Kreemer's seven-period division of the Atjèh-oorlog

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tagsconcept, historiographical, colonial, atjeh-oorlog, 19th-century, 20th-century, dutch, atjehnese, kreemer
aliasesSeven periods of the Atjèh war, Kreemer's seven tijdvakken, zeven tijdperken van den Atjèh-oorlog, Kreemer's periodisation of the Atjèh war

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Kreemer’s seven-period division of the Atjèh-oorlog — in Kreemer’s history of Atjèh, the periodisation of the Atjèh-oorlog (1873–1910) into seven tijdvakken (periods) — is the analytical framework by which Kreemer organises his account of the thirty-seven-year conflict. The division is announced at the head of his third chapter: “Ten einde het overzicht te vergemakkelijken zullen we het verloop van den Atjèh-oorlog in zeven tijdperken verdeelen” — “In order to facilitate the overview, we shall divide the course of the Atjèh-oorlog into seven periods.”

The seven periods

Kreemer’s seven periods, with their dates and principal commanders or governors, are:

  1. Eerste tijdvak: The first expedition under generaal J. H. R. Kohler (5–29 April 1873). The failed assault on the Kraton, the death of Kohler on 14 April, and the withdrawal to Java.

  2. Tweede tijdvak: The second expedition under generaal J. van Swieten to the fall and occupation of the Kraton (9 December 1873–24 January 1874). The fall of the Kraton, the death of the young Sultan, the flight of the court to Keumala, the naming of Koeta Radja, and the martyrdom of Mas Soemo Widikdjo.

  3. Derde tijdvak: The period of consolidation of the Dutch establishment in Atjèh (April 1874–July 1878). The passive defence policy of Van Swieten and kolonel Pel, the zeventigdaagsche veldtocht (seventy-day campaign) of December 1875, the conquest of the XXV Moekim’s, the death of Pel on 24 February 1876, and the governor-general Van Lansberge’s visit of March 1877.

  4. Vierde tijdvak: The period of forceful action and the conquest of the whole of Groot-Atjèh (June 1878–September 1879). The campaigns of kolonel (later generaal) K. van der Heijden, the submission of Habib Abdurrahman on 13 October 1878, the Panglima Pölém’s continued hostility, and the declaration of 5 September 1879 that all of Groot-Atjèh was subdued.

  5. Vijfde tijdvak: The period of civil government (6 April 1881–13 September 1884). The governorships of A. Pruys van der Hoeven (6 April 1881–16 March 1883) and P. F. Laging Tobias (16 March 1883–13 September 1884), the premature introduction of civil administration, and the Nisero affair.

  6. Zesde tijdvak: The period of steady decline (1884–1896), subdivided into the Concentration (1884–1896), the Scheepvaartregeling (1892), and the Oema-periode (1893–1896). Governors: H. Demmeni (September 1884–December 1886), H. K. F. van Teijn (November 1886–April 1891), F. Pompe van Meerdervoort (May 1891–January 1892), C. Deijkerhoff (January 1892–June 1896).

  7. Zevende tijdvak: The period of forceful action and the ending of the Atjèh-oorlog (1896–1910). The governorship of Van Heutsz, the adoption of Snouck Hurgronje’s advice, the campaigns of van Daalen, and the close of the war under governor Swart.

Significance

Kreemer’s seven-period division is, in the historiography of the Atjèh war, the principal analytical framework of the early twentieth century — the framework within which the Kielstra and De Klerck narratives were organised and which would inform the subsequent colonial scholarship. The division turns on the alternation of “afwachtende” (passive) and “krachtige” (forceful) periods — a rhythm that Kreemer presents as the structural pattern of the war, and whose break — the abandonment of the passive posture in 1896 — produces the final, successful phase.

See Also

Source

Atjèh. Algemeen samenvattend overzicht van land en volk van Atjèh en onderhoorigheden, door J. Kreemer, Archivaris van het Atjèh Instituut. Eerste Deel. Leiden: N.V. Boekhandel en Drukkerij voorheen E.J. Brill, 1922. Hoofdstuk I, C (“Atjèh-oorlog (1873—1910)”), blz. 14–45.

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