# Sentot Prawirodirdjo

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Javanese Muslim military commander

Sentot Prawirodirdjo Drawing c. 1900 Born 1808 Maospati, Yogyakarta Sultanate Died 17 April 1855 (aged 46–47) Bengkulu, Dutch East Indies

[Ali Basah](/source/Pasha) **Abdul Mustapa Prawirodirdjo** (1808 – 17 April 1855), also known as **Sentot Ali Pasha** or **Sentot Prawirodirdjo**, was a Javanese [Muslim](/source/Muslim) military commander during the [Java War](/source/Java_War). He joined [Diponegoro](/source/Diponegoro)'s rebel forces at the age of seventeen, and became a renowned commander in the war, and later became overall commander. He surrendered to the Dutch in October 1829. In Dutch service, Prawirodirdjo was given command of a Javanese unit under Dutch command during a [1832 Chinese riot in Purwakarta](/source/Purwakarta_Chinese_riot) and then in the [Padri War](/source/Padri_War), when he was accused of collusion with Padri leaders. He was exiled to [Bengkulu](/source/Bengkulu) and died there.

## Early life

Prawirodirdjo was born in 1808 in [Maospati](/source/Maospati) to [Rongga Prawirodirdjo III](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rongga_Prawirodirdjo_III&action=edit&redlink=1), the *bupati* of [Madiun](/source/Madiun), through a concubine.[1] Rongga was killed after initiating a [revolt in 1810](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rongga_rebellion&action=edit&redlink=1) against the colonial government of [Herman Willem Daendels](/source/Herman_Willem_Daendels).[2] His mother was likely Dayawati, Rongga's concubine who died in 1810.[1] During Prawirodirdjo's childhood, [Yogyakartan](/source/Yogyakarta_Sultanate) Prince [Diponegoro](/source/Diponegoro) made an effort to educate him as a *[santri](/source/Santri)*, but this failed, as Prawirodirdjo showed a "violent dislike" for the education.[3]

## Java war

Upon the outbreak of Diponegoro's rebellion in 1825, seventeen-year-old Prawirodirdjo joined his rebel forces. In the ensuing [Java War](/source/Java_War), he was initially a cavalry commander of the rebels,[4] and he gained "Sentot" ([Javanese](/source/Javanese_language) for "to dash", also spelled as "Senthot") as a [nom de guerre](/source/Nom_de_guerre).[3] Diponegoro awarded him the title "Ali Basah" (derived from [Ottoman](/source/Ottoman_Empire) "[Ali Pasha](/source/Pasha)", also spelled as "Alibasyah"[5] or "Ali Basya"[6]).[7] He developed a tactic involving the camouflaging of his horsemen behind bamboo fences in order to ambush Dutch columns.[8] Throughout early and mid 1826, Sentot and Diponegoro won a series of victories against the Dutch, including at [Lengkong](/source/Battle_of_Lengkong_(1826)), [Kejiwan](/source/Battle_of_Kejiwan), and [Delanggu](/source/Battle_of_Delanggu), before suffering a major defeat at the [Battle of Gawok](/source/Battle_of_Gawok) in October.[9]

As the war transitioned into guerilla campaigns, Sentot led a series of ambushes against Dutch column, such as one in [Kroya](/source/Battle_of_Kroya) in 1828 which annihilated a full column. Dutch commanders experiencing these ambushes praised Sentot's battlefield command, with [H. J. J. L. de Stuers](/source/H._J._J._L._de_Stuers) describing him as a "young, fiery and in every respect a brilliant Javanese ... who knew how to blaze a trail for himself by virtue of his energy and shrewdness". According to Diponegoro's account, Sentot was frequently injured, having eight different horses he rode killed throughout the war.[3] Throughout the war, Sentot and Diponegoro discussed the idea of conquering the [Lesser Sunda Islands](/source/Lesser_Sunda_Islands) should they defeat the Dutch.[10]

In December 1828, Diponegoro agreed to Sentot's request to take over overall military command, and also grant him the authority to levy taxes from rebel-controlled territories.[11] The illiterate[3] Sentot became overwhelmed with rebel finances and reports, and became slow to react to Dutch actions. In one case, this led to rebel defeat at the [Battle of Nanggulon](/source/Battle_of_Nanggulon).[11] As the rebel situation deteriorated, and food supplies for rebel troops became scarce, Sentot began to enter tentative talks with his Dutch counterparts.[12] By late 1829, the rebels had lost much popular support, and after a major defeat at the [Battle of Siluk](/source/Battle_of_Siluk) in September 1829, Sentot became separated with Diponegoro and surrendered to the Dutch on 16 October 1829.[13][12]

## Dutch service and exile

Sentot's grave in [Bengkulu](/source/Bengkulu)

After Sentot's surrender, he was given command of a native Javanese unit of 450 men, financed by the Dutch colonial government.[12][14] The unit was deployed to [Batavia](/source/Batavia%2C_Dutch_East_Indies) in 1831 and saw action in suppressing a [1832 riot of Chinese migrants](/source/Purwakarta_Chinese_riot) in [Purwakarta](/source/Purwakarta_Regency), earning praise from Dutch commanders.[14] During the crackdowns, Sentot's unit engaged a mob of 800 rioters and crushed the group. After the engagement, Sentot's unit reportedly beheaded 600 killed rioters and sent their heads to Batavia.[15]

The unit was then sent to [West Sumatra](/source/West_Sumatra) in 1833, to take part in the [Padri War](/source/Padri_War).[14] Governor-General [Johannes van den Bosch](/source/Johannes_van_den_Bosch) planned to create a Javanese-held principality in the [Lintau](/source/Tanah_Datar_Regency#Administrative_districts) region under Sentot to create a permanent auxiliary presence there. To this end, Sentot was provided with an appanage of around 5,000 people in Lintau.[16] However, Sentot began colluding with the Minangkabau religious leaders,[12] reportedly meeting in secret with Padri leader [Tuanku Imam Bonjol](/source/Tuanku_Imam_Bonjol).[6] He also made trips to the [Pagaruyung](/source/Pagaruyung_kingdom) area outside of his jurisdiction, and broke protocol with Dutch officials in the region (addressing them as "brother" instead of "father").[16]

Upon the outbreak of continued fighting in the [Bonjol](/source/Bonjol) area, Sentot was blamed and arrested by the Dutch.[16] He was removed from command, his unit later being absorbed by the [KNIL](/source/Royal_Netherlands_East_Indies_Army).[14] After being sent back to Batavia, Sentot was allowed to go on a [hajj](/source/Hajj) before he was exiled to [Bengkulu](/source/Bengkulu), where he died on 17 April 1855.[12][17] His grave is located in what is today downtown Bengkulu, surrounded by a public cemetery.[5]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-careyborn_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-careyborn_1-1) [Carey, Peter B. R.](/source/Peter_Carey_(historian)) (20 March 2015). [*The Power of Prophecy: Prince Dipanagara and the End of an Old Order in Java, 1785-1855*](https://books.google.com/books?id=mND7EAAAQBAJ). BRILL. pp. 79, 191. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-90-6718-303-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-90-6718-303-1).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTECarey2015259_2-0)** [Carey 2015](#CITEREFCarey2015), p. 259.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTECarey2015649_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTECarey2015649_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTECarey2015649_3-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTECarey2015649_3-3) [Carey 2015](#CITEREFCarey2015), p. 649.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTECarey2015192_4-0)** [Carey 2015](#CITEREFCarey2015), p. 192.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-kisah_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-kisah_5-1) Sudibyo, Triono Wahyu (12 October 2015). ["Sepotong Kisah di TPU Peristirahatan Terakhir Pangeran Sentot Alibasyah"](https://news.detik.com/berita/d-3042173/sepotong-kisah-di-tpu-peristirahatan-terakhir-pangeran-sentot-alibasyah). *detiknews* (in Indonesian). Retrieved 21 March 2025.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-hamka_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-hamka_6-1) ["Buya Hamka: Saat Sentot Ali Basya Insaf Perangi Kaum Paderi"](https://islamdigest.republika.co.id/berita/q9kodu430/buya-hamka-saat-sentot-ali-basya-insaf-perangi-kaum-paderi). *Republika Online* (in Indonesian). 30 April 2020. Retrieved 21 March 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTECarey2015152–153_7-0)** [Carey 2015](#CITEREFCarey2015), pp. 152–153.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTECarey2015608_8-0)** [Carey 2015](#CITEREFCarey2015), p. 608.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTECarey2015642_9-0)** [Carey 2015](#CITEREFCarey2015), p. 642.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTECarey2015590_10-0)** [Carey 2015](#CITEREFCarey2015), p. 590.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTECarey2015650–651_11-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTECarey2015650–651_11-1) [Carey 2015](#CITEREFCarey2015), pp. 650–651.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTECarey2015652_12-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTECarey2015652_12-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTECarey2015652_12-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTECarey2015652_12-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTECarey2015652_12-4) [Carey 2015](#CITEREFCarey2015), p. 652.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-djamharip268_13-0)** [Djamhari, Saleh A.](/source/Saleh_Djamhari) (2002). [*Stelsel benteng dalam pemberontakan Diponegoro 1827-1830: suatu kajian sejarah perang*](https://lib.ui.ac.id/detail?id=82372&lokasi=lokal) (Thesis) (in Indonesian). [University of Indonesia](/source/University_of_Indonesia). pp. 268–269.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-rendang_14-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-rendang_14-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-rendang_14-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-rendang_14-3) ["Legiun Sentot "Direndang" Belanda di Padang"](https://historia.id/militer/articles/legiun-sentot-direndang-belanda-di-padang-PeM09). *Historia* (in Indonesian). 12 March 2025. Retrieved 21 March 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["Wawacan Carita Perang Cina di Tanjungpura Kabupaten Purwakarta"](https://repositori.kemdikbud.go.id/4397/1/Wawacan%20Carita%20Perang%20Cina%20di%20Tanjungpura%20Kabupaten%20Purwakarta%202000.pdf) (PDF) (in Indonesian). [Ministry of Education and Culture](/source/Ministry_of_Education_and_Culture_(Indonesia)). 2000. pp. 16–17, 24. Retrieved 21 March 2025.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-graves2009_16-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-graves2009_16-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-graves2009_16-2) Graves, Elizabeth E. (2009). [*The Minangkabau Response to Dutch Colonial Rule in the Nineteenth Century*](https://books.google.com/books?id=tAZoI-7qWicC). Equinox Publishing. pp. 66–67. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-602-8397-32-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-602-8397-32-2).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** ["Kunjungan Laseda 2019: Dari Masjid Jamik ke Malborough"](https://web.archive.org/web/20191106083625/https://kebudayaan.kemdikbud.go.id/bpnbsumbar/kunjungan-laseda-2019-dari-masjid-jamik-ke-malborough/) (in Indonesian). [Ministry of Education and Culture](/source/Ministry_of_Education_and_Culture_(Indonesia)). 27 June 2019. Archived from [the original](https://kebudayaan.kemdikbud.go.id/bpnbsumbar/kunjungan-laseda-2019-dari-masjid-jamik-ke-malborough/) on 6 November 2019. Retrieved 21 March 2025.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Sentot Prawirodirdjo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sentot_Prawirodirdjo) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sentot_Prawirodirdjo?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.