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During dutch colonization, Java island was not only famous as one of the island in East India Archipelago which produced spices but also prepared workers who had a good endurance to fulfill the needs of colonial exploitation. This situation lasted since the beginning of VOC until Daendels 'arrival, new Governor General in 1808. As a new holder of the highest power in Java , he had received two basic orders from Napoleon Bonaparte, French Emperor,who controlled Dutch at this moment i.e.to defend Java against the attack of British naval fleet, and to improve Dutch colonial administration in Java.During his governance, Deandels tried to apply well operation's instruction that given by louis Napoleon, Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte's brother who had been installed as King of Holland. In terms of the Rembouillet Treaty in 1810, the Emperor decided to govern himself Holland because it had a geographically strategic position vis-a-vis British naval strengh in defending Europe. The governmental change in Holland brought out many consequences, especially in all Dutch colonies included Java. After receiving instruction from the Minister of Marine and Colony, Dandels stated that Java was a territory under France Emperor's protection. The commander in chief of British admiralty in Port Loui ordered to Lord Minto, British Governor General in Madras, India for preparing a grand design to subdue Java. After Deandels' statement that Java was an inseparable part of French's global influence sphere, British admiralty took an important decision that Java had to be invaded and controlled.So British government in London agreed the admiralty's plan to mobilize all naval strength in South Africa and Ceylon for attack preparation againts to combined French-Dutch army in Java. According the decision, the attack would be launched in August, 1811. This great event changed Java's strategically value from a spice island to be a strategically central point for the European colonial politic constilation. |
