# Java War begins in Yogyakarta (20 July 1825)

URL: https://allhistories.com/indonesia/timeline/1825-java-war-begins-in-yogyakarta
Location: Tegalrejo, Yogyakarta
Themes: Anti-colonial resistance, Javanese courts

On 20 July 1825 a detachment of Dutch and Yogyakartan troops tried to arrest Prince Diponegoro at his estate in Tegalrejo. After a skirmish he withdrew to the Selarong cave and on 21 July declared a holy war. Rebels besieged Yogyakarta that year, but a Dutch relief force under General de Kock lifted the siege. The spark was a road dispute near the prince's land, but the grievances were broader: Dutch leasing of royal land without consulting him as the sultan's guardian, heavy taxes and land rent, humiliation by the resident and millenarian expectations of a just king. Diponegoro was a respected religious figure and drew many peasants and local religious teachers to his side. The war lasted until 1830 and caused at least 200,000 Javanese deaths, mostly from disease and starvation, and about 15,000 deaths among Dutch and allied troops, most European deaths coming from disease. It cost 20 to 25 million guilders and stripped the princely states of most of their territory and power. The war ended significant armed Javanese resistance. At this point in the timeline (1825), the Dutch East Indies were governed from Batavia by Governor-General Godert van der Capellen (19 August 1816 – 1826). Other contemporary rulers included Pakubuwono VI, susuhunan of Surakarta (15 September 1823 – 28 March 1830), Hamengkubuwono V, sultan of Yogyakarta (1823 – 1855) and Pakualam I, prince of Pakualaman (1813 – 1829).

## Why it matters
One of the costliest wars of the colonial era, it broke the Javanese courts' power, bankrupted the colonial treasury and led directly to the Cultivation System.

Ruler at the Time: [Godert van der Capellen](https://allhistories.com/indonesia/rulers/godert-van-der-capellen)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia — Java War](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Java_War)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica — Java War](https://www.britannica.com/event/Java-War)
- [Wikipedia — Diponegoro](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diponegoro)