The Banjarmasin War (in old spelling Bandjermasin War, Dutch: Bandjermasinse Oorlog, or formally Expeditie naar de Zuider- en Oosterafdeling van Borneo) (1859–1863) was a war of succession in the Sultanate of Banjarmasin, as well as a colonial war for the restoration of Dutch authority in the eastern and southern section of Borneo.
Background
17th century
Since 1606 the East United India Company maintained contacts with the island of Borneo. In 1635 the first contract was signed with the Sultanate of Banjarmasin for the provision of pepper - at the time, a luxury product in Europe and a major reason for the Dutch interest in this region.
In following decades there were several skirmishes and armed clashes, especially related to such pepper contracts being unfulfilled. One of the most serious was the 1638 killing of 64 Dutch and 21 of their Japanese partners, at Kota Waring in Bandjermasin.
Early 19th century
In 1809 Herman Willem Daendels, then governor of the Dutch East Indies, decided to abandon Bandjermasin, as maintaining a presence there was considered uneconomical. However, in 1811 the British, who took over the islands in the context of the Napoleonic wars, established a presence there, notably in Alexander Hare who established an independent state of Maluka on the S.Maluka river which runs into the Java Sea not far S.E. of the Barito.
In December 1816, British authority returned to the Dutch, who signed a new contract with the Sultan. Though he continued to reign, in January 1817 the Sultan's flag was replaced by the Dutch one. Effective power in the Sultanate was increasingly taken up by the Dutch Resident.
Following years were marked by multiple small revolts, and by further unequal contracts being signed.
Succession crisis
In 1852 the Sultan's heir-apparent died, and the Dutch replaced him by the illegitimate grandson Tamjied Illah.
In vain, Sultan Adam and many nobles in 1853 sent an emissary to Batavia, pointing out iniquities perpetrated by the Dutch-designated heir and appealing for the Dutch to recognise instead Hidayat, a younger but legitimate son. In his testament, probably written in late 1853 or early 1855, Sultan Adam appointed Hidayat as his successor, and that anyone who failed to respect his wished was to be put to death. The Dutch Indies Government continued to reject Hidayat's nomination, however, offering him the position of governor instead. In this impasse, a brother of the deceased heir-apparent, Prabu Anom, proclaimed himself the new sultan in Martapura in 1855, asserting that he was now a better candidate than the other two. The Government responded by sending a warship to Martapura in 1856, demanding Adam in a letter to respect the contract, the choice of governor, providing Tamjid with an act of recognition as successor, and imprisoning his rival Prabu Anom. Under this pressure, Adam agreed to name Tamjid his successor and support Hidayat's nomination for the governorship.
Sultan Adam died in November 1857 and was succeeded by Tamjid, formally installed by the Dutch resident van Bentheim in Martapura without incident. However, when he tried to hold a meeting with (the earlier released) Prabu Anom, he escaped. Van Bentheim ordered Hidayat to extradite Prabu Anom within 8 days, and after some hesitation, Hidayat complied when he was given assurances his uncle would retain his freedom. Nevertheless, the Government broke its promise, arrested and banished Prabu Anom to Java. In protest, Hidayat asked to resign as governor, but was refused. During the year 1858, Tamjid and Hidayat appear to have cooperated in their opposition to the Dutch Indies Government, but due to mutual mistrust, their collaboration was ineffective.
War
A struggle for power ensued between Tamjid and Hidayat, which divided the population. In early 1859, a revolt broke out east of Martapura, and Hidayat was sent to quell it. He acquired a document, signed and sealed by Tamjid, which urged the rebels to 'wreak mischief in a manner that people will think it was caused by the governor.' Hidayat was furious at Tamjid, resigned as governor and retired from politics. Tamjid then informed him he and his supporters would be punished for insubordination by troops and steamships provided by the Dutch. Colonel Augustus Johannes Andresen landed his forces on Borneo at the end of April 1859, and on 29 April 1859 assumed military command at Bandjermasin. On 1 May he suspended the Resident and himself took up civil administration as well.