Salangore was a coastal settlement on the western shore of the island of Mars (Pulau Mars) that became the focus of a Dutch military expedition in 1784. The town was divided by a river obstructed by wooden piles and defended by a fort on a height and a beach battery.
Strategic Importance
Control of Salangore gave the Dutch access to a harbour that could be blockaded by sea, and its proximity to the Straits of Malacca made it a valuable prize for the Oost-Indische Compagnie.
1784 Dutch Expedition
Van Braam’s fleet arrived on 20 July 1784 and, after a landing on 18 June 1784, captured the fort and forced the local ruler to flee. The Dutch then declared the settlement a Company possession and installed Mohamed Ali as a client ruler.
Aftermath
Following the campaign, the Dutch left a small garrison to maintain authority. The fleet later returned to Malakka where many crew members fell ill, including Luitenant Wisscher.
See Also
- Van Braam (commander)
- Majoor Hamell
- Radya Hadgè
- Radya Aly
- Mohamed Ali (Malaysian prince)
- Mars (island)
- Malakka
Source
De geschiedenis van het Nederlandsche Korps Mariniers van 1665-1945, OCR text, pp. 80‑82.