What
do you think about Java? Batik, Sociability or
colonialized people? They must be related to this place. Java is always
well-known as one of origin Indonesian cultures. Javanese culture is now more
recognized by world. Javanese culture has gotten place as a part of world’s
cultural wealth.
Although Java was colonialized by
Dutch for 3,5 centuries and Japanese 3,5 years. There is Mangkunegara Legion (Legiun Mangkunegara) which was developed
by Mangkunegara Kingdom in Surakarta city, Central Java, Indonesia. The legion
was established by the King Mangkunegara II. Mangkunegara Legion was inspired
by Napoleon’s Grande Armee. Napoleon
admitted the legion from its tactics and contribution. The legion had supported
many battle fields such as Napoleon’s War in Asia as a part of French-Dutch
army fought Britain-Sepoy in India
(1811), Army operation in East Indies and Pacific War (1942). Napoleon had sent
many letters and visitations. One of Napoleon’s gifts can be watched in Radya
Pustaka Museum.
Picture
1.1 Mangkunegara Legion
The French inspirations are proved
in the architecture of Kavallerie
Artillerie (the legion’s headquarter) and the legion’s divisions. In 1808
when the legion was leaded by Ario Praboe Prang Wedana as the colonel of
official duty with Lodewijk Napoleon (Bonaparte’s relative), Mangkunegara
Legion had 1.150 troops which were divided into 800 infantries (Fusilier), 100 invaders (Jagers), 200 cavalries and 50
artilleries.
Picture
1.2 Kavallerie Artillerie Building
The legion is known as the first
army in Indonesia. The costumes were also influenced from French with Javanese
symbols. They wore black coat, white trousers and military hat. They combined
with blangkon (Javanese hat).
Those collaborations between French
and Javanese were the efforts which were made by Mangkunegara in order to
introduce the kingdom and to appreciate western military development without
forgetting Javanese elements as their identity.
After Japanese involvement in
Indonesia, the legion was closed. The legion’s members and their offspring have
contributed themselves in Indonesian National Army (Tentara Nasional Indonesia).
Kavallerie Artillerie as the
historical building owned by Mangkunegara legion still stands in front of
Mangkunegara Palace which faces to the palace’s field.
The photos are taken from Angelina Kusuma's blog and Kompasiana Sejarah
See also: The writer's page on Kompasiana
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