Untung Suropati also Untung Surapati (1660 – 5 December 1706) was an Indonesia war fighter who led a few rebellions against the Dutch East India Company (VOC). Some of his exploits were written in Babad Tanah Jawi.
Early life
Surapati was born Surawiraaji, a Balinese. According to Buleleng sources he was the son of the general for kingdom of Swecalinggarsa-pura Gelgel. After some conflict, his father alongside loyal followers sought refuge in Marga Tabanan village. Surapati, at the time four years old, was separated from the entourage when crossing Ayung river. He was bought by VOC Captain van Beber in Bali market. Surapati then lived as a slave in Batavia, the headquarters of the VOC (now Jakarta). He was then sold to other VOC officials, until he was eventually bought by edeleer Moor, which gave him the nickname "Untung" ( lucky) because his career and fortune improved after acquiring him. He began a relationship with Moor's daughter Suzanne and had a son, Robert, Untung was imprisoned because of this. In prison he became acquainted with Wirayuda and Kiai Ebun Jaladirya, who taught him Islam and formulated plan against the Dutch. in 1678, he then managed to flee to the mountainous area in the south of the city, in Udug-udug, Western Java, before moving to Cisero in 1679, and became a brigand. The name "Surapati" was given to him because he was involved in a conflict with a prince from Cirebon called Raden Surapati, in which Untung was accused of undermining the Sultan of Cirebon. Untung was able to prove his innocence, and instead Raden Surapati was shown to have plotted against the Sultan. Raden Surapati was sentenced to death and the Sultan gave the name "Surapati" to Untung, who then began to use the name "Untung Surapati".
Surapati in Banten
The name "Surapati" was listed earlier in Dagh-Register 1676 among Balinese sworn on the Koran an oath of fidelity to the VOC. Other Balinese were Nayawangsa (or Wangsanaya) of Udug-Udug, Cakrayuda of Kamakoening, and Surayuda who alongside Surapati from Cisero. However it is unclear whether this refer to the same Surapati as in 1680, Cakrayuda wrote a letter to VOC that his "brother Surapati" was killed against Bantenese Raiders, in a later letter from Cakrayuda and Nayawangsa this was mentioned again. However, later on Surapati was listed among Balinese that ask for order from Dutch officer Jan Barvelt. In a letter dated 31 March 1683 to Captain Ruijs from Cikalong, 48 Balinese under Wirayuda alongside 27 others in ill health were ready to obey the Company command, Ruijs treated them well and with the promise to not enslave them again in the hope that a certain Surapati would also surrender. As he planned to make a Balinese unit to fight against Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa followers, in the Banten civil war with his son Sultan Haji. On 5 May, Surapati joined with Ruijs and was put as lieutenant of the Balinese. Surapati and the Balinese was involved in the battle of Dayeuhluhur and Pamotan against Sheik Yusuf, (son-in-law of Tirtayasa) forces. Later on Surapati was sent to meet with Pangeran Purbaya (another son of Ageng Tirtayasa) and his wife Raden Ayu Gusik Kusuma alongside fled to Gunung Gede and only want to surrender to native VOC officer. Surapati was tasked to escort and negotiate with Pangeran Purbaya, as he only trust native officers, and managed to deliver Purbaya request of a house in Balabang south-east of Cikalong. However Surapati would later be joined with Vaandrig Willem Kuffeler. Kuffeler demanded that Pangeran Purbaya surrendered his kris and other valuables which then resulted in Pangeran Purbaya fleeing and broke negotiations. Kuffeler then blamed this on Surapati, and ordered him to pursue Pangeran Purbaya, while Surapati refused the order as he was higher rank and only report to Captain Ruijs, hearing this Kuffeler threatened to put Surapati and his followers back into slavery, and in the following altercations slap Surapati's faces. Seeing these there were great turbulence among Surapati followers refusing to follow orders and wanting to take revenge.