Letter
Letter from Sultan Abul Fath to the King of England, Charles II, 1664
- Title
- eng Letter from Sultan Abul Fath to the King of England, Charles II, 1664
- ind Surat Sultan Abul Fath kepada Raja Inggris, Charles II, 1664
- Contributor
- Charles II (King of England - Recipient)
- Identifier
- PRO Ext 8/2, f.126r (Public Record Office, London)
- Place
- Banten, Indonesia
- Language
- ArabicSee all items with this value
- Format
- European paper (Crowned shield with lily/fleur-de-lis watermark)
- Extent
- 45.5 x 32 cm (Text size: 24.5 x 23.5 cm, 14 lines per page; 22 lines of English translation on verso)
- Description
- eng A letter from Sultan Abul Fath (Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa) of Banten to King Charles II of England, dated 17 Jumadilakhir 1075 H (29 December 1664). The letter expresses a request to purchase cannons and muskets from England, specifically requesting seven large cannons (two matching the dimensions provided in an attached drawing) and gunpowder to be sent on every vessel traveling to Banten. As a gift, the Sultan sends a small box made of red gold containing four diamonds. The document notes trade challenges caused by Dutch deception and mentions trade connections with Japan, China, Tongkang, and Ambon. Written in black ink using vocalized Arabic script in Arabic. Features two seals: a circular Banten Sultanate seal in Arabic and an oval British Royal seal inscribed Her Majestyis state paper office. Includes a 22-line English translation dated Bantam, 26 December 1664 on the verso side.
- ind Surat dari Sultan Abul Fath (Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa) dari Banten kepada Raja Inggris Charles II, tertanggal 17 Jumadilakhir 1075 H (29 Desember 1664). Isinya berupa permintaan izin membeli meriam dan senapan dari Inggris, secara khusus meminta tujuh buah meriam besar (dua di antaranya berukuran sesuai gambar yang dilampirkan) serta mesiu pada setiap kapal yang berlayar ke Banten. Sebagai hadiah, Sultan mengirimkan sebuah kotak kecil dari emas merah yang di dalamnya terdapat empat butir intan. Teks juga mencantumkan tantangan perdagangan akibat tipu daya Belanda serta menyebutkan jaringan perdagangan dengan Jepang, Cina, Tongkang, dan Ambon. Teks ditulis menggunakan tinta hitam dalam huruf Arab berharakat berbahasa Arab. Terdapat dua stempel: stempel Kesultanan Banten berbentuk lingkaran berhuruf Arab dan stempel oval kerajaan Inggris bertuliskan Her Majestyis state paper office. Pada bagian verso terdapat terjemahan bahasa Inggris sebanyak 22 baris bertanggal Bantam, 26 Desember 1664.
- Provenance
- Public Record Office, London (Record number: PRO Ext 8/2, f.126r).
- Subject
- Diplomatic letter
- Banten Sultanate
- Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa
- Sultan Abul Fath
- Charles II
- Anglo-Banten trade
- Arms acquisition
- Dutch rivalry
- Arabic script
- Bibliographic Citation
- Pudjiastuti, T. (2007). Perang, dagang, persahabatan: surat-surat Sultan Banten. Jakarta: Yayasan Obor Indonesia, pp. 25-28.