies.In some places these rights are institutionalized or supported by law, local custom, and behaviour, whereas in others they may be ignored or suppressed...
in Indonesia. - 1906: The Dutch intervention in Bali (1906) destroyed the southern Bali kingdom of Badung and Tabanan.
- 1907: Tirto Adhi Suryo founds civil servants' association Sarekat Priyayi.
- 1908: Budi UtomoBudi UtomoBudi Utomo , founded on May 20, 1908, was the first native political society in the Dutch East Indies...
is proclaimed as the first official nationalist movement. During Dutch intervention in Bali (1908)Dutch intervention in Bali (1908)The Dutch intervention in Bali in 1908 marked the final phase of Dutch colonial control over the island of Bali in Indonesia. It was the seventh and last military intervention in Bali, following the Dutch intervention in Bali ....
, the last BaliBaliBali is an Indonesian island located in the westernmost end of the Lesser Sunda Islands, lying between Java to the west and Lombok to the east...
nese rulers wiped out in puputanPuputanPuputan is a Balinese term that refers to a mass ritual suicide in preference to facing the humiliation of surrender. Notable puputans occurred in 1906 and 1908 when the Balinese were being subjugated by the Dutch.- 1906 Badung puputan :...
('suicidal battle to death'). - 1911: Tirto Adhi Suryo founds the Islamic Traders' League.
- 1912: Islamic League (Sarekat IslamSarekat IslamSarekat Islam, formerly Sarekat Dagang Islam, was a Javanese batik traders's cooperative in Indonesia.Sarekat Dagang Islam was founded by Haji Samanhudi, a businessman in Surakarta, in 1905 or 1912. His business was trading in batik, the traditional cloth made in Java...
) becomes the first mass-based nationalist party. - 1912, 18 November: The modernist Islamic organization MuhammadiyahMuhammadiyahMuhammadiyah is an Islamic organization in Indonesia. Muhammadiyah, literally means "followers of Muhammad"...
was established by Ahmad DahlanAhmad DahlanKyai Haji Ahmad Dahlan , born Muhammad Darwis, was an Indonesian Islamic revivalist who established Muhammadiyah in 1912.-Education:...
in Yogyakarta. - 1914: World War IWorld War IWorld War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
breaks out; the Netherlands is a neutral country in the war. - 1917: East Indies trade with Europe cut off by the war. Russian RevolutionRussian Revolution of 1917The Russian Revolution is the collective term for a series of revolutions in Russia in 1917, which destroyed the Tsarist autocracy and led to the creation of the Soviet Union. The Tsar was deposed and replaced by a provisional government in the first revolution of February 1917...
- 1918: Tirto Adhi Suryo dies.
- 1920: Communist Party of IndonesiaCommunist Party of IndonesiaThe Communist Party of Indonesia was the largest non-ruling communist party in the world prior to being crushed in 1965 and banned the following year.-Forerunners:...
(PKI) is founded. Economic downturn. - 1925: Birth of Pramoedya Ananta ToerPramoedya Ananta ToerPramoedya Ananta Toer was an Indonesian author of novels, short stories, essays, polemic and histories of his homeland and its people...
. A sharp rise in world commodity prices brings prosperity to the Indies. - 1926, 31 January: Nahdlatul Ulama was established by Hasyim Asy'ariHasyim Asy'ariHasyim Asy'ari was an Indonesian ulama and founder of Nahdatul Ulama.-Biography:Hasyim Asy'ari was born Muhammad Hasyim in Gedang, Jombang Regency on February 14, 1871. His parents were Asy'ari and Halimah. His grandfather, Kiai Usman was the founder of Pesantren Gedang and his great grandfather...
as the reaction to the modernist Muhammadiyah organization. - 1929: Great DepressionGreat DepressionThe Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
in America. affected the economy of Dutch East Indies. - 1930: SukarnoSukarnoSukarno, born Kusno Sosrodihardjo was the first President of Indonesia.Sukarno was the leader of his country's struggle for independence from the Netherlands and was Indonesia's first President from 1945 to 1967...
's famous nationalist speech, 'Indonesia Accuses', given as defence in his political trial.
Japanese occupation (1942–1945)
- 1941, 8 December: Netherlands declared war on Japan.
- 1942, 27 February: Battle of the Java SeaBattle of the Java SeaThe Battle of the Java Sea was a decisive naval battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II, that sealed the fate of the Netherlands East Indies....
, Imperial Japanese Navy defeated Allied force and sealed the fate of Netherlands East Indies, afterwards Imperial Japan occupies IndonesiaJapanese Occupation of IndonesiaThe Japanese Empire occupied Indonesia, known then as the Dutch East Indies, during World War II from March 1942 until after the end of War in 1945...
during World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, over throwing the Dutch East IndiesDutch East IndiesThe Dutch East Indies was a Dutch colony that became modern Indonesia following World War II. It was formed from the nationalised colonies of the Dutch East India Company, which came under the administration of the Netherlands government in 1800....
and install their own imperial structure. - 1945, 28 May: First meeting of the Investigatory Commission for Indonesian Independence.
- 1945, 1 June: Sukarno's Pancasila speech
- 1945, 16 July: Draft of constitution for the Republic completed.
- 1945, 15 August: Japanese surrenderVictory over Japan DayVictory over Japan Day is a name chosen for the day on which the Surrender of Japan occurred, effectively ending World War II, and subsequent anniversaries of that event...
to Allied powers.
Indonesian National Revolution (1945–1950)
- 1945, 17 August: "Proclamation of Indonesian Independence,"Indonesian Declaration of IndependenceThe Proclamation of Indonesian Independence was read at 10.00 a.m. on Friday, August 17, 1945. The declaration marked the start of the diplomatic and armed-resistance of the Indonesian National Revolution, fighting against the forces of the Netherlands until the latter officially acknowledged...
signed by SukarnoSukarnoSukarno, born Kusno Sosrodihardjo was the first President of Indonesia.Sukarno was the leader of his country's struggle for independence from the Netherlands and was Indonesia's first President from 1945 to 1967...
-HattaMohammad Hattawas born in Bukittinggi, West Sumatra, Dutch East Indies . He was Indonesia's first vice president, later also serving as the country's Prime Minister. Known as "The Proclamator", he and a number of Indonesians, including the first president of Indonesia, Sukarno, fought for the independence of...
. - 1945, late August: Republican government established in Jakarta and constitutionConstitution of IndonesiaThe Constitution of Indonesia is the basis for the government of the Indonesia.The constitution was written in June, July and August 1945, when Indonesia was emerging from Japanese control at the end of World War II...
adopted. Central Indonesian National CommitteeCentral Indonesian National CommitteeThe Central Indonesian National Committee or KNIP, was a body appointed to assist the president of the newly independent Indonesia. Originally purely advisory, it later gained assumed legislative functions...
(KNIP) established. - 1945, 3 November: Vice President Hatta proclaims right of the people to form political parties.
- 1945, 10 November: Battle of SurabayaBattle of SurabayaThe Battle of Surabaya was fought between pro-independence Indonesian soldiers and militia against British and Dutch troops as a part of the Indonesian National Revolution. The peak of the battle was in November 1945. Despite fierce resistance, British and Indian troops managed to conquer Surabaya,...
. - 1945, August to September: Euphoria of revolution spreads across the country, while local Japanese commanders and their troops often abandoned urban areas to avoid confrontation. Many discreetly allowed Indonesian youths to acquire arms. Republican youths take over infrastructure facilities in large Javan cities and mass pro-Republic rallies are held.
- 1946: Social revolutions, including the Three Regions (Tiga Daerah) Revolt.
- 1946: Federal states, including the State of East IndonesiaState of East IndonesiaThe State of East Indonesia was a post-World War II establishment of a government over the former Dutch territory of the eastern Netherlands East Indies...
are set up by Dutch in the outer islands. - 1947, 25 March: Linggadjati AgreementLinggadjati AgreementThe Linggadjati Agreement, also known as the Cheribon Agreement, was a political accord concluded on 15 November 1946 by the Dutch administration and the unilaterally declared Republic of Indonesia. Negotiations took place 11–12 November...
, first ceasfire. - 1947, 20 July: Major Dutch military offensiveOperatie ProductOperatie Product, was the first of two major Dutch military offensives against the Republic of Indonesia during the Indonesian National Revolution. It took place following Dutch assertions that Indonesia cooperated insufficiently in the implementation of the Linggadjati Agreement, which had been...
to resolve differences by force. - 1948, 19 January: Renville AgreementRenville AgreementThe Renville Agreement was a United Nations Security Council brokered political accord between the Netherlands who were seeking to re-establish their colony in South East Asia, and Indonesian Republicans seeking to secure Indonesian independence during the Indonesian National Revolution...
establishes the Van Mook line between Republican and Dutch held territories. - 1948, August: Fall of Amir Syarifuddin government largely from Renville Agreement fallout.
- 1948, 18 September to October: Madiun Affair: Communist leaders launch a revolt in Central JavaCentral JavaCentral Java is a province of Indonesia. The administrative capital is Semarang. It is one of six provinces on the island of Java.This province is the province of high Human Development in Indonesia and its Points Development Index countries is equivalent to Lebanon. The province of Central Java...
in an attempt to take over the Revolution but are suppressed by Republican troops. - 1948, 19 December: Dutch undertake second military offensiveOperatie KraaiOperatie Kraai was the code name for a Dutch military offensive against the newly formed Republic of Indonesia in December 1948 - January 1949...
capturing Republican capital at Yogyakarta and most of the Republican cabinet. Amir Syarifuddin executed by fleeing Republicans. - 1949, February: Tan MalakaTan MalakaTan Malaka was an Indonesian nationalist activist and communist leader. A staunch critic of both the colonial Dutch East Indies government and the republican Sukarno administration that governed the country after the Indonesian National Revolution, he was also frequently in conflict with the...
executed by Republican Army. - 1949, 1 August: Official ceasefire.
- 1949, December: International pressure leads Netherlands Government to transfer power to the United States of Indonesia (RUSI) at the Dutch-Indonesian Round Table ConferenceDutch-Indonesian Round Table ConferenceThe Dutch–Indonesian Round Table Conference was held in the Hague from August 23 - November 2, 1949, between representatives of the Netherlands, the Republic of Indonesia and the BFO representing various states the Dutch had created in the Indonesian archipelago...
. - 1950, 29 January: General SudirmanSudirmanGeneral Sudirman was the first military commander of Indonesian forces during the country's fight for independence from the Dutch in the 1940s.-Life:...
, commander of Indonesia's armed forces, dies at 34 - 1950, 25 April: The Republic of South Moluccas (RMS) is proclaimed in Ambon
- 1950, 17 August: Following RUSI endorsement of a new constitutionProvisional Constitution of 1950The 1950 Provisional Constitution replaced the Federal Constitution of 1949 when Indonesia unilaterally withdrew from the union with the Netherlands agreed at the Round Table Conference and returned to being a unitary state. It came into force on August 17, 1950...
, the federationFederationA federation , also known as a federal state, is a type of sovereign state characterized by a union of partially self-governing states or regions united by a central government...
is dissolved and Sukarno proclaims a unitaryUnitary stateA unitary state is a state governed as one single unit in which the central government is supreme and any administrative divisions exercise only powers that their central government chooses to delegate...
state, the 'Republic of Indonesia'.
1950s
- 1948 - 1962: Darul Islam rebellions begin in West Java, spread to other provinces but conclude with the execution of its leader Kartosoewiryo.
- 1950, 6 September: The first cabinet of the unitary state is established. It is led by Prime Minister Mohammad Natsir.
- 1950, 27 September:Indonesia becomes the 60th member of the United NationsUnited NationsThe United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
. - 1951, 21 March: The Natsir cabinet falls
- 1951, 26 April: The composition of the new cabinet is announced. The new Prime Minister is Dr. Sukiman Wirjosanjojo.
- 1952, 25 February: Amid bitter disputes over the signing of a Mutual Security Agreement with the US, the Sukiman cabinet resigns.
- 1952, 3 April: The new cabinet, led by Prime Minister WilopoWilopoWilopo was an Indonesian politician and member of the Indonesian National Party. He served as prime minister of Indonesia from April 1952 to June 1953.-References:...
is inaugurated. - 1952, 17 October: Army-organized demonstrations take place in Jakarta to demand the dissolution of the legislature. Tank guns and machine guns are trained on the presidential palace. This leads to the suspension of General Nasution as army chief of staff following army indiscipline over command and support that threatens the government.
- 1953, 2 June: The Wilopo cabinet resigns.
- 1953, 31 July: After lengthy negotiations, the composition of the new cabinet is announced. Serving his first term as prime minister is Ali Sastroamidjojo.
- 1955, March - 1961, August: Regional rebellions in SumatraSumatraSumatra is an island in western Indonesia, westernmost of the Sunda Islands. It is the largest island entirely in Indonesia , and the sixth largest island in the world at 473,481 km2 with a population of 50,365,538...
and SulawesiSulawesiSulawesi is one of the four larger Sunda Islands of Indonesia and is situated between Borneo and the Maluku Islands. In Indonesia, only Sumatra, Borneo, and Papua are larger in territory, and only Java and Sumatra have larger Indonesian populations.- Etymology :The Portuguese were the first to...
. - 1955, 18–25 April: The city of BandungBandungBandung is the capital of West Java province in Indonesia, and the country's third largest city, and 2nd largest metropolitan area in Indonesia, with a population of 7.4 million in 2007. Located 768 metres above sea level, approximately 140 km southeast of Jakarta, Bandung has cooler...
hosts the Asia-Africa Conference. It is the first meeting of the Non-Aligned MovementNon-Aligned MovementThe Non-Aligned Movement is a group of states considering themselves not aligned formally with or against any major power bloc. As of 2011, the movement had 120 members and 17 observer countries...
and is attended by world leaders including China'sPeople's Republic of ChinaChina , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
Zhou EnlaiZhou EnlaiZhou Enlai was the first Premier of the People's Republic of China, serving from October 1949 until his death in January 1976...
, India's Nehru, EgyptEgyptEgypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
's NasserGamal Abdel NasserGamal Abdel Nasser Hussein was the second President of Egypt from 1956 until his death. A colonel in the Egyptian army, Nasser led the Egyptian Revolution of 1952 along with Muhammad Naguib, the first president, which overthrew the monarchy of Egypt and Sudan, and heralded a new period of...
and Yugoslavia'sSocialist Federal Republic of YugoslaviaThe Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was the Yugoslav state that existed from the abolition of the Yugoslav monarchy until it was dissolved in 1992 amid the Yugoslav Wars. It was a socialist state and a federation made up of six socialist republics: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia,...
TitoJosip Broz TitoMarshal Josip Broz Tito – 4 May 1980) was a Yugoslav revolutionary and statesman. While his presidency has been criticized as authoritarian, Tito was a popular public figure both in Yugoslavia and abroad, viewed as a unifying symbol for the nations of the Yugoslav federation...
. - 1955, 24 July: After a dispute with the Army over appointments, the cabinet resigns.
- 1955, 12 August: Led by Prime Minister Burhanuddin Harahap, the new cabinet is sworn in.
- 1955, 29 September: Indonesia holds general parliamentary elections; the last free national elections until 1999; support for the parties is widely distributed with four parties each gaining 16-22 per cent and the remaining votes split between 24 parties.
- 1955, 15 December: Elections are held for the Constitutional Assembly
- 1956, 3 March: The cabinet falls as a result of its policy toward the Dutch.
- 1955, 24 March: The second cabinet to be led by Ali Sastroamidjojo takes office.
- 1956, 3 May: Indonesia unilaterally abrogates the Round Table AgreementDutch-Indonesian Round Table ConferenceThe Dutch–Indonesian Round Table Conference was held in the Hague from August 23 - November 2, 1949, between representatives of the Netherlands, the Republic of Indonesia and the BFO representing various states the Dutch had created in the Indonesian archipelago...
signed with the Dutch in 1949. - 1956, 1 December: HattaMohammad Hattawas born in Bukittinggi, West Sumatra, Dutch East Indies . He was Indonesia's first vice president, later also serving as the country's Prime Minister. Known as "The Proclamator", he and a number of Indonesians, including the first president of Indonesia, Sukarno, fought for the independence of...
resigns as vice-president. - 1957, 21 February: President SukarnoSukarnoSukarno, born Kusno Sosrodihardjo was the first President of Indonesia.Sukarno was the leader of his country's struggle for independence from the Netherlands and was Indonesia's first President from 1945 to 1967...
announces his "Conception" (Konsepsi) of the nature of Indonesia. This will eventually lead to Guided Democracy - 1957, March - 1961, August: Regional rebellions in Sumatra and Sulawesi.
- 1957, 14 March: Martial LawMartial lawMartial law is the imposition of military rule by military authorities over designated regions on an emergency basis— only temporary—when the civilian government or civilian authorities fail to function effectively , when there are extensive riots and protests, or when the disobedience of the law...
is proclaimed. On the same day, the cabinet resigns. - 1957, 9 April: Sukarno appoints a "Working Cabinet" with Djuanda as prime minister.
- 1957, 30 November: An attempt is made to assassinate President Sukarno. Grenades are thrown at him as he visits a school in Cikini, Jakarta.
- 1958, May 18: US Air Force pilot Allen Pope is shot down over AmbonAmbon IslandAmbon Island is part of the Maluku Islands of Indonesia. The island has an area of , and is mountainous, well watered, and fertile. Ambon Island consists of 2 territories: The main city and seaport is Ambon , which is also the capital of Maluku province and Maluku Tengah Ambon Island is part of the...
, revealing covert AmericanUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
support of regional rebellions, and ends the Dulles brothers', AllenAllen Welsh DullesAllen Welsh Dulles was an American diplomat, lawyer, banker, and public official who became the first civilian and the longest-serving Director of Central Intelligence and a member of the Warren Commission...
and JohnJohn Foster DullesJohn Foster Dulles served as U.S. Secretary of State under President Dwight D. Eisenhower from 1953 to 1959. He was a significant figure in the early Cold War era, advocating an aggressive stance against communism throughout the world...
, failure to subvert the SukarnoSukarnoSukarno, born Kusno Sosrodihardjo was the first President of Indonesia.Sukarno was the leader of his country's struggle for independence from the Netherlands and was Indonesia's first President from 1945 to 1967...
government. - 1959, 5 July: With armed forces support, Sukarno issues a decreePresident Sukarno's 1959 DecreeThe Presidential Decree of 5 July 1959 was issued by President Sukarno in the face of the inability of the Constitutional Assembly of Indonesia to achieve the two-thirds majority to reimpose the 1945 Constitution...
dissolving the Constituent Assembly and reintroducing the Constitution of 1945Constitution of IndonesiaThe Constitution of Indonesia is the basis for the government of the Indonesia.The constitution was written in June, July and August 1945, when Indonesia was emerging from Japanese control at the end of World War II...
with strong presidential powers, and assumes the additional role of Prime Minister, which completes the structure of 'Guided Democracy'. - 1959, 10 July: President Sukarno appoints a "Working Cabinet" with himself as prime minister.
- 1950/60s: Military articulation of doctrines dwifungsiDwifungsiDwifungsi was a doctrine implemented by Suharto's military-dominated "New Order" government in Indonesia following the removal of President Sukarno...
and hankamrata: a military role in sociopolitical development as well as security; a requirement that the resources of the people be at the call of the armed forces.
1960s
- 1960, 9 March Second Lieutenant Daniel Alexander Maukar of the Indonesian Air ForceIndonesian Air ForceThe Indonesian Air Force is the air force branch of the Indonesian National Armed Forces.The Indonesian Air Force has 34,930 personnel equipped with 110 combat aircraft including Su-27 and Su-30.-Before Indonesian independence :...
uses a MiG-17Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17 is a high-subsonic fighter aircraft produced in the USSR from 1952 and operated by numerous air forces in many variants. Most MiG-17 variants cannot carry air-to-air missiles, but shot down many aircraft with its cannons...
fighter to strafe the Presidential PalaceIstana MerdekaMerdeka Palace , is a palace in Central Jakarta, Indonesia, used as the official residence of the President of the Republic of Indonesia. The palace is located directly in front of Merdeka Square and The National Monument. The palace previously served as a residence for the Governor-General of the...
in Jakarta, oil tanks at Tanjung Priok in North JakartaJakartaJakarta is the capital and largest city of Indonesia. Officially known as the Special Capital Territory of Jakarta, it is located on the northwest coast of Java, has an area of , and a population of 9,580,000. Jakarta is the country's economic, cultural and political centre...
and then the Bogor PalaceIstana BogorIstana Bogor is one of 6 Presidential Palaces in Indonesia. The palace is noted for its distinctive architectural, historical, features, as well as the adjoining botanical gardens. Istana Bogor was opened to the public in 1968 to public tour groups , with the permission of the then President of...
. - 1960, 18 February: President Sukarno reshuffles the cabinet and appoints the second "Working Cabinet".
- 1960, 24 June: The House of Representatives-Mutual cooperation (DPR-GR), composed of members chosen by President SukarnoSukarnoSukarno, born Kusno Sosrodihardjo was the first President of Indonesia.Sukarno was the leader of his country's struggle for independence from the Netherlands and was Indonesia's first President from 1945 to 1967...
is established. - 1960, 17 August: Indonesia severs diplomatic links with the Netherlands in protest over its refusal to hand over Netherlands New GuineaNetherlands New GuineaNetherlands New Guinea refers to the West Papua region while it was an overseas territory of the Kingdom of the Netherlands from 1949 to 1962. Until 1949 it was a part of the Netherlands Indies. It was commonly known as Dutch New Guinea...
. - 1960, 30 September: President Sukarno addresses the United NationsUnited NationsThe United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
General Assembly. - 1961, March 4: An agreement is signed in Jakarta with the Soviet UnionSoviet UnionThe Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
to buy arms with long term loans. - 1961, 17 August: Building officially starts on the Monas National Monument in the center of Jakarta.
- 1962, January 2: The Mandala Command to "free" Western (Netherlands) New Guinea from the Dutch is established. Its commander is Brigadier general Suharto.
- 1962, 15 January: Deputy chief of staff of the Indonesian NavyIndonesian NavyThe role of the Indonesian Navy is to patrol of Indonesia's immense coastline, to ensure safeguard the territorial waters and Exclusive Economic Zone , to protect Indonesia's maritime strategic interests, to protect the islands surrounded Indonesia and to defend against seaborne threats. The TNI...
Commodore Yos Sudarso is killed in a Dutch air attack on the motor torpedo boat (MTBMTBMTB may refer to:* Mike Thomas Brown, Professional Mixed Martial Artist & WEC Featherweight Champion* Matlock Bath railway station, England; National Rail station code MTB* Motor Torpedo Boat* Mountain bike or Mountain biking* Mycobacterium tuberculosis...
) force he is commanding. - 1962, 8 March:President Sukarno again reshuffles his cabinet.
- 1962, 15 August:The New York AgreementNew York AgreementThe Agreement between the Republic of Indonesia and the Kingdom of the Netherlands Concerning West New Guinea , also known as the New York Agreement, was a treaty signed between Indonesia and the Netherlands on the political status of West New Guinea...
, transferring Western New Guinea to Indonesia, is signed at the United NationsUnited NationsThe United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
. - 1962, 24 August - 4 September: Jakarta hosts the Fourth1962 Asian GamesThe 4th Asian Games were held from August 24, 1962 to September 4, 1962 in Jakarta, Indonesia. Most notable is the exclusion of Israel and the Republic of China from the Games....
Asian GamesAsian GamesThe Asian Games, officially known as Asiad, is a multi-sport event held every four years among athletes from all over Asia. The Games were regulated by the Asian Games Federation from the first Games in New Delhi, India, until the 1978 Games. Since the 1982 Games they have been organised by the...
. - 1963, 18 May: Parliament elects Sukarno 'President-for-life'.
- 1963, 1 May: Following pressure from the United NationsUnited NationsThe United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
and the American government of President John F. KennedyJohn F. KennedyJohn Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
, the NetherlandsNetherlandsThe Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
yields Western New Guinea to temporary UN supervisionUnited Nations Temporary Executive AuthorityThe United Nations Temporary Executive Authority / United Nations Security Force in West New Guinea was established during October 1962 in accord with Article two of the New York Agreement to administer the colony of West New Guinea until the 1st May 1963.-History:Western New Guinea became the...
. - 1963, 27 July: Sukarno declared Indonesian policy to oppose the creation of Malaysia which incorporate North BorneoNorth BorneoNorth Borneo was a British protectorate under the sovereign North Borneo Chartered Company from 1882 to 1946. After the war it became a crown colony of Great Britain from 1946 to 1963, known in this time as British North Borneo. It is located on the northeastern end of the island of Borneo. It is...
, marking the Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation. - 1963 - 1965: Sole years of American Peace CorpsPeace CorpsThe Peace Corps is an American volunteer program run by the United States Government, as well as a government agency of the same name. The mission of the Peace Corps includes three goals: providing technical assistance, helping people outside the United States to understand US culture, and helping...
program in Indonesia. - 1963, 18 September: Following demonstrations in Jakarta to protest at the creation of Malaysia, the British Embassy is burned by a mob.
- 1963, 13 November: President Sukarno conducts the final reshuffle of the "Working Cabinet".
- 1963 - 1965: Sukarno leads the Konfrontasi campaign against the newly created Malaysia.
- 1964, 17 August: During his Independence Day speech, Sukarno for the first time publicly denounces the United States, and over the following months an anti-American campaign attacked American interests.
- 1964, 27 August: President Sukarno appoints the Dwikora Cabinet
- 1965, 7 January: Indonesia withdraws from membership of the UN.
- 1965, 14 January: The Indonesian Communist PartyCommunist Party of IndonesiaThe Communist Party of Indonesia was the largest non-ruling communist party in the world prior to being crushed in 1965 and banned the following year.-Forerunners:...
(PKI) calls for workers and peasants to be armed. - 1965, 11–16 April: The Third Session of the Provisional People's Consultative Assembly is held in BandungBandungBandung is the capital of West Java province in Indonesia, and the country's third largest city, and 2nd largest metropolitan area in Indonesia, with a population of 7.4 million in 2007. Located 768 metres above sea level, approximately 140 km southeast of Jakarta, Bandung has cooler...
. - 1965, 26 May: Foreign Minister Subandrio reports to President Sukarno the existence of the Gilchrist DocumentGilchrist DocumentThe Gilchrist Document is a much cited letter from 1965 often used to support arguments for Western involvement in the overthrow of Sukarno in Indonesia....
, a letter purporting to be from the British ambassador which discusses western military involvement in Indonesia. - 1965, 30 September: An abortive coup30 September MovementThe Thirtieth of September Movement ) was a self-proclaimed organization of Indonesian National Armed Forces members who, in the early hours of 1 October 1965, assassinated six Indonesian Army generals in an abortive coup d'état. Later that morning, the organization declared that it was in control...
in JakartaJakartaJakarta is the capital and largest city of Indonesia. Officially known as the Special Capital Territory of Jakarta, it is located on the northwest coast of Java, has an area of , and a population of 9,580,000. Jakarta is the country's economic, cultural and political centre...
results in the murder of six army generals, and disposal of bodies at Lubang BuayaLubang BuayaLubang Buaya is the site of the murder of seven army officers during the 1 October coup attempt of the 30 September Movement...
. - 1965, 1 October: A counter coup led by General Suharto that leads to the Overthrow of Sukarno
- 1965, October to 1966, March: A violent anti-communist purgeIndonesian killings of 1965–66The Indonesian killings of 1965–1966 were an anti-communist purge following a failed coup in Indonesia. The most widely accepted estimates are that over half a million people were killed...
leads to the killing of approximately 1/2 million Indonesians. - 1965, 14 October: President Sukarno appoints Major General Suharto Minister/Commander of the Army.
- 1965, 16 October: The Jakarta Military Command temporarily suspends the activities of the PKI and its organizations in the Jakarta region.
- 1965, 13 December: The rupiahIndonesian rupiahThe rupiah is the official currency of Indonesia. Issued and controlled by the Bank of Indonesia, the ISO 4217 currency code for the Indonesian rupiah is IDR. Informally, Indonesians also use the word "perak" in referring to rupiah...
is devalued by a factor of 1,000 in an effort to control inflation. - 1966, 10 January: Anti-communist organizations grouped under the Pancasila Front issue the "Three Demands of the People" (Tritura), namely the dissolution of the PKI, the cleansing of the cabinet of elements involved in the 30 September Movement, and lower prices and economic improvements.
- 1966, 14 February: The Extraordinary Military Court trials of people allegedly involved in the 30 September Movement begin.
- 1966, 24 February: President Sukarno reshuffles his cabinet, creating what becomes known as the "cabinet of 100 ministers".
- 1966, 11 March: General Suharto forces Sukarno to delegate presidential powers to himself by signing the SupersemarSupersemarThe Supersemar, the Indonesian abbreviation for Surat Perintah Sebelas Maret was a document signed by the Indonesian President Sukarno on March 11, 1966, giving the Army commander Lt. Gen. Suharto authority to take whatever measures he "deemed necessary" to restore order to the chaotic situation...
. The following day, Suharto dissolves the Indonesian Communist Party. - 1966, 18 March: A total of 14 cabinet ministers are taken into "protective custody".
- 1966, 2 May: Following large-scale demonstrations, the leadership of the Mutual-Assistance House of Representatives (DPR-GR) is replaced.
- 1966, 20 June-5 July: The Fourth Session of the Provisional People's Consultative Assembly is held in JakartaJakartaJakarta is the capital and largest city of Indonesia. Officially known as the Special Capital Territory of Jakarta, it is located on the northwest coast of Java, has an area of , and a population of 9,580,000. Jakarta is the country's economic, cultural and political centre...
. It raises the status of the Supersemar into a decree, meaning Sukarno cannot revoke it, bans the PKI and its teachings and rejects Presidents Sukarno's accountability speech. - 1966, 11 August: Indonesia and Malaysia agree to normalize diplomatic relations.
- 1966, 28 September: Indonesia rejoins the United NationsUnited NationsThe United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
. - 1967, 10 January: New investment laws designed to bring in foreign capital are passed; restrictions are introduced regarding status of Indonesian Chinese, their names and their religions.
- 1967, 22 February: In a ceremony at the presidential palace, Sukarno hands over authority to Suharto.
- 1967, 7–12 March: A Special Session of the Provisional People's Consultative Assembly strips Sukarno of his powers and appoints Suharto acting president.
- 1967, 8 August: ASEAN established in BangkokBangkokBangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
by IndonesiaIndonesiaIndonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
, Malaysia, the PhilippinesPhilippinesThe Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, SingaporeSingaporeSingapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
and ThailandThailandThailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
. - 1967, 1 October: Diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of ChinaPeople's Republic of ChinaChina , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
are suspended. - 1968, March: Parliament confers full presidential title on Suharto; Sukarno is under effective house arrest.
- 1968 - 1971: Soedjatmoko is Indonesian ambassador to the United States; bilateral relations warm.
- 1969: Papuan representatives agree to join Indonesia in the Act of Free ChoiceAct of Free ChoiceAct of Free Choice was an event in July to August 1969 by which Indonesia asserts that the Western New Guinea population decided to relinquish their sovereignty in favor of Indonesian citizenship...
.
1970s
- 1970, 21 June: Sukarno dies. He is buried at BlitarBlitarBlitar is a city which is the capital of a regency with the same name in East Java, Indonesia, about 73 kilometers from Malang and 167 kilometers from Surabaya. The area lies within longitude 111° 40' - 112° 09' East and its latitude is 8° 06' South...
, East JavaEast JavaEast Java is a province of Indonesia. It is located on the eastern part of the island of Java and includes neighboring Madura and islands to its east and to its north East Java is a province of Indonesia. It is located on the eastern part of the island of Java and includes neighboring Madura and...
. - 1970: Nurcholish MadjidNurcholish MadjidDr. Nurcholish Madjid , in his homeland affectionately known as Cak Nur, was a prominent Indonesian Muslim intellectual. Early in his academic career, Nurcholish was a leader in various student organizations. He soon became well known as a proponent for modernization within Islam...
, a young MuslimMuslimA Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
modernist, begins to lay out religious developmental principles for Indonesia—'Islam, yes; Islamic party, no'. - 1971, 3 July: Indonesia's second parliamentary electionIndonesian legislative election, 1971Indonesia's second legislative election, and the first under the New Order regime, was held on July 3, 1971. There were 10 participants; 9 political parties and the "functional group" Golkar.-Background:...
and the first under the New Order is held. GolkarGolkarThe Party of the Functional Groups is a political party in Indonesia. It is also known as Sekber Golkar . It was the ruling party during Suharto's regime...
wins an outright majority. - 1971: Suharto's wife inspired by a visit to Disneyland, conceives a national cultural theme park.
- 1973: Government forces fusion of political parties; Nationalist and Christian parties are merged into the Indonesian Democratic PartyIndonesian Democratic PartyThe Indonesian Democratic Party was one of the two state-approved parties during the New Order era of the late 20th-century in Indonesia.-Origins:...
(PDI) and Muslim parties into the United Development PartyUnited Development PartyThe United Development Party , sometimes translated as Development Unity Party is a political party in Indonesia. It is an islamic party and currently led by Suryadharma Ali.-Origins:...
(PPP). The new three party system is dominated by GolkarGolkarThe Party of the Functional Groups is a political party in Indonesia. It is also known as Sekber Golkar . It was the ruling party during Suharto's regime...
. - 1974: The 'MalariMalari incidentThe Malari incident was a student demonstration and riot that happened from 15 to 16 January 1974. In reaction to a state visit by Japan Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka, students held a demonstration protesting corruption, high prices, and inequality in foreign investments...
' uprising in Jakarta against JapanJapanJapan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese penetration of the economy, Chinese IndonesianChinese IndonesianChinese Indonesians, also called the Indonesian Chinese, are an overseas Chinese group whose ancestors emigrated from China to Indonesia, formerly a colony of the Netherlands known as the Dutch East Indies...
influence, and official corruption. - 1975, April: Mrs Suharto dedicates the vast 'Beautiful Indonesia-in-Miniature Park' (Taman Mini)Taman Mini Indonesia IndahTaman Mini Indonesia Indah or "Beautiful Indonesia Miniature Park" is a culture-based recreational area located in East Jakarta, Indonesia. It has an area of about...
on the outskirts of Jakarta. - 1975, April: Civil war breaks out in the former Portuguese colony of East TimorEast TimorThe Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, commonly known as East Timor , is a state in Southeast Asia. It comprises the eastern half of the island of Timor, the nearby islands of Atauro and Jaco, and Oecusse, an exclave on the northwestern side of the island, within Indonesian West Timor...
. - 1975, 6 December: U.S. President Gerald FordGerald FordGerald Rudolph "Jerry" Ford, Jr. was the 38th President of the United States, serving from 1974 to 1977, and the 40th Vice President of the United States serving from 1973 to 1974...
and Secretary of State KissingerHenry KissingerHeinz Alfred "Henry" Kissinger is a German-born American academic, political scientist, diplomat, and businessman. He is a recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. He served as National Security Advisor and later concurrently as Secretary of State in the administrations of Presidents Richard Nixon and...
, returning from China, make a hastily rescheduled one-day visit to Jakarta. - 1975, 7 December: Indonesia launches an invasion of East Timor.
- 1976, March: General Ibnu SutowoIbnu SutowoIbnu Muhari was an Indonesian army officer, Cabinet Minister and former head of the Indonesian oil and gas producer Pertamina....
is 'dismissed with honour' after a decade as head of PertaminaPertaminaPertamina is an Indonesian government-owned corporation which extracts and refines the country's oil and gas reserves. It was created in August 1968 by the merger of Pertamin and Permina...
, the state oil corporation. - 1976, 8 July: PalapaPalapaPalapa is a series of communication satellites owned by Indosat, an Indonesian telecommunication company.The name Palapa also alludes to "Sumpah Palapa" the oath taken by Gajah Mada, a 14th century Prime Minister of the Javanese Majapahit Empire described in the Pararaton...
A1, Indonesia's first communication satellite launched from Cape Canaveral. - 1976, 17 July: Suharto signs a bill integrating East Timor into Indonesia as its 27th province.
- 1976, 19 November: UN General Assembly rejects Indonesia's annexation of East Timor.
- 1977: The United States surpasses Japan as Indonesia's biggest oil customer.
- 1977, October: Sawito Kartowibowo's trial for 'subversion' begins.
- 1978, 22 February: Suharto inaugurated Istiqlal MosqueIstiqlal MosqueIstiqlal Mosque, or Masjid Istiqlal, in Jakarta, Indonesia is the largest mosque in Southeast Asia in terms of capacity to accommodate people and building structure. This national mosque of Indonesia was built to commemorate Indonesian independence, as nation's gratitude for Islam's blessings; the...
, the Indonesian national mosque. - 1978: The People's Consultative AssemblyPeople's Consultative AssemblyThe People's Consultative Assembly is the legislative branch in Indonesia's political system. It is composed of the members of the People's Representative Council and the Regional Representative Council. Before 2004, and the amendments to the 1945 Constitution, the MPR was the highest governing...
(MPR) elevates PancasilaPancasila IndonesiaPancasila is the official philosophical foundation of the Indonesian state. Pancasila consists of two Sanskrit words, "pañca" meaning five, and "sīla" meaning principles...
to the status of compulsory moral education of youth and government officials. Suharto appoints B.J. Habibie as state minister for research and technology. - 1979, 21–30 September: Jakarta host the 10th SEA Games1979 Southeast Asian GamesThe 10th Southeast Asian Games were held in Jakarta, Indonesia from 21–30 September 1979. It was the first time that Indonesia hosted the biennial sports carnival...
, it was the first time Indonesia host Southeast Asian GamesSoutheast Asian GamesThe Southeast Asian Games , is a biennial multi-sport event involving participants from the current 11 countries of Southeast Asia...
. - 1979, December: Writer Pramoedya Ananta ToerPramoedya Ananta ToerPramoedya Ananta Toer was an Indonesian author of novels, short stories, essays, polemic and histories of his homeland and its people...
is released after fourteen years imprisonment with hard labour on Buru IslandBuruBuru is the third largest island within Maluku Islands of Malay Archipelago. It lies between the Banda Sea to the south and Seram Sea to the north, west of Ambon and Seram islands. The island belongs to Maluku province of Indonesia and includes the Buru and South Buru regencies...
.
1980s
- 1980, May: The Petition of FiftyPetition of FiftyThe Petition of Fifty was a document protesting then President Suharto's use of state philosophy Pancasila against political opponents. Issued on 5 May 1980 as an "Expression of Concern", it was signed by fifty prominent Indonesians including former Army Chief of Staff Nasution, former Jakarta...
—a statement of concern to parliament about the use of government power, propaganda, and presidential personality cult—is begun. - 1982 - 1983: The height of Petrus ('mysterious shootings') of thousands of suspected criminals by government security forces.
- 1983: Prabowo Subianto, then a major in ABRI marries Suharto's daughter Titiek at Taman Mini.
- 1984, 12 September: Muslim concerned protesting over alleged insensitivities to Islam at Tanjung PriokTanjung PriokTanjung Priok is a subdistrict of North Jakarta, Jakarta, Indonesia. It hosts the western part of the city's main harbour, the Port of Tanjung Priok...
; a riot ensues resulting in many deaths. Clamp down on Islamic political leaders. - 1984, December: Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur) is elected chairman of Nahdlatul Ulama a position previously held by both his father and grandfather.
- 1985: The Indonesian government require all organisations of any kind to adopt Pancasila as their sole basis.
- 1987: Sukarno's daughter Megawati SukarnoputriMegawati SukarnoputriIn this Indonesian name, the name "Sukarnoputri" is a patronymic, not a family name, and the person should be referred to by the given name "Megawati"....
becomes a member of parliament; Suharto prohibits display of images of Sukarno although they appear frequently nonetheless. - 1987, 9–20 September: Jakarta host the 14th SEA Games1987 Southeast Asian GamesThe 14th Southeast Asian Games were held in Jakarta, Indonesia from 9 September - 20 September 1987.-Medal count:-References:*Percy Seneviratne Golden Moments: the S.E.A Games 1959-1991 Dominie Press, Singapore ISBN 981-00-4597-2*...
. - 1988: Suharto is elected to a fifth term as president., Lilies Handayani, Nurfitriyana Saiman and Kusuma Wardhani won Indonesia's first medal in Olympic GamesOlympic GamesThe Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
, a silver medal for women's team archery in 1988 Summer Olympics1988 Summer OlympicsThe 1988 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad, were an all international multi-sport events celebrated from September 17 to October 2, 1988 in Seoul, South Korea. They were the second summer Olympic Games to be held in Asia and the first since the 1964 Summer Olympics...
Seoul. - 1989: The Free Aceh Movement (GAM)Free Aceh MovementThe Free Aceh Movement , also known as the Aceh Sumatra National Liberation Front , was a separatist group seeking independence for the Aceh region of Sumatra from Indonesia. GAM fought against Indonesian government forces in the Aceh Insurgency from 1976 to 2005, costing over 15,000 lives...
reemerges following its 1976 founding; suppression of its guerilla activities leads to 2,000 deaths by 1991 in AcehAcehAceh is a special region of Indonesia, located on the northern tip of the island of Sumatra. Its full name is Daerah Istimewa Aceh , Nanggroë Aceh Darussalam and Aceh . Past spellings of its name include Acheh, Atjeh and Achin...
.
1990s
- 1991: Indonesia wins presidency of the Non-Aligned Movement.
- 1991, 12 November: ABRI troops fire on demonstrative funeral procession in DiliDiliDili, spelled Díli in Portuguese, is the capital, largest city, chief port and commercial centre of East Timor.-Geography and Administration:Dili lies on the northern coast of Timor island, the easternmost of the Lesser Sunda Islands....
, East Timor. TV images of the killings put East Timor high on the international human rights agenda. - 1992: Suharto successfully defies Dutch efforts to link human rights to aid administerd since 1967 by the International Governmental Group on Indonesia (IGGI). Susi Susanti won Indonesia's first OlympicOlympic GamesThe Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
gold medal in 1992 Summer OlympicsBadminton at the 1992 Summer OlympicsBadminton had its debut as an official medal sport at the 1992 Summer Olympics. It was held from 28 July to 4 August 1992. Four events were held in the first competition of the sport: men's singles, women's singles, men's doubles, and women's doubles. Badminton was contested in the Pavelló de la...
in BarcelonaBarcelonaBarcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
, Spain. - 1992-1993: East Timorese resistance leader Xanana GusmãoXanana GusmãoKay Rala Xanana Gusmão GCL is a former militant who was the first President of East Timor, serving from May 2002 to May 2007...
is captured by Prabowo and is tried and sentenced. - 1993: Suharto seeks a sixth term and is easily re-elected.
- 1994, June: Suharto shuts down Tempo and two other publications for critical reporting of Habibie’s purchase of the former East German navy.
- 1996: The Free Papua MovementFree Papua MovementThe Free Papua Movement is a militant organisation established in 1965 to encourage and effect the violent overthrow of the current governments in the Papua and West Papua provinces of Indonesia, formerly known as Irian Jaya to secede from Indonesia, and to reject economic development and...
(OPM) kidnaps fourteen scientists and foresters in Iran Jaya garnering international attention. After four months, the abductees are rescued in a bloody operation led by Prabowo. - 1996, April: Ibu Tien Suharto, the president’s wife of 48 years, dies of a heart attack.
- 1996, July: Military-backed thugs burst into headquarters of PDI, Megawati's party, and evict her supporters in a violent climax to government efforts to vitiate her party’s popularity.
- 1997, February: Alarmed at a dukun's prediction that 'the nail of Java has come loose', Suharto commands a massive Ruwat Dunia ceremony ('Cleansing of the world') near BorobudurBorobudurBorobudur, or Barabudur, is a 9th-century Mahayana Buddhist monument near Magelang, Central Java, Indonesia. The monument comprises six square platforms topped by three circular platforms, and is decorated with 2,672 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues...
. - 1997, June: Pacific OceanPacific OceanThe Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
trade winds shift heralding the onset of the El Niño; severe drought across much of Indonesia follows in the ensuing months accompanied by highly destructive forest fires. - 1997, July: The collapse of the ThaiThailandThailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
baht starts the East Asian financial crisisEast Asian financial crisisThe Asian financial crisis was a period of financial crisis that gripped much of Asia beginning in July 1997, and raised fears of a worldwide economic meltdown due to financial contagion....
and over the ensuing months Indonesia is the country hardest hit. - 1997, 11–19 October: Jakarta host the 19th SEA Games1997 Southeast Asian GamesThe 19th Southeast Asian Games were held in Jakarta, Indonesia from 11 October to 19 October 1997. It was opened by President of Indonesia names Suharto...
. - 1997 - 1998: Severe social unrest breaks out across Indonesian cities against Chinese Indonesians, Christians, symbols of wealth, the police and bureaucracy.
- 1998, 11 March: Suharto unanimously elected by the MPR to his seventh presidential term.
- 1998, late March: Largely peaceful student demonstrations against the regime rise to national prominence.
- 1998, 12 May: Four student demonstrators at Trisakti UniversityTrisakti UniversityTrisakti University is a private university in Jakarta, Indonesia. Founded on 29 November 1965, the university has more than 30,000 students.It has several campuses and nine faculties:*Faculty of Law*Faculty of Medical Sciences*Faculty of Dentistry...
are shot deadTrisakti shootingsThe Trisakti shootings occurred at Trisakti University, Jakarta, Indonesia on 12 May 1998. At a demonstration asking for president Suharto's resignation, soldiers opened fire on unarmed protestors. Four students, Elang Mulia Lesmana, Heri Hertanto, Hafidin Royan, and Hendriawan Sie, were killed;...
by bullets unproven but thought likely to have been from army sources. - 1998, 13 May: Memorial services for killed students leads to vandalism, arson, looting and rape by roving mobs which continue unchecked by security forces for two days leaving 1,200 dead.
- 1998, 20 May: For National Awakening Day, Amien RaisAmien RaisAmien Rais is a prominent Indonesian politician who led and inspired the reform movement that forced the resignation of President Suharto in 1998. Amien Rais was the leader of Muhammadiyah, one of the two biggest Muslim organizations in Indonesia, from 1995 to 2000...
pledges to bring a million protestors into the streets to demonstrate against at the National Monument in Jakarta. Faced with barbed wire and massed troops he calls off the rally fearing bloodshed. - 1998, 21 May, 9 a.m.: After being deserted by his cabinet, Suharto resigns the presidency. Habibie assumes presidency.
- 1998, August: General WirantoWirantoWiranto is a retired Indonesian army General. He was Commander of the military of Indonesia from February 1998 to October 1999, and ran unsuccessfully for President of Indonesia in 2004 and the vice-presidency in 2009....
announces the discharge of Lieutenant General Prabowo from active duty, with full pension benefits—and without court-martial for allegations of abduction and torture of student activist (some of whom remain missing as of 2003). - 1998, 10 November: Megawati, Rais, and the sultan of Yogya, meet at Wahid's home in Ciganjur, and issue a series of statements including a demand for the military to end their role in politics within six years.
- 1998, 13 November: On the last day of the MPR sessions, soldiers open fire on demonstrating students killing at least fifteen and injuring hundreds.
- 1999, 19 January: An petty argument between in the city of Ambon triggers Christian-Muslim clashes that last for three years across MalukuMaluku IslandsThe Maluku Islands are an archipelago that is part of Indonesia, and part of the larger Maritime Southeast Asia region. Tectonically they are located on the Halmahera Plate within the Molucca Sea Collision Zone...
. As many as 10,000 are killed and 700,000 or one third of the region are displaced. - 1999, 7 June: Indonesia's first free and fair national elections since 1955 take place with almost no disruption and wide participation. Votes however are distributed across forty-eight parties with no party achieving a majority.
- 1999, September: East TimorEast TimorThe Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, commonly known as East Timor , is a state in Southeast Asia. It comprises the eastern half of the island of Timor, the nearby islands of Atauro and Jaco, and Oecusse, an exclave on the northwestern side of the island, within Indonesian West Timor...
votes to secede from Indonesia in a referendum conducted under UN auspices. Four-fifths of voters choose independence for East Timor over integration with Indonesia. Pro-integration militias trained and paid by ABRI immediately resort to a scorched earth policy that leaves 1,000 dead and most of the territory's infrastructure ruined. - 1999, 13 September: President Habibie relents to international pressure and allows a UN peacekeeping force known as 'INTERFETINTERFETThe International Force for East Timor was a multinational peacekeeping taskforce, mandated by the United Nations to address the humanitarian and security crisis which took place in East Timor from 1999–2000 until the arrival of United Nations peacekeepers...
' to enter East Timor and restore order. - 1999, October: The Indonesian parliament rejects President Habibie's accountability speech. Wahid whose party received one eighth of the popular vote is elected president by the MPR. Megawati whose party received one third of the vote (the highest) is elected vice president.
2000s
- 2000, Christmas Eve: In a coordinated attack involving more than three dozen sites across the country, churches are bombed and eighteen people killed. It is later proven to have been planned by Jemaah IslamiyahJemaah IslamiyahJemaah Islamiah , is a Southeast Asian militant Islamic organization dedicated to the establishment of a Daulah Islamiyah in Southeast Asia incorporating Indonesia, Malaysia, the southern Philippines, Singapore and Brunei...
in retaliation for Christian killings of Muslims in the Maluku conflict. - 2001 - Ethnic violence in Kalimantan as indigenous Dayaks force out Madurese transmigrants. Mass political demonstrations by Wahid's supporters and opponents. IMF stops further loans citing lack of progress in tackling corruption.
- 2000 - 2001: President Wahid'sAbdurrahman WahidAbdurrahman Wahid, born Abdurrahman Addakhil , colloquially known as , was an Indonesian Muslim religious and political leader who served as the President of Indonesia from 1999 to 2001...
administration is marred by failures to stabilise the economy, patterns of political favouritism, economic corruption (although Wahid himself is not accused of corruption), inability to reform the military, personal eccentricity and pettiness, ineffectiveness in dealing with major religious violence in Maluku and Sulawesi, major ethnic violence (DayaksDayak peopleThe Dayak or Dyak are the native people of Borneo. It is a loose term for over 200 riverine and hill-dwelling ethnic subgroups, located principally in the interior of Borneo, each with its own dialect, customs, laws, territory and culture, although common distinguishing traits are readily...
vs. Madurese) in KalimantanKalimantanIn English, the term Kalimantan refers to the Indonesian portion of the island of Borneo, while in Indonesian, the term "Kalimantan" refers to the whole island of Borneo....
, and separatisms in Aceh and Irian Jaya. - 2001, July: President Wahid is impeached chiefly on grounds of incompetence. The parliament elects Megawati president by 592 votes to 0. Hamzah HazHamzah HazHamzah Haz is an Indonesian politician. He is the head of the United Development Party and served as the ninth Vice-President from 2001 until 2004....
defeats Akbar Tandjung and Lieutenant General (ret.) Susilo Bambang YudhoyonoSusilo Bambang YudhoyonoSusilo Bambang Yudhoyono AC , is an Indonesian politician and retired Army general officer who has been President of Indonesia since 2004....
. - 2001, September: President Megawati visits President George BushGeorge W. BushGeorge Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
a week after the 9/11 terrorist attacks and welcomes American investment. On her return to Indonesia, the Islamic right criticises her cooperation with America's war in AfghanistanAfghanistanAfghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
, and the nationalist left criticises here for being too suppliant to foreign investors. - 2002: Nahdlatul Ulama and Muhammadiyah, the largest Muslim organisations in Indonesia, issue joint statements critical of militant IslamistsIslamismIslamism also , lit., "Political Islam" is set of ideologies holding that Islam is not only a religion but also a political system. Islamism is a controversial term, and definitions of it sometimes vary...
. - 2002, February: Peace talks in MalianoMaliañoMaliaño is a village in the municipality of Camargo . The town is located near the Bay of Santander, 5 km from the regional capital. It is the location of the regionally significant Santander Airport...
, South SulawesiSouth SulawesiSouth Sulawesi is a province of Indonesia, located on the western southern peninsula of Sulawesi Island. The province is bordered by Central Sulawesi province to the north, South East Sulawesi province to the east and West Sulawesi province to the west...
appear to end three years of Christian-Muslim violence in Maluku and PosoPosoPoso is the main port and transportation hub for the northeastern coast of Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. Its geographical location is .Poso is one of ten regencies in Central Sulawesi Province, located exactly in the middle of the province on the shore of the gulf of Tomini, right in the central...
. - 2002, July: Tommy SuhartoTommy SuhartoTommy Suharto is the youngest son of Suharto, the former President of Indonesia. In 2002 he was found guilty and jailed for giving the order for the assassination/killing of a Supreme Court Judge of the Republic of Indonesia, Syafiuddin Kartasasmita, SH.-Bali Land Scandals:Tommy in the 80s used...
is sentenced to fifteen years jail for illegal possession of arms, contempt of law, and masterminding the assassination of a Supreme Court judge who had convicted him for graft. - 2002, September: House Speaker Akbar Tandjung is sentenced to three years jail for corruption.
- 2002, October 12: Bombs in the KutaKutaKuta is administratively a district and subdistrict/village in southern Bali, Indonesia. A former fishing village, it was one of the first towns on Bali to see substantial tourist development, and as a beach resort remains one of Indonesia's major tourist destinations...
nightclub district in BaliBaliBali is an Indonesian island located in the westernmost end of the Lesser Sunda Islands, lying between Java to the west and Lombok to the east...
kill 202 people the world's deadliest terrorist attack since 11 September 2001. Indonesian police, aided by ten nations, track down Jemaah Islamiyah operatives. - 2002, November: Eurico GuterresEurico GuterresEurico Barros Gomes Guterres Eurico Barros Gomes Guterres Eurico Barros Gomes Guterres (born 1971 is a pro-Indonesian or anti-independence militia terrorist recruited by the Indonesian military. He was involved in several massacres in East Timor, and a chief militia leader during the...
is sentenced to ten years prison for crimes committed following the 1999 ballot in East Timor. - 2002, December: The Indonesian government and GAM sign a peace accord aimed at ending decades of violence in Aceh. The deal breaks down the following year.
- 2003, August: Jemaah Islamiyah bomb Jakarta's Marriott2003 Marriott Hotel bombingThe 2003 Marriott Hotel bombing occurred on 5 August 2003 in Mega Kuningan, South Jakarta, Indonesia. A suicide bomber detonated a car bomb outside the lobby of the JW Marriott Hotel, killing twelve people and injuring 150. All those killed were Indonesian with the exception of one Dutch...
hotel killing twelve. All but one of those killed are Indonesians. - 2004, April: Parliamentary and local elections: Golkar party of former President Suharto wins greatest share of vote, with Megawati Sukarnoputri's PDI-P coming second.
- 2004, October: Indonesia's first direct presidential electionIndonesian presidential election, 2004The first direct presidential election in Indonesia was held in two rounds on 5 July and 20 September 2004. Prior to a 2002 amendment to the Constitution of Indonesia, the President and Vice President was elected by the country's top legislative body, the People's Consultative Assembly.Under the...
elects Bambang Yudhoyono following popular disillusionment with incumbent Megawati. - 2004, 9 September: A bomb blast outside the Australian embassy in Jakarta kills 11 and injures up to 100 people.
- 2004, 26 December: An earthquake-triggered tsunami2004 Indian Ocean earthquakeThe 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake was an undersea megathrust earthquake that occurred at 00:58:53 UTC on Sunday, December 26, 2004, with an epicentre off the west coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. The quake itself is known by the scientific community as the Sumatra-Andaman earthquake...
kills an estimated 160,000 and causes widespread devastation. - 2005, 15 August: Government and Free Aceh MovementFree Aceh MovementThe Free Aceh Movement , also known as the Aceh Sumatra National Liberation Front , was a separatist group seeking independence for the Aceh region of Sumatra from Indonesia. GAM fought against Indonesian government forces in the Aceh Insurgency from 1976 to 2005, costing over 15,000 lives...
separatists sign a peace deal providing for rebel disarmament and the withdrawal of government soldiers from the province. Rebels begin handing in weapons in September; government completes troop pull-out in December. - 2005, 1 October: Bombings in Bali2005 Bali bombingsThe 2005 Bali bombings were a series of terrorist suicide bomb and a series of car bombs and attacks that occurred on October 1, 2005, in Bali, Indonesia. Bombs exploded at two sites in Jimbaran Beach Resort and in Kuta away, both in south Bali. The terrorist attack claimed the lives of 20 people...
kill 20 people. - 2006, May: A powerful earthquakeMay 2006 Java earthquakeThe May 2006 Java earthquake occurred at 05:54 local time on 27 May 2006 , in the Indian Ocean around south-southwest of the Indonesian city of Yogyakarta, near Galur, on the southern side of the island of Java , 10 km below the seabed, with a magnitude of 6.2, according to the U.S....
kills thousands of people in the Yogyakarta region in central Java. - 2007: Adam AirAdam AirAdam Air was a privately owned airline based in West Jakarta, Jakarta, Indonesia. It operated scheduled domestic services to over 20 cities and international services to Penang and Singapore...
Flight 574Adam Air Flight 574Adam Air Flight 574 was a scheduled domestic passenger flight operated by Adam Air between the Indonesian cities of Surabaya and Manado that disappeared near Polewali in Sulawesi on 1 January 2007. The plane, a Boeing 737-4Q8, was ultimately determined to have crashed into the ocean, from...
crashes into the sea off SulawesiSulawesiSulawesi is one of the four larger Sunda Islands of Indonesia and is situated between Borneo and the Maluku Islands. In Indonesia, only Sumatra, Borneo, and Papua are larger in territory, and only Java and Sumatra have larger Indonesian populations.- Etymology :The Portuguese were the first to...
, killing all 102 onboard. - 2008: Suharto dies from multiple organ failure. He is buried in the family Mausoleum near Solo.
- 2008: Jemaah Islamiyah Operatives are executed when found guilty for the 2002 bombings after numerous appeals from their families.
- 2009, 8 July: Incumbent President Susilo Bambang Yudhyono won Indonesian presidential electionIndonesian presidential election, 2009Presidential elections were held in Indonesia on 8 July 2009. The elections returned a president and vice president for the 2009–2014 period. A run-off election was scheduled to be held on 8 September if needed, but President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono won more than 60% of the vote in the first...
. - 2009, 17 July: Jemaah Islamiyah bomb two hotels in Jakarta2009 Jakarta bombingsAt around 7:50 am local time on 17 July 2009, the JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton Hotels in Jakarta, Indonesia, were hit by separate bombings five minutes apart. Three of the seven victims who were killed were Australians, two from The Netherlands, and one each from New Zealand and Indonesia. More...
, including the Marriott that was attacked in 2003. - 2009, 17 September: Noordin Muhammad Top, the head of Jemaah IslamiyahJemaah IslamiyahJemaah Islamiah , is a Southeast Asian militant Islamic organization dedicated to the establishment of a Daulah Islamiyah in Southeast Asia incorporating Indonesia, Malaysia, the southern Philippines, Singapore and Brunei...
, is shot in Solo - 2009, 30 December: Abdurrahman WahidAbdurrahman WahidAbdurrahman Wahid, born Abdurrahman Addakhil , colloquially known as , was an Indonesian Muslim religious and political leader who served as the President of Indonesia from 1999 to 2001...
, the 4th president of Indonesia died because of complications from kidney disorders, heart disease and diabetes.
2010s
- 2010, 25 October - 17 November: Merapi volcanoMount MerapiMount Merapi, Gunung Merapi , is an active stratovolcano located on the border between Central Java and Yogyakarta, Indonesia. It is the most active volcano in Indonesia and has erupted regularly since 1548...
erupted2010 eruptions of Mount MerapiThe 2010 eruptions of Mount Merapi began in late October 2010 when Mount Merapi in Central Java, Indonesia began an increasingly violent series of eruptions that continued into November. Seismic activity around the volcano increased from mid-September onwards, culminating in repeated outbursts lava...
, over 350,000 people were evacuated, 353 people were killed, BorobudurBorobudurBorobudur, or Barabudur, is a 9th-century Mahayana Buddhist monument near Magelang, Central Java, Indonesia. The monument comprises six square platforms topped by three circular platforms, and is decorated with 2,672 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues...
was covered in volcanic ash. - 2011, 7–8 May: Jakarta host 18th ASEAN SummitASEAN SummitThe ASEAN Summit is an annual meeting held by the member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in relation to economic, and cultural development of Southeast Asian countries....
, mark the beginning of Indonesian chairmanship in ASEAN 2011.