Mongol invasion of Java, Author: Stephen Turnbull Options

[Menikani]

Author: Stephen Turnbull

Java was the most far-flung destination of all the Mongol campaigns in south-east Asia. Just as in the Burmese and Vietnamese situations, the process began with Khubilai Khan sending an envoy demanding homage from King Kertanagara, the ruler of Java, who responded by branding the ambassador's face. The subsequent Mongol expedition, which set out in 1292, was therefore intended to avenge this grave insult. A large naval force comparable to that used against Japan 11 years earlier carried out the invasion. The fleet set sail from Quanzhou (the place that Marco Polo calls Daytoun) and took several months to reach Java because they chose an open-sea route, calling at small islands, rather than one that followed the coast through Malacca and Sumatra. We are told that 'the wind was strong and the sea very rough, so that the ships rolled heavily and the soldiers could not eat for many days.'
The Mongols landed early in 1293 near to present-day Rembang on the north-eastern coast of Java. The Mongol commander landed half his army here and instructed them to march overland in a show of force, while the rest of the troops continued eastwards by sea. Their rendezvous point was Surabaya, where the river, which provided the orientation for the land forces, entered the sea. The two armies joined up around the beginning of May, and the land party expressed surprise that they had met with so little resistance as they crossed a landscape already scarred by recent fighting. An explanation was soon forthcoming. A Javanese rebel had taken advantage of the turmoil caused by the Mongols' arrival and had overthrown and killed King Kertanagara. Kertanagara's son-in-Iaw, Prince Vijaya, was carrying on the struggle in the south of the country near present-day Kediri, which accounted for the absence of Javanese troops in the north. Hoping to use the Mongol army to help him crush the rebels, Prince Vijaya sent envoys to assure the invaders that he had already pledged the homage that his late father-in-Iaw had so steadfastly refused.

The envoys also acquainted the Mongols with all the details they needed of the roads, rivers and resources of the country to enable them to march to Vijaya's assistance. Some rebel troops tried to stop them moving upstream from Surabaya, but were easily routed and fled into the interior. The Chinese account tells us:

The commanders of the {Mon,'Sol] imperial arrny made a camp in the form of a crescent on the bank of thc river and left the ferry in chaJ,'Sc of a commander of'tcn thousand; the flcet in thc rivcr and thc cavalry and infantry on .shore then advanced to,'Sether, and Hi Nin,'S-kuan fa !aVaJIC,Se commander], seeing thLs, lcft hLs boat and fled overnight, whercupon more than a hundrcd large ships, with devils' heads on the stem, werc capturcd.

The Mongol army continued on its way upriver and fought a battle under the walls of Modjopait (Majapahit), the strongpoint (and future capital) where Vijaya was
holding out, and drove a further rebel army back into the jungle. Finally, the Mongols moved on to the rebels' base at the fortified town of Daha (modern Kediri) and destroyed the final opposition to Vijaya. This action is of some historical interest because the chronicle tells us that, in order to co-ordinate their attack, the separate Mongol and loyalist Javanese units agreed to commence battle when they heard the sound of the pao. This word was originally used to identify a catapult, and later a cannon, but its use here referring to a signalling device indicates that these would have been thunderclap bombs -explosive gunpowder devices cased in thick paper which acted like a maroon. The bombs were fitted with a time fuse, and one would probably have been flung up into the air from a traction trebuchet. Its loud bang
would then have been the signal to advance.
Prince Vijaya then took an enormous gamble. As his enemies were destroyed he no longer had need of a Mongol army to help him, and he was also very reluctant to reward them for their efforts. He therefore made up an excuse for having to return to his capital, and was escorted by a small detachment of Mongol soldiers. On the way back he repudiated his homage, slaughtered the guards, and moved into a hostile position against the Mongols. An army was quickly sent against him, which he successfully ambushed, causing the survivors to flee back towards the coast.
Here the Mongols rapidly considered their position. They had been in Java for four months, and were already suffering from the equatorial heat, so, taking with them what prisoners and treasure they had gained, the fleet set sail for China and home. Three thousand Mongols perished in the Java expedition, and even the treasure, which included gold, silver and rhinoceros horn, was not sufficient to save the campaign commander from receiving 17 lashes and having one-third of his property confiscated. In 1287 Khubilai Khan went to war against a rebel Mongol commander called Nayan and commanded on the battlefield from a splendid palanquin mounted on the backs of four elephants. This was evidence indeed of a certain cultural borrowing from the lands of south-east Asia, his boldest initiative.

[tqt]

I heard that the Mongols had 30,000 in this invasion

[Kulong]

I heard that the Mongols had 30,000 in this invasion

'nuff said.

[tqt]

I heard that the Mongols had 30,000 in this invasion

'nuff said.

I "heard" that from historians, i don't have the source right now but i truly trust my memory

btw, you're quite a petty guy

[Kulong]

I heard that the Mongols had 30,000 in this invasion

'nuff said.

I "heard" that from historians, i don't have the source right now but i truly trust my memory

btw, you're quite a petty guy

I was merely stressing that you have no solid reliable evidence. We all hear things. Just like how you heard that being anti-Chinese and starting fights with us is for some reason the right thing to do.

[jae2theb]

Yeah, Kulong! You're no fun to chat with. V. petty and irksome.

[Kulong]

Yeah, Kulong! You're no fun to chat with. V. petty and irksome.

Hey, when have we actually "chatted"? We have always been discussing important and serious issues. When I see something questionable that you bring up, I challenge you just as you all have done with me, which I appreciate.

[jae2theb]

see here we go again...being petty. chatting...discussing. same thing...

[Kulong]

see here we go again...being petty. chatting...discussing. same thing...

How was I being petty?

No chattying and discussing are two very different activities.

Chat - To converse in an easy, familiar manner; talk lightly and casually.

Dicuss - To speak with another or others about; talk over. To examine or consider (a subject) in speech or writing.

[jae2theb]

yaaaaaawn....no more interaction with Kulong from now on. You are too stubborn and petty.
bye

[Kulong]

yaaaaaawn....no more interaction with Kulong from now on. You are too stubborn and petty.
bye

Good (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/icon_smile.gif) Ta-ta

[Doan Du]

jae2theb,

Have you been to this place? I have been to Indonesia many times, including the distant islands of Kelimantan, Sulawesi and Iriani but I never had the chance to check this place out.

http://www.eastjava.com/books/majapahit/html/champa.html

The princess was from Champa, absorbed by Vietnam many centuries ago.

[jae2theb]

I've been to Indonesia twice but I haven't seen that tomb. Anyway, Indo really is a great place, innit! I plan to go back again on my way home from Korea around September this year. I need to go back to polish my Indonesain again. I think I might be getting rusty living in Korea. Anyway, at the moment, I'm dreaming of Indonesia. It was such a fun and cheap place. I tended to avoid the tourist zones such as Kuta in Bali (I can't understand the attraction there...too much pressure to buy). I stayed with a few Chinese Indonesian friends around the place in various cities so I had periods of decadence mixed in with periods of spartanism when I stayed in cruddy losmen and took the bus everywhere. Doan Du, have you studied bhs Indo? I'm sure you've learnt something having traveled through the country, right? I like Java and Jakarta, the capital very much.

[Doan Du]

I've been to Indonesia twice but I haven't seen that tomb. Anyway, Indo really is a great place, innit! I plan to go back again on my way home from Korea around September this year. I need to go back to polish my Indonesain again. I think I might be getting rusty living in Korea. Anyway, at the moment, I'm dreaming of Indonesia. It was such a fun and cheap place. I tended to avoid the tourist zones such as Kuta in Bali (I can't understand the attraction there...too much pressure to buy). I stayed with a few Chinese Indonesian friends around the place in various cities so I had periods of decadence mixed in with periods of spartanism when I stayed in cruddy losmen and took the bus everywhere. Doan Du, have you studied bhs Indo? I'm sure you've learnt something having traveled through the country, right? I like Java and Jakarta, the capital very much.

I actually have relatives living in Indonesia. The reason why I know a few Indonesian words is because my sister-in-law is Indonesian. Whenever I go back to Vietnam for a visit, I always try to make a side trip to Djakarta if time permits simply just to pay her parents a visit.

Have you been to Djokdjak? I stayed in their summer home up there two years ago. Such a beautiful country.

[jae2theb]

When I flew into Jakarta, over Java, tears welled up in my eyes. I was there at last, I thought! It was so beautiful to see the mountainous terrain and the lush green. As the plane got closer, I could see the country in more detail and the poverty of the people soon revealed itself to me. Still, it was an overwhelming feeling.

[直隸總督]

When I flew into Jakarta, over Java, tears welled up in my eyes. I was there at last, I thought! It was so beautiful to see the mountainous terrain and the lush green. As the plane got closer, I could see the country in more detail and the poverty of the people soon revealed itself to me. Still, it was an overwhelming feeling.

off topic

[jae2theb]

That's ok. You guys are pretty hard on others, aren't you. I think it's a good thing that I post anything at all here. Things are so slow in Indonesian chat...I mean unless you start talking about Chinese Indonesians. My post was Indonesian-related. Good enough.

[Doan Du]

When I flew into Jakarta, over Java, tears welled up in my eyes. I was there at last, I thought! It was so beautiful to see the mountainous terrain and the lush green. As the plane got closer, I could see the country in more detail and the poverty of the people soon revealed itself to me. Still, it was an overwhelming feeling.

Yes, the poverty in Indonesian countryside is very apparent and sad. Such a sharp contrast to the scene in downtown Djakarta.

I was stuck in traffic one time going from a residential area in North Djakarta to downtown. It took me two hours to cover about 7 miles.

I have a different opinion about the island of Bali. I think it's such a cool place not because it is a trendy tourist attraction but because of the culture there (and no, I am not referring to the bare-breasted Australian and European women on Kuta beach). It's interesting to see the Barong statues everywhere and the kind of spirituality that Indonesians dedicate to their lives.

[BishoujoHunter]

http://home.nc.rr.com/ambiient/site/site.htm
the legacy of genghis khan he fathered many children according to DNA studies

This post has been edited by BishoujoHunter: Jun 18 2004, 06:52 PM

[dalawapo]

I AGREE SOMETIMES KULONG IS VERY IRRITATING THAT HE ALWAYS TRIES TO SPEAK CONESCENDING OR ARGUE THINGS THAT ARE SOMETIMES SO TRIBAL OR UNCESSARY, SUCH AS WHEN I SAID I SAW A COMMERIAL OF TAIWAN AND THEY SAID "TRULY ASIA" HE EXPECTED ME TO WRITE A REASEARCH PAPER AND VIDEO TAPE THE COMMERIAL AND SEND IT TO HIM FED EX.... BECAUSE HE WANTS PROOVE..... I SIMPLY RELAY TO THE AF COMMUNITY I WITNESS A COMMERICAL ON THE TRAVEL CHANNEL, IF THEY ARE INTRESTED TO SEE FOR THEMSELVES THEY ARE WELCOME TO WATCH THE TRAVEL CHANNEL UNTIL IT SHOWS UP. KULONG SAID THAT IT IS NOT UP TO HIM TO INVESTIGATE THE MATTER, THAT I SHOULD PROOVE IT.... AS THOUGH I CAN ACTUALLY PROOVE I SAW A COMMERICAL ON THE TRAVEL CHANNEL.... ANYWAYS YEAH.... IM CURRENTLY TRYING TO LEARN TELEPATHY SO I CAN SHOW KULONG THE COMMERICAL THROUGH MY EYES. HEHE ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm UMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM