Thomas Matulessy (8 June 178316 December 1817), also known as Kapitan Pattimura or simply Pattimura, was a famous Ambonese soldier who became a symbol of both the Maluku and Indonesian struggle for independence, declared a national hero by President Suharto on 6 November 1973.
Origins
Thomas Matulessy was born on 8 June 1783, in Negeri Haria 'Leawaka Amapati'. The ancestors of the Matulessy family originated from Negeri Itawaka, after which some settled in Negeri Ullath and others in Negeri Haria.
One family member who settled in Negeri Haria was Frans Matulessy. He married Fransina Silahooy, originally from Negeri Siri Sori Kristen, who was the mother of Yohannes and Thomas Matulessy. "The Matulessy family was Protestant Christian; the names Yohannes and Thomas were taken from the Bible."
Personal life and military career
Thomas Matulessy remained unmarried throughout his life, though he had a partner named Elisabeth Gassier, a woman of mixed British-Moluccan descent. His lineage was continued by his older brother, Yohannes, whose descendants, including Frans Matulessy (Bung Angky), still preserve Thomas Matulessy heritage, house, and traditional weapons (Parang Salawaku) in Negeri Haria.
Thomas Matulessy professional journey began in 1810 when he joined the British Army in Ambon. He was part of the British Amboina Corps, an elite unit formed under the authority of the East India Company (EIC) and Thomas Stamford Raffles to defend Maluku against French-Dutch alliances.
Known for his discipline, leadership, and exceptional marksmanship, Thomas Matulessy quickly rose through the ranks to become a Sergeant Major. He served for approximately seven years until 1816, when the London Convention forced Britain to return Maluku to Dutch control.
The war of Thomas Matulessy (1817) The Return of the Dutch in Maluku triggers popular resentment
Britain occupied the Dutch East Indies from 1811 to 1816, with Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles serving as Lieutenant Governor. However, changes in the European political landscape following the defeat in the Napoleonic Wars triggered the London Convention on 13 August 1814. This treaty was signed in London by Robert Stewart, Viscount Castlereagh, representing Britain, and Hendrik Fagel, representing the Netherlands. Based on the agreement, Britain agreed to return the Dutch East Indies to the Kingdom of the Netherlands to strengthen Dutch economic and political stability in Europe.
The restitution process was fully realized on 19 August 1816, in Batavia. Britain was represented by Raffles' successor, John Fendall, while the Dutch were represented by three Commissioners-General: Cornelis Theodorus Elout, Godert van der Capellen, and Arnold Adriaan Buyskes.
Specifically for the Moluccas, the transfer of power took place on 25 March 1817, at Fort Victoria, Ambon City. The administration of the Moluccas was handed over by the British Resident, William Byam Martin, to Nicolaas Engelhard (Chairman of the Moluccas Transfer Commission) and the new Dutch Governor, Jacobus Ariën van Middelkoop.
Subsequently, at Fort Victoria, Nicolaas Engelhard inaugurated Johannes Rudolph van den Berg, a 28 year old Resident, to his post at Fort Duurstede in Saparua. He was accompanied by his 26 year old wife, Johana Christina Umbgrove, and their three young children: the eldest son Jean Lubert (5), the second child Gerardus (3), and the youngest, Rudolph (1).
Three Dutch ships dropped anchor in Ambon Bay: the Evertsen, commanded by Lieutenant Quirijn Maurits Rudolph Ver Huell (replacing Captain Nicolaas Hermanus Dietz who died on 20 March 1817); the Nassau, under Captain Sloterdijk; and the Maria Reigersbergen, under Lieutenant Groot.
Following the British transfer of power in 1816, the Dutch government imposed harsh exploitative policies such as forced labor, land taxes, and the destructive Extirpation of spice trees to recover from their national debt. These burdens were further compounded by the violation of the 1814 London Convention, as the Dutch forcibly recruited former British Amboina Corps soldiers into the KNIL instead of granting them the promised freedom of choice.
This systematic injustice, coupled with the return of a brutal monopoly, ignited widespread fury across Maluku, famously captured in local oral protests (Pantung) that decried how the people's hard labor only served to enrich their oppressors.
This resentment drove the people to mobilize the former capitans of the British Amboina Corps from Ambon to Saparua Island. They chose Mount Saniri as their strategic assembly point due to its location in Siri Sori Kristen, which offered a vast, elevated vantage point to monitor Dutch troop movements at Fort Duurstede.
In a solemn traditional ceremony attended by kings and elders from Ambon, Haruku, Nusalaut, Seram, and Saparua, Thomas Matulessy was formally appointed as the Supreme War Commander. Together, they finalized a strategic assault on Fort Duurstede a stronghold perched on a 20-meter limestone cliff overlooking the sea targeting the entire garrison and the residence of the young Resident, Johannes Rudolph van den Berg.
The inauguration script of Thomas Matulessy as Kapitan Pattimura
On Wednesday, 14 May 1817, this inauguration took place during a special meeting held in the afternoon by the Staff of Saniri Tiga Batang Air (Eti, Tala, and Sapalewa) along with the captains of Lease.
The event occurred in the Sasawoni Forest, on the border of Porto and Haria, after Thomas Matulessy was chosen and elected by acclamation. The inauguration was performed by the General Chairperson of Saniri Tiga Batang Air, specifically the "Inama/Raja Sahulau" named "Sahune Sahulau," witnessed by the meeting participants.
By drawing his sacred machete (parang sakti) from its sheath and placing it upon Thomas Matulessy's forehead, he uttered these words:
Oo; Lanite Tapile Dabite Tuwale; In the name of God, the Creator of Heaven and Earth, in the name of the ancestors and the elders, and for the sake of the motherland. From this moment forth, I appoint Thomas Matulessy as Captain with the title Kapitan Pattimura, meaning: "The King of Justice." His commands must be obeyed, and let no one defy him.
Secret meeting at Mount Saniri
After the inauguration procession of Thomas Matulessy as Kapitan Pattimura concluded in the afternoon, the kings and captains continued their agenda by holding a secret meeting at Mount Saniri that night. The purpose of this meeting was to devise a strategy for the attack on Fort Duurstede. During this gathering, the Captains from the islands of Ambon, Haruku, Nusalaut, and Seram solidified their oath of loyalty and accepted the mandate under the leadership of Thomas Matulessy to lead the resistance in their respective regions. The inauguration was accompanied by a vow of struggle as follows:
In the Name of the Three Entities, in the name of our ancestors, in the name of the Jou-Jou Patih/Latu and our motherland, I swear on behalf of the Captains of all Maluku. Eradicate the colonizers who seek to occupy the land bestowed by the Almighty Three Entities upon our elders and ancestors. Therefore, we must fight to uphold justice and truth. Do not retreat; maintain your courage, O all Captains, and if we fail, our children and grandchildren unto the seventh generation shall continue this struggle. Amen.
Following the inauguration, Thomas Matulessy immediately appointed several captains and representatives from Saparua to lead and mobilize the people in every village (negeri). This great force was prepared to storm Fort Duurstede the following day, Thursday, 15 May 1817. These figures included: Yohannes Matulessy from Haria, Kapitan Wattimury (Kakirussi) from Porto, Kapitan Sayyid Perintah from Siri-Sori Islam, Anthone Rhebok, and the youth Titaley from Saparua. Other involved figures included the brothers from Tiouw; Philips Latumahina along with his brother, Lukas Latumahina from Paperu; Lucas Selanno from Nolloth; Lukas Lisapaly (Aron Lisapaly) from Ihamahu; as well as Kapitan Nanulaitta and Hehanussa from Booi.
15 May 1817: Battle of Fort Duurstede On 15 May 1817, the rebels seized the Fort Duurstede and killed A total of 40 victims, including the Resident of Saparua, Johannes Rudolph van den Berg, his wife Johanna Christina Umbgrove and their two children Gerardus van den Berg and the youngest Rudolph van den Berg, 1 administrator, 17 soldiers consisting of European and native troops, along with 18 local workers at Fort Duurstede The only Dutch survivor was Jean Lubbert van den Berg van Saparua five-year-old son Jean Lubbert.
Jean Lubbert van den Berg
Jean Lubbert van den Berg, the Resident's five-year-old eldest son, was the only Dutch survivor. Residents found him inside Fort Duurstede on Friday, 16 May 1817, while they were about to bury the victims' bodies. The Resident's son was discovered hiding behind a pile of rice in a state of extreme terror with a bleeding ear, which had been severed by a sword; the residents found him after hearing the sound of crying inside the rice granary.
News of the boy's discovery was immediately conveyed to Thomas Matulessy. Although many in the crowd wanted the child killed, Thomas Matulessy wanted Jean to stay alive and entrusted him to Arnold Pattiwael, who then handed him over to his brother, Salomon Pattiwael (who later became the King of Tiouw).
'After the war ends, this child will be known as Jean Lubbert van den Berg van Saparua and will be returned to his family through the Captain of the Eversten, Q.M.R. Ver Huell,' Thomas Matulessy said to Salomon Pattiwael.
When Jean Lubbert was handed over to Salomon Pattiwael, at the request of Salomon and his wife, the Resident's son was immediately hidden in the Rila Forest, Saparua. During his time in hiding, Jean Lubbert was nurtured and cared for by Maria Pattiwael, Salomon Pattiwael's daughter, before eventually being handed over to Naval Lieutenant Q. M. R. Ver Huell.
Major Beetjes's expedition at Waisisil Beach
After the seizure, Pattimura's forces defended the fort and on 20 May defeated and killed Major Beetjes, Second Lieutenant E. S. de Haas, As detailed by Ben van Kaam in his book, Ambon door de eeuwen (1977) in Baarn, Netherlands, Major Beetjes' expedition ended tragically.
Of the 300 personnel deployed, 241 were killed in two horrific stages of slaughter: the first 100 soldiers perished at sea due to cannon fire from Fort Duurstede, while the remaining 141 personnel, including Major Beetjes himself, were massacred on the shores of Waisisil Beach after being trapped by Pattimura's pincer strategy. Meanwhile, the 59 survivors immediately retreated to Haruku Island, Negeri Suli, and Ambon.
The brilliant victory of Thomas Matulessy's forces instantly ignited the spirit of resistance among the Moluccan people across almost the entire spice islands. With burning enthusiasm, Thomas Matulessy planned to hold a grand assembly at the Baileo Traditional House in Negeri Haria, scheduled for 29 May 1817, to solidify the unity of the people's leaders and to sign the Haria Proclamation and the Hatawano Grievances in opposition to Dutch rule.
On 29 May, Pattimura and other Maluku leaders made the Haria Proclamation, which outlined their grievances against the Dutch government and declared Pattimura to be the leader of the Maluku people. In response, Governor-General Van der Cappellen immediately fired the governor of Ambon, Jacobus A. van Middelkoop, and his right hand, Nicolaus Engelhard, for their abuses of the local people.
Siege of Fort Zeelandia On 29 May 1817, Thomas Matulessy tasked Melchior Kesaulya with drafting two pivotal documents: the Hatawano Grievances, which listed the people's sufferings, and the Haria Proclamation, which contained a sacred oath of struggle to continue the assault on Fort Nieuw Zeelandia on Haruku Island.