Andreas Victor Michiels
Encyclopedia
Andreas Victor Michiels (Maastricht
, Netherlands, May 30, 1797 - Kusamba, Bali
May 25, 1849) was a military and administrative officer in the Dutch East Indies
.
, and in 1817 went to the island of Java, where he was directly involved in the conflict in Cirebon
. On August 29, 1818 he was promoted to captain.
He fought in the Java War
as a colonel commandant. On 22 November 1828, King William I
appointed Michiels a knight and officer in the Military William Order, one year before he was appointed as a major. In the years 1831 and 1832, he participated in the conquest of Narras and Kottiangan, in 1832, he led an expedition against the Sultanate of Jambi; the month of May in that year he was appointed lieutenant-colonel and in November he was awarded a knighthood in the Order of the Netherlands Lion. He led the raid on Bonjol and under his leadership he was able to take it.
For his success, he was promoted to colonel on October 3, 1837. Under his leadership, in 1838 he conquered Kuta, and in 1840 overpowered Barus, Tapoes and Singkil, in 1841 he suppressed a rebellion in Batipo and in 1844 and 1845, a general attack was launched. Michiels also received the honor of the Dutch people for the achievement. In 1841, he was appointed as an aide in the special service of kings and commanders of the Military William Order. In 1843, Michiels obtained the rank of major general.
As governor of the West Coast of Sumatra, in 1843, Michiels had a serious clash with Eduard Douwes Dekker, who was then serving as controller at Natal (now in Mandailing Natal Regency
, North Sumatra
) because of a cash budget deficit. Dekker was suspended from office, and moved to Padang without earning anything. Dekker included a character General Van Damme in his novel Max Havelaar
based upon Michiels.
, Jakarta
, Indonesia
.
Maastricht
Maastricht is situated on both sides of the Meuse river in the south-eastern part of the Netherlands, on the Belgian border and near the German border...
, Netherlands, May 30, 1797 - Kusamba, Bali
Bali
Bali is an Indonesian island located in the westernmost end of the Lesser Sunda Islands, lying between Java to the west and Lombok to the east...
May 25, 1849) was a military and administrative officer in the Dutch East Indies
Dutch East Indies
The Dutch East Indies was a Dutch colony that became modern Indonesia following World War II. It was formed from the nationalised colonies of the Dutch East India Company, which came under the administration of the Netherlands government in 1800....
.
Early life and military career
Michiels entered military service at age 17 years, participated in the Battle of WaterlooBattle of Waterloo
The Battle of Waterloo was fought on Sunday 18 June 1815 near Waterloo in present-day Belgium, then part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands...
, and in 1817 went to the island of Java, where he was directly involved in the conflict in Cirebon
Cirebon
Cirebon is a port city on the north coast of the Indonesian island of Java. It is located in the province of West Java near the provincial border with Central Java, approximately 297 km east of Jakarta, at .The seat of a former Sultanate, the city's West and Central Java border location have...
. On August 29, 1818 he was promoted to captain.
He fought in the Java War
Java War
The Java War or Diponegoro War was fought in Java between 1825 and 1830. It started as a rebellion led by Prince Diponegoro. The proximate cause was the Dutch decision to build a road across a piece of his property that contained his parents' tomb...
as a colonel commandant. On 22 November 1828, King William I
William I of the Netherlands
William I Frederick, born Willem Frederik Prins van Oranje-Nassau , was a Prince of Orange and the first King of the Netherlands and Grand Duke of Luxembourg....
appointed Michiels a knight and officer in the Military William Order, one year before he was appointed as a major. In the years 1831 and 1832, he participated in the conquest of Narras and Kottiangan, in 1832, he led an expedition against the Sultanate of Jambi; the month of May in that year he was appointed lieutenant-colonel and in November he was awarded a knighthood in the Order of the Netherlands Lion. He led the raid on Bonjol and under his leadership he was able to take it.
For his success, he was promoted to colonel on October 3, 1837. Under his leadership, in 1838 he conquered Kuta, and in 1840 overpowered Barus, Tapoes and Singkil, in 1841 he suppressed a rebellion in Batipo and in 1844 and 1845, a general attack was launched. Michiels also received the honor of the Dutch people for the achievement. In 1841, he was appointed as an aide in the special service of kings and commanders of the Military William Order. In 1843, Michiels obtained the rank of major general.
Governor of West Coast of Sumatra
On 20 November 1837, Michiels was appointed governor of the West Coast of Sumatra. He supported the traditional leaders and with their assistance, the Dutch government was established in the Minangkabau highlands. His policy was rather rough and was criticized by Ferdinand Vermeulen Krieger and Wolter Robert van Hoëvell.As governor of the West Coast of Sumatra, in 1843, Michiels had a serious clash with Eduard Douwes Dekker, who was then serving as controller at Natal (now in Mandailing Natal Regency
Mandailing Natal Regency
Mandailing Natal Regency, also known as Madina is a regency in North Sumatra , Indonesia . In 2000, the regency covered an area of 6134 square kilometres and according to the 2000 census had a population of 355,285 people.The capital lies at Panyabungan....
, North Sumatra
North Sumatra
North Sumatra is a province of Indonesia on the Sumatra island. Its capital is Medan. It is the most populous Indonesian province outside of Java. It is slightly larger than Sri Lanka in area.- Geography and population :...
) because of a cash budget deficit. Dekker was suspended from office, and moved to Padang without earning anything. Dekker included a character General Van Damme in his novel Max Havelaar
Max Havelaar
Max Havelaar: Or the Coffee Auctions of the Dutch Trading Company is a culturally and socially significant 1860 novel by Multatuli which was to play a key role in shaping and modifying Dutch colonial policy in the Dutch East Indies in the nineteenth and early twentieth century...
based upon Michiels.
End of life
On February 19, 1849, Michiels was appointed temporary commander Royal Dutch East Indies Army and leader of government affairs and chairman of Bali for the 3rd expedition against a number of kingdoms in Bali. He was succeeded as governor by Jan van Swieten. After victories in a number of skirmishes, Michiels was killed in a night attack. His tombstone is now in a cemetery now known as Taman Prasasti MuseumTaman Prasasti Museum
Taman Prasasti Museum or Museum of Memorial Stone Park is a museum located in Jakarta, Indonesia. The museum was formerly a cemetery, built by the Dutch colonial government in 1795 as a final resting place for noble Dutchmen...
, Jakarta
Jakarta
Jakarta is the capital and largest city of Indonesia. Officially known as the Special Capital Territory of Jakarta, it is located on the northwest coast of Java, has an area of , and a population of 9,580,000. Jakarta is the country's economic, cultural and political centre...
, Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
.