Madurese auxiliary troops (Dutch: Madoresche hulptroepen) were indigenous soldiers recruited from the island of Madura who fought alongside Dutch colonial forces in various campaigns across the Netherlands Indies, including the Aceh War. Their participation is attested by a remarkable banner (vaandel) in the collection of the Batavian Society, originating from the kraton (palace) of Pamekasan on Madura.
The Tjengkara Déwa banner
The banner is described in the 1928 treasure-room guide (Cabinet 15, Madoera) as depicting the daemon god Tjengkara Déwa, armed with a kudi (Madurese dagger) and shield. The banner’s triple-pointed tip stood loose on the shaft, and was said to symbolise the “three-bond” (driebond) of Soemenep, Pamekasan, and Bangkalan — the three principalities of Madura.
The guide records explicitly that this banner “heeft menigmaal de Madoresche hulptroepen in den oorlog geleid, zoo op Java als in Atjeh” — “has on many occasions led the Madurese auxiliary troops in war, both on Java and in Atjeh.” This indicates that the Madurese auxiliaries were a recognised component of Dutch colonial military operations in Atjeh and that their deployment was sufficiently frequent and significant to be noted in a general museum catalogue.
Historical context
The Dutch made extensive use of indigenous auxiliary troops (hulptroepen) throughout the archipelago, recruiting soldiers from regions considered loyal or pacified to supplement the regular European-led forces. Madura, which had been firmly under Dutch control since the mid-eighteenth century, was a traditional source of such auxiliaries. Madurese troops were noted for their fighting qualities and were deployed in various colonial campaigns, including the Java War (1825–1830), the Banjarmasin War (1859–1863), and the Aceh War.
In the context of the Aceh War, the use of Madurese (and other non-Acehnese) auxiliaries served a double purpose: it augmented Dutch manpower while also avoiding the deployment of potentially sympathetic Acehnese recruits. The presence of these foreign auxiliaries was deeply resented by the Acehnese population and was frequently cited by the resistance as evidence of the illegitimacy of the Dutch presence.
See Also
- Aceh War
- Koninklijk Bataviaasch Genootschap van Kunsten en Wetenschappen
- Pamekasan
- Soemenep
- Bangkalan
Source
Gids voor den bezoeker van de schatkamer, Koninklijk Bataviaasch Genootschap van Kunsten en Wetenschappen, Batavia, 1928. Druk: Ruygrok & Co., Batavia. Cabinet 15 (Madoera), introduction to the Pamekasan section.