In the end of 1721 when Governor Zwaardercroon ruled Batavia, a group of suspected rebels that was indicted of planning an insurrection against the Dutch government was captured, tortured and sentenced to death. The group leader, Pieter Erbervelt was brutally tortured and cruelly executed.
In the end of 1721 when Governor Zwaardercroon ruled Batavia, a group of suspected rebels that was indicted of planning an insurrection against the Dutch government was captured, tortured and sentenced to death. The group leader, Pieter Erbervelt was brutally tortured and cruelly executed.
Notwithstanding the execution of Pieter Erbervelt and his group, the mystery surrounding the truth of the facts of the case remains. Many historians are still casting doubt of whether it is true that Erverbelt was planning a rebellion, and if not, why is it happen, what is the reason behind his execution? Is it a reflection of the injustice law and society system at the time?
The Chronology
In ‘De Nederlandsch Oostindische Compagnie in de Achtiende eeuw” written by Prof. Dr. E.C. Godee Molsbergen, it was told that the first person who throw the idea of a rebellion was Reykert Heere, a Ducth commissioner for inlander (native Indonesian) business.
In August 1721 there was a huge fire in one open space storage belongs to the Dutch government. This incident caused significant loss to the Dutch. In the end of December in the same year, in the midst of a party thrown by Chinese community, a firework flew and explodes right on the top of Zeelandia fort. The fort was used to store ammunition for the Dutch soldier. No damage occurred. However, it made the Dutcht wonder whether there was any connection between the fire and the firework and whether there was any hidden-bigger-more dangerous scenario behind these incidents.
The idea of a potential uprising come into light when Reykert Heere, declared that he had seen signs of social unrest. People who take part in the uprising were said to have wearing a sort of mascot in their waist, a belt made of brass. The person who sold the mascot is Pieter Erbervelt.
Following an investigation by the Dutch police officer, and information obtained from one of Erbervelt’s slave, Erbervelt and his group was arrested when they were having a meeting one night at Ervervelt’s house. One of the people arrested was Raden Kartadriya, a Javanese noble. Up to 23 people was arrested. Amongst these, the ones receiving the harshest treatment were Erbervelt, Raden Kartadriya and Layeek. Following a series of torment, the three admit to have planned a rebellion against the government.
Based on this confession, Erbervelt, Raden Kartadriya, Layeek and many others, totaling 19 persons was sentenced to death. The execution method was not less cruel that the torture itself. Their body was pulled by horses, and crashed into pieces. The remain of Erbervelt body was scattered in his home garden and his skull was displayed in from of his home which was located in Jacatraweg (now Pangeran Jayakarta street). Along with this skeleton, there was a wall serve as a monument dated 14 April 1722 with Javanese and Dutcht inscription on it, declaring that no one shall ever build a house or plant a tree on that ground.
The place where the skeleton was displayed is known today as Kampung Pecah Kulit
In the end of 1721 when Governor Zwaardercroon ruled Batavia, a group of suspected rebels that was indicted of planning an insurrection against the Dutch government was captured, tortured and sentenced to death. The group leader, Pieter Erbervelt was brutally tortured and cruelly executed.
Notwithstanding the execution of Pieter Erbervelt and his group, the mystery surrounding the truth of the facts of the case remains. Many historians are still casting doubt of whether it is true that Erverbelt was planning a rebellion, and if not, why is it happen, what is the reason behind his execution? Is it a reflection of the injustice law and society system at the time?
The Chronology
In ‘De Nederlandsch Oostindische Compagnie in de Achtiende eeuw” written by Prof. Dr. E.C. Godee Molsbergen, it was told that the first person who throw the idea of a rebellion was Reykert Heere, a Ducth commissioner for inlander (native Indonesian) business.
In August 1721 there was a huge fire in one open space storage belongs to the Dutch government. This incident caused significant loss to the Dutch. In the end of December in the same year, in the midst of a party thrown by Chinese community, a firework flew and explodes right on the top of Zeelandia fort. The fort was used to store ammunition for the Dutch soldier. No damage occurred. However, it made the Dutcht wonder whether there was any connection between the fire and the firework and whether there was any hidden-bigger-more dangerous scenario behind these incidents.
The idea of a potential uprising come into light when Reykert Heere, declared that he had seen signs of social unrest. People who take part in the uprising were said to have wearing a sort of mascot in their waist, a belt made of brass. The person who sold the mascot is Pieter Erbervelt.
Following an investigation by the Dutch police officer, and information obtained from one of Erbervelt’s slave, Erbervelt and his group was arrested when they were having a meeting one night at Ervervelt’s house. One of the people arrested was Raden Kartadriya, a Javanese noble. Up to 23 people was arrested. Amongst these, the ones receiving the harshest treatment were Erbervelt, Raden Kartadriya and Layeek. Following a series of torment, the three admit to have planned a rebellion against the government.
Based on this confession, Erbervelt, Raden Kartadriya, Layeek and many others, totaling 19 persons was sentenced to death. The execution method was not less cruel that the torture itself. Their body was pulled by horses, and crashed into pieces. The remain of Erbervelt body was scattered in his home garden and his skull was displayed in from of his home which was located in Jacatraweg (now Pangeran Jayakarta street). Along with this skeleton, there was a wall serve as a monument dated 14 April 1722 with Javanese and Dutcht inscription on it, declaring that no one shall ever build a house or plant a tree on that ground.
The place where the skeleton was displayed is known today as Kampung Pecah Kulit
Who and Why Peter Erbervelt?
Erbervelt was a son of a German father and a Siamese woman. The Erbervelt family was prosperous and powerful. They owned so many lands in Batavia. Young Erbervelt married a woman of a good family.
One day, there was a dispute between Erbervelt and Heemradeen Board (collage van heemradeen) on land owned by Erbervelt. Erbervelt inherited a piece of land in Pondok Bambu with no certificate. In 1708, collage van heemraden seized the land and the following year Governor Van Hoorn declared the land as the property of the Dutch Govemernt. Eversince the incident, Ebervelt dislike on the government started to grow and he started to make trouble with the government.
It is apparent the Ducth hatred for the Erbervelt family was originating from this case, added to the fact the Erbervelt family is not Dutch.
Doubts Reveals
Later on, many doubts were cast whether Erbervelt was really guilty as charged. No positive evidence was presented during the trial and no defence attorney was even provided. Goode in his article said that all of the information surrounding the plan of the suspected uprising was gained from the captured group member and many of these informations were inconsistence with one another. It is very likely that these are nothing but false confession made under torture.
In his confession, Erbervelt mentioned that he had exchanged letters with the son of Surapati and in these letters which was hidden in Erbervelt house, Everbelt mentioned the involvement of prince from Banten and other princess from various regions including many nobles from Kartasura, Cirebon and others. Investigation was held, and no letters was ever found. Due to lack of evidence, the government finally concluded that the rebellion plan was obscure. The government further instructed that no investigation shall be made on those princess and nobles whose name mentioned in Erbervelt confession.
The funny thing is that event though the government had declared the plan obscure, Erbervelt and others arrested remained executed. The execution was authorized by Raad van Indie.
In addition, there are many peculiarities in the case. The case, due to its nature, should be handle by Raad Van Justitie and not collage van heemraden. The properties of the convicted are seized not only in half but a whole. Following the execution Reykert Heere demand a promotion which was then granted by the Dutch government.
Erbervelt Story Today
The Monumen with Erbervelt skeleton on it was no longer displayed. It was demolished when the Japanese take over Batavia from the Dutch during the Pacific war. The street where the monument was once located is now a busy street. After being demolished by the Japanese, the monument was rebuilt, but in 1985, the monument was again demolished, and this time for good. In the location where once the house of Erbervelt family and the skeleton monument stood, there is now a Toyota dealer’s showroom building.
The interest in the history of Pieter Erbervelt revives when a novel written by ES Ito is published. This partly historical novel, Rahasia Meede (The Secret of Meede) told a story of the search of VOC treasure. In this novel it is said that Erbervelt was holding the secret of the treasure and following his death, the secret was passed on Meede, the daughter of Erbervelt who disappeared after his father’s death.
However interesting the story told in the novel, it is still a ‘novel’, no matter how historical the novel tries to be, the story told cannot be considered as the truth. Dr. F. De Haan in his article which was published in Periangan magazine state that in 1723, a year after the brutal event, Erbervelt’s daughter named Aletta was engage to a man of a good family. In another source, the name of Ervervelt daughter was said to be Suzannah and not Meede. Furthermore today’ Church of Sion in Pangeran Jayakarta street was not a former house or Erbervelt.
Nonetheless, the book written by Ito is fun to read, as it dwelled heavily on historical events and such book can increase the interest of Indonesian citizen, children and adults to learn about the history of their own nation.
The monument of Pieter Erbervelt was now kept in museum Fatahillah and the story lives on. As for the truth of what really happen, no one was ever know. The mystery remains unsolved until today.
From various sources
Picture taken from the other sites
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