Banten Sultanate - Who Knew?

Having eaten the cuisine of northern Europe and now living in Indonesia and enjoying the amazing spices and diverse foods, I understand why there was such as thing as the spice trade and why people went to war over controlling it. Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Cumin, (and probably MSG!) all originated in Indonesia. Seth, Ian and I (with the Cub Scouts) recently explored the ruins of the capital of the Banten Sultanate, (1550 AD to 1813 AD) about 1.5 hours west of Jakarta.

The hike began at the Sultan's Swimming area, where hundreds of years ago a natural spring of clear water flowed to the surface. The island at the center of this lake has a swimming pool.

The Sultan built an underground pipeline to care the spring water to his place a few kilometers away. We followed the path through modern day rice fields:

Seth hiking along the levees between the rice fields

Along the path, we came upon the ruins of 3 settling stations that helped purify the water as it flowed to the palace.

At the end of the pipeline the water entered the palace through golden fountains (according to our guide) into the bathing areas.

The palace is surrounded by a large wall

Ian (top) and Seth (Left) scaled the wall of the palace.

The palace complex (like me) must have been amazing in its prime.

Main swimming pool of the palace

Ian (left) in another swimming area

Seth, standing where the Sultan would address his people.

But like so many times in history, if someone is making money, someone else is going to try to take it. Beginning in the early 1600's, the Dutch East India Trading Company slowing edged themselves into the spice market, competing from a nearby small town that today is known as Jakarta. The Dutch conducted a 30 year blockade of the Sultan's port, and thereby destroying his power. The Sultan was forced to sign a treaty in which he would pay the Dutch a tribute. The Dutch in return, destroyed the Sultan's place (early 1800s) and built a large fort very near by.

The walls of the Dutch Fort

Inside the massive Dutch Fort

Seth in the prison at the Dutch Fort

Between the Sultan's palace and the Dutch fort, stands The Great Mosque of Banten (~1566 AD) where worshipers still offer flowers and incense offerings to the dead Sultans (A Hindu Tradition)

I enjoyed every history class I have ever taken, but I am realizing that so much of it I never really understood, until I have walked where it actually happened.

This is a nice day trip outside of Jakarta.