MAY 15 - Kapitan Pattimura leads a rebellion

On this day in 1817, Thomas Matulessy, better known as Kapitan Pattimura or simply Pattimura led an armed rebellion against the the Dutch colonials in the Dutch East Indies, modern day Indonesia. Pattimura was born on the island of Saparua on 8 June 1783 and joined the British Army after they took the Maluku islands from the Dutch Colonials. When the islands were returned to the Dutch in 1816 he was dismissed from the army. Fearing that the Dutch would implement laws that would limit his people, Pattimura led an armed rebellion in 1817, known now as the Ambon Revolt of 1817 or the Ambonese Uprising. He was appointed as Kapitan by the people of Saparua to lead the rebellion against the Dutch on 14 May and the assault began the next day. On 16 May, Pattimura and his lieutenants seized Fort Duurstede, killing 19 Dutch soldiers, resident Johannes Rudolph van den Berg and his family. The only Dutch survivor was Van den Berg’s 5-year-old son. After taking the fort, Pattimura and his forced held off Dutch reinforcements including Major Beetjes and his 200+ troops on 20 May. 9 days later, Pattimura and the other leader made the Haria Proclamation, which outline their grievances against the Dutch government and declared Pattimura to be the leader of the Maluku people. On 1 June, Pattimura led unsuccessful attack on Fort Zeelandia in Haruku and 2 months later in on 3 August, Fort Duurstede was taken by the Dutch. Despite retaking Fort Duurstede it would take another few months to complete subdue the revolt. Due to a betrayal from Booi’s king, Pattimura was arrested on 11 November 1817. On 16 December Pattimura, together with his lieutenants Anthony Reebook, Said Perintah, and Philip Latumahina, was hanged in front of Fort Nieuw Victoria in Ambon. Pattimura and his rebellion continued to live as symbols of both Maluku independence and Indonesian patriotism. Pattimura was awarded the title of National Hero of Indonesia by Indonesian President Suharto in 1973. 15 May is celebrated as Pattimura Day and he is featured on the 2000 series of the 1,000 rupiah note.