Dutch invasion of Bali (1908)

Virgo Akung with her family in 1908.

The Dutch invasion of Bali (1908) is the final stage in establishing full Dutch colonial control over the island of Bali (in what is now Indonesia ). It was the seventh and last Dutch military expedition to Bali after the previous invasion .

The invasion was caused by the Balinese rebellion against the Dutch attempt to take control of the opium trade under their full control ^[1] . The Raja of Karangasem was against the Dutch monopoly, which led to riots throughout Klungkung - the last independent kingdom of Bali ^[2] . Riots also broke out in the vassal kingdom of Gelgel, where the Balinese killed an opium dealer from Java. ^[2]

The Dutch sent their troops to suppress the riots. In Gelgel they killed about 100 people, forcing the rajah to flee to Klungkung ^[2] . The Dutch then proceeded to bombard the capital of Klungkung.

In the last battle of April 18, 1908, Deva Akung Jamba, the ruler of Klungkung, accompanied by 200 soldiers, made a desperate trip from the besieged palace. All the soldiers were dressed in white robes worn by the Balinese before their death, and armed with sacred daggers, the Chris , which they thought they could kill the Dutch ^[1] . Chris did not fulfill their role, and the king with his squad was shot by Dutch soldiers ^[2] . Immediately six wives of the king resorted to the rite of "nauputan" - ceremonial suicide with the help of their own crises, and many other Balinese followed suit ^[2] .

The Dutch burned and destroyed the royal palace. As soon as Klungkung came under the rule of the Dutch, Raja Bangil, one of the vassal kingdoms, entered into negotiations with the Dutch and in October 1908 accepted the Dutch protectorate, as did the rulers of Guignard and Karangasem ^[1] . This meant establishing full Dutch control over Bali. ^{[2] [1]}