Padri
Padri
Padri
Padri War
Padri War
Part of Dutch Colonial campaigns
Date 1803–1837
Location West Sumatra, North Sumatra, and Riau
Result 1st Padri War (1803–25):
Padri victory
Treaty of Masang
Belligerents
Pagaruyung Pagaruyung
Adat (1803-33) Padri (Ulama of
Netherlands Minangkabau)
Dutch East Indies Adat (1833-
37)
Commanders and leaders
Sultan Arifin Muningsyah Tuanku Imam Bonjol
Sultan Tangkal Alam Tuanku Rao †
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Padri_War 1/10
11/28/24, 4:59 PM Padri War - Wikipedia
The Padri War (also called the Minangkabau War) was fought from 1803 until 1837 in West
Sumatra, Indonesia between the Padri and the Adat. The Padri were Muslim clerics from Sumatra
who wanted to impose Sharia in Minangkabau in West Sumatra, Indonesia. The Adat comprised
the Minangkabau nobility and traditional chiefs. They asked for the help of the Dutch, who
intervened in 1821 and helped the nobility defeat the Padri faction.
Background
It can be considered that the Padri War began in 1803, before Dutch intervention, and was a
conflict that had broken out in Minangkabau country when the Padri started to suppress what they
saw as unIslamic customs, i.e. the adat. But after the occupation of the Pagaruyung Kingdom by
Tuanku Pasaman, one of the Padri leaders in 1815, on 21 February 1821, the Minangkabau nobility
made a deal with the Dutch in Padang to help them fight the Padri.[1]
Adat, as customary law is called in Indonesia, includes indigenous, pre-Islamic religious practices
and social traditions in local customs. The Padri, like contemporaneous jihadists in the Sokoto
Caliphate of West Africa, were Islamist purists who had made the hajj to Mecca and returned[2]
inspired to bring the Qur'an and shariah to a position of greater influence in Sumatra. The Padri
movement had formed during the early 19th century and sought to purge the culture of traditions
and beliefs its partisans viewed as un-Islamic.
In the 1820s, the Dutch had yet to consolidate their possessions in some parts of the Dutch East
Indies (later Indonesia) after re-acquiring it from the British. This was especially true on the island
of Sumatra, where some areas would not come under Dutch rule until the 20th century.
Padri
From c.1692, Islam was propagated to the Minangkabau areas of West Sumatra by Sheikh
Burhanuddin Ulakan in the Shattari school of Sufism. In 1784, the Sufi ulama called Tuanku Nan
Tuo was appointed as the religious head of the Koto Tuo region. He appointed a large number of
his students to head various surau surrounding the region. A great number of his students were
Hajj returnees and were influenced by the ideals of the Wahabi movement. They called themselves
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Padri_War 2/10
11/28/24, 4:59 PM Padri War - Wikipedia
Padri.[3]The Padri movement is considered one of the major precursors of the Salafiyya
movement of the 19th century; and influenced the Salafi reformist Muhammadiyyah movement of
South East Asia.[4]
The Padri had their extremist version of Sharia law which they would implement through violent
upheaval to replace the existing Adat. Historical accounts of the Padri War reveal several different
ideologies. The most influential were by Tuanku Nan Tuo, Tuan Ku Nan Renceh, and Imam Bonjol.
Tuanku Nan Tuo was a Shattari Sufi leader and reformist, not a Padri. He would convince villagers
to rid their society of vices like cock-fighting, gambling, and opium. His methods would be through
discussion, education, and also public protest. All the Padri leaders were once his students and he
continuously disagreed with their extremist fanaticism and militant violence. In revenge for this
insolence, the Padri attacked and burnt down numerous villages which were Shattari centers;
instigated mass murder of the ulama and rang cerdek (intelligentsia) as well as rape and plunder.
The Padri waged war against Nan Tuo's village of Koto Tuo from 1815. Nan Tuo's sons died in
battle. Koto Tuo held on until the Dutch arrived in 1821.[3]
Tuanku Nan Renceh was an extremist Wahabbi puritan. Nan Renceh with Tuan Ku Lintau and
Tuan Ku Pasaman were at war with the Adat and would forbid cock-fighting, gambling, and sireh;
and forced women to cover up. Any that disagreed with their interpretation of Islam were
punishable by death. They grew wealthy by enslaving the population to grow coffee and other
agriculture. While forcing residents to wear white and grow beards, they would wear red.[3]
Imam Bonjol was a mystic, strategist, and visionary. Imam Bonjol with Tuan Ku Rao and Tuan Ku
Tambusai were based in the northern areas where the Padri War evolved differently. Many in the
north were early Padri sympathisers. While they were as militant and extremist as Nan Renceh
initially, their roles were quite different. While Nan Renceh was punishing the Adat population,
Imam Bonjol and Rao were developing trading routes and fortresses against the Dutch. He also
enslaved the Batak people. In January 1824, he signed a peace treaty with the Dutch but a new
commander arrived and dishonoured it. In 1831, Imam Bonjol attacked a Dutch garrison killing off
2 thirds of the soldiers. Later, as Imam Bonjol met numerous Hajj returnees who contested the
Padri and Wahabbi extremism, he began to have misgivings, doubts, and regrets. By September
1832, Imam Bonjol was disillusioned and, perhaps seeking repentance, he walked out of his village
fort and left the Padri.[3]
Beginning 1803-1821
Upon the return of three alim ulama from Mecca around 1803, namely Haji Miskin, Haji Sumanik
and Haji Piobang, they expressed their wish to perfecting the application of Islamic law in
Minangkabau society.[5] Knowing this, Tuanku Nan Renceh was very interested and supported the
wishes of the three scholars. Together with other scholars, these eight figures are known as
Harimau Nan Salapan (Tigers of Eight).[6]
Harimau Nan Salapan then asked Tuanku Lintau who has closeness and kinship with Yang
Dipertuan Pagaruyung Sultan Arifin Muningsyah to invite the Indigenous People to abandon
several habits that are contrary to the teachings Islam. In several negotiations there was no
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Padri_War 3/10
11/28/24, 4:59 PM Padri War - Wikipedia
agreement between the Padri and the Indigenous People. This conflict led to turmoil among
several nagari in the Pagaruyung Kingdom, until in 1815, the Padri under the leadership of Tuanku
Lintau attacked the Pagaruyung Kingdom and war broke out in Koto Tangah. This attack caused
Sultan Arifin Muningsyah to be forced to step aside and flee the royal capital.[7] Notes of Thomas
Stamford Raffles who visited Pagaruyung in 1818, stated that he only found the remains of
Pagaruyung Royal Palace which was burned down.[8] As part of the Dutch aid agreement, the
Indigenous People surrendered the areas of Simawang and Sulit Air, by order of resident James du
Puy in Padang.[9] Then on 8 December 1821 additional troops arrived led by Lieutenant Colonel
Raaff to strengthen the position in the area that had been controlled.
Treaty of Masang
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Padri_War 4/10
11/28/24, 4:59 PM Padri War - Wikipedia
Dutch involvement in the war came about because it was "in ited" by the Adat faction, and in April
1821, Dutch troops attacked Simawang and Sulit Air under captains Goffinet and Dienema on the
orders of James du Puy, the Dutch Resident in Padang. Between 1821 and 1824, skirmishes broke
out throughout the region, ended only by the Treaty of Masang. The war cooled down during the
next six years, as the Dutch faced larger-scale uprisings in Java.[14]
Furthermore, to weaken the opposing forces, the Dutch violated the ceasefire agreement by
attacking the nagari Pandai Sikek which was one of the areas capable of producing gunpowder and
firearms. Then to strengthen its position, the Dutch built a fort in Bukittinggi which was known as
Fort de Kock. At the beginning of August 1831, Lintau was successfully conquered and put Luhak
Tanah Datar under Dutch control. However, Tuanku Lintau still continued to fight from the Luhak
Limo Puluah area.
In July 1832, from Batavia a large infantry force was sent under the leadership of Lieutenant
Colonel Ferdinand P. Vermeulen Krieger, to speed up the completion of the war. In October 1832,
Luhak Limo Puluah was under Dutch rule at the same time as Tuanku Lintau died.[15] Then The
Padri continued to consolidate and entrench themselves in Kamang, but the entire strength of the
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Padri_War 5/10
11/28/24, 4:59 PM Padri War - Wikipedia
Padri in Luhak Agam also was conquered by the Dutch after the fall of
Kamang Magek, Agam Kamang at the end of 1832, so that the Padri
were again forced to withdraw from Luak Luhak area and defend
themselves in Bonjol.
Fort Bonjol
Fort Bonjol is located on a hill which is almost straight up,
known as Bukit Tajadi. Not so far from this fort flows Batang
Alahan Panjang, a river in the middle of the valley with a fast
flow, winding from north to south. This fort is shaped like a
long rectangle, surrounded on three sides by two layers of
defensive walls approximately 3 meters high. Between the two
layers of wall a deep trench was made with a width of 4 meters. Painting of Bonjol in 1839.
The outer wall consists of large stones with almost the same
construction technique as fortresses in Europe and on top of it
is planted bamboo with long thorns which are planted very close together so that the Padri can
observed and even fired cannons at the Dutch troops. The very dense bushes and forests around
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Padri_War 7/10
11/28/24, 4:59 PM Padri War - Wikipedia
Bonjol made it difficult for the Dutch troops to see the Padri strongholds. This situation was put to
good use by the Padri to build a strategic stronghold, as well as being the main headquarters of
Tuanku Imam Bonjol.
The Dutch troops were unable to overcome this resistance. However, after assistance arrived from
Madura soldiers who served in the Dutch troops, this resistance was overcome.
Almost a year after besieging Bonjol, on 3 December 1836, Dutch troops again carried out a large-
scale attack on Fort Bonjol, as a final attempt to conquer Bonjol. This powerful attack was able to
breach part of Fort Bonjol, so that Dutch troops could invade and succeed in killing several families
of Tuanku Imam Bonjol. However, with tenacity and high fighting spirit, the Padri again managed
to ravage the enemy so that the Dutch were expelled and forced to leave the fort again, leaving
behind many casualties on each side. The failure of this conquest really hit the policy of the
Governor General of the Dutch East Indies in Batavia which at that time had been held by
Dominique Jacques de Eerens, then at the beginning of 1837 he sent a warlord named Major
General Cochius to directly lead a massive attack on Fort Bonjol for the umpteenth time.[23]
Cochius was a high-ranking Dutch officer who had expertise in the war strategy of Fort Stelsel.
Next, the Dutch intensively surrounded Bonjol from all directions for about six months (16 March–
17 August 1837)[24] led by a general and several officers. This joint army mostly consisted of
various tribes, such as Java, Madura, Bugis and Ambon. There were 148 officers European, 36
officers indigenous, 1,103 soldiers European, 4,130 soldiers indigenous, including Sumenapsche
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Padri_War 8/10
11/28/24, 4:59 PM Padri War - Wikipedia
Impact
With the victory, the Dutch tightened their hold on West Sumatra. Yet, the traditional and religious
leaders increasingly reconciled their visions after the war. This helped promulgating the new view
of "adat basandi syara', syara' basandi Kitabullah" ("tradition founded upon Islamic law, Islamic
law founded upon the Qur'an").
See also
Ruit van Bonjol
Tuanku Imam Bonjol, leader in the Padri movement
Notes
1. Sjafnir Aboe Nain, 2004, Memorie Tuanku Imam Bonjol (MTIB), transl., Padang: PPIM.
2. The port where they embarked and disembarked, Pedir, Sumatra, gave them their name.
3. Dobbin, Christine (1983). Islamic Revivalism in a Changing Peasant Economy : Central
Sumatra, 1784-1847 (https://archive.org/details/islamicrevivalism/page/n145/mode/2up).
Scandinavian Institute of Asian Studies : Monograph Series. Vol. 47. Wellingborough,
Northamptonshire, UK: Curzon Press. pp. 117–192. ISBN 0700701559.
4. Bennett, Clinton (2013). The Bloomsbury Companion to Islamic Studies. London, UK:
Bloomsbury. p. 180. ISBN 978-1-4411-2788-4.
5. Azra, Azyumardi (2004). The Origins of Islamic Reformism in Southeast Asia: Networks of
Malay-Indonesian and Middle Eastern 'Ulama' in the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries.
University of Hawaii Press. ISBN 0-8248-2848-8.
6. Ampera Salim, Zulkifli (2005). Minangkabau in Scattered Historical Records. Indonesian
Cultural Image. ISBN 979-3458-03-8.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Padri_War 9/10
11/28/24, 4:59 PM Padri War - Wikipedia
7. Nain, Sjafnir Aboe (2004). Memorie Tuanku Imam Bonjol. Padang: PPIM.
8. Raffles, Sophia (1830). Memoir of the Life and Public Service of Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles.
London: J. Murray
9. Episoden Uit Geschiedenis der Nederlandsche Krigsverrigtingen op Sumatra's Westkus.
Indisch Magazijn 12/1, No. 7. 1844:116.
10. H. M. Lange (1852). Het Nederlandsch Oost-Indisch leger ter Westkust van Sumatra (1819-
1845). ‘S Hertogenbosch: Gebroeder Muller. I: 20-1
11. "Sejarah Perang Padri: Tokoh, Penyebab, Kronologi, dan Dampak" (https://regional.kompas.co
m/read/2022/07/20/183104878/sejarah-perang-padri-tokoh-penyebab-kronologi-dan-dampak?
page=all). Kompas - jernih melihat dunia (in Indonesian). 20 June 2022. Retrieved 25 April
2024.
12. "Sejarah Perang Padri: Tokoh, Penyebab, Kronologi, dan Dampak" (https://regional.kompas.co
m/read/2022/07/20/183104878/sejarah-perang-padri-tokoh-penyebab-kronologi-dan-dampak?
page=all). Kompas - Jernih melihat dunia (in Indonesian). 20 June 2022. Retrieved 25 April
2024.
13. "PERANG PADRI SEBAGAI REVOLUSI RAKYAT MINANG KABAU DALAM MEMELUK
AGAMA ISLAM" (https://www.agamkab.go.id/Agamkab/detailkarya/667/perang-padri-sebagai-r
evolusi-rakyat-minang-kabau--dalam-memeluk-agama-islam.html). Pemerintah Kabupaten
Agam (in Indonesian). 22 June 2023. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
14. G. Kepper, 1900, Wapenfeiten van het Nederlands Indische Leger; 1816-1900, M.M. Cuvee,
Den Haag.
15. Zakariya, Hafiz (2006). Islamic reform in colonial Malaya: Shaykh Tahir Jalaluddin and Sayyid
Shaykh al-Hadi. ProQuest. ISBN 0-542-86357-X.
16. Abdullah, Taufik (1966). Tradition and Islam: an Examination of Conflict in Minangkabau.
Indonesia. No. 2, 1-24.
17. Nederlandse Staatscourant (29-05-1833).
18. Amran, Rusli (1981). Sumatera Barat hingga Plakat Panjang. Penerbit Sinar Harapan.
19. Nederlandse Staatscourant (17 -06-1833).
20. Said, Mohammad (1961). From the detached pages in the notes about the character
Singamangaradja XII. Alert.
21. Indonesian Army Military History Center (1964). A Brief History of the Armed Struggle of the
Indonesian Nation. Armed Forces Staff.
22. Journaal van de Expeditie Naar Padang Onder de Generaal-Majoor Cochius in 1837
Gehouden Door de Majoor Sous-Chief van Den Generaal-Staf Jonkher C.P.A. de Salis. p. 59-
183.
23. Tate, D. J. M. (1971). The Making of Modern South-East Asia: The European conquest. Oxford
University Press.
24. G. Teitler (2004). Het Einde Padri Oorlog: Het Beleg en de Vermeestering van Bondjol 1834-
1837: Een Bronnenpublicatie. Amsterdam: De Bataafsche Leeuw. p. 59-183.
Further reading
Dobbin, Christine (1983). Islamic Revivalism in a Changing Peasant Economy: Central
Sumatra, 1784-1847. Curzon Press. ISBN 0-7007-0155-9.
Ricklefs, M. C. (1993) A History of Modern Indonesia since c. 1300. 2d ed. (London:
Macmillan), 1993.
Tarling, Nicholas, (ed.) The Cambridge History of Southeast Asia,, vol. II " The Nineteenth and
Twentieth Centuries" (Cambridge University Press) 1992.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Padri_War 10/10