ANCIENT ERA/ KINGDOMS ERA
686 – The Srivijaya Empire is founded and follows Buddhism. The new empire invades Java following the collapse of Tarumanegara.
700 – Srivijaya flourishes as a great naval kingdom. Trade links are established with neighboring China and India.
752 – The Hindu Mataram Kingdom flourishes.
760 – Construction of Borobudur.
770s to 780s – Java launched several naval invasions on ports in Cambodia and other kingdoms.
825 – Borobudur is completed.
856 – Prambanan is completed.
907 – Eruption of the Sumbing volcano according to an inscription.
928 – The capital of Mataram in Mamratipura was devastated, likely caused by the eruption.
990 – The Mataram Kingdom launches a naval invasion on Palembang in an unsuccessful attempt to destroy the Srivijaya Empire.
1006 – Mataram Kingdom falls due to an invasion from King Wurawari of Lwaram. Theories suggest that the king is a Srivijayan ally.
1222 – Battle of Ganter, Ken Arok defeats the last king of Kediri and establishes the Singhasari Kingdom.
1257 – The Kingdom of Ternate rises in Maluku.
1293 – The Mongols under Kublai Khan invade Java. The attacks were easily repelled, however, and the Mongols retreated.
1293 – The Hindu Majapahit Empire rises in eastern Java.
1300 – Islam becomes dominant in the Aceh region.
1334 – Hayam Wuruk is born.
1334 – Gajah Mada declares his Palapa oath (Sumpah Palapa)
1350 – Hayam Wuruk succeeds his father and becomes the ruler of Majapahit, starting the Golden Age of the empire. Gajah Mada becomes the military commander and the empire stretches over much of modern day Indonesia.
1357 – The Sundanese royal family of the Sunda Kingdom was massacred by the Majapahit troops under orders of Gajah Mada.
1405 – Regreg War, a civil war within the Majapahit Empire between the Western court led by Wikramawadharna and the seperatist Eastern court led by Wirabhumi.
1500 – Islam becomes the dominant religion.
COLONIAL ERA
1512 – The first Portuguese expedition was sent to find the Spice Islands of Maluku. The expedition is led by Francisco Serrão.
1520 – Aceh launches an expansionist campaign and captures Dayak on the west Sumatran coast.
1521 – Another Portuguese expedition led by Ferdinand Magellan reaches Maluku and commences trade with Ternate, returning to Europe to bring the resources.
1522 – The Portuguese formally ally themselves with the rulers of Ternate and begin the construction of a fort.
1522 – A treaty is signed between Portugal and Sunda Kingdom, granting the permit for the Portuguese to build a fortress in Sunda Kelapa.
1559 – Hostilities rise between Ternate and the Portuguese following the latter’s Christianisation activities, not approved by the Sultan of Ternate.
1575 – Ternate under Sultan Baabullah wages a five-year war against the Portuguese, ending with a victory for the Ternateans.
1578 – The Portuguese build a fort in Tidore, but the main centre for Portuguese activity in Maluku is Ambon.
1595 – The first Dutch expedition into Indonesia, led by Cornelis de Houtman.
1596 – The Dutch arrive in Banten and clash with the local Indonesians and the ruling Portuguese.
1597 – de Houtman’s expedition returns to the Netherlands. The spices brought by the expedition team made a considerable amount of profit.
1598 – Following the success of de Houtman’s expedition, more Dutch ships set sail for Indonesia. Most return with high profit.
1599 – A Dutch fleet led by Jacob van Neck is the first Dutch fleet to reach the Spice Islands of Maluku.
1600 – The Dutch join forces with the local Hituese in an anti-Portuguese alliance, in exchange for which the Dutch should own the sole rights to purchase spices from Hitu.
1602 – The Portuguese send a major (and final) expeditionary force to Malacca. The operation succeeded in imposing some degree of Portuguese authority.
20th March 1602 – The Dutch East India Company (VOC) is formed by merging competing Dutch companies.
1603 – The VOC establishes the first permanent Dutch trading post in Banten.
1604 – The English East India Company launches a voyage led by Sir Henry Middleton to various locations in Indonesia such as Ternate, Tidore, and Ambon. The VOC display hostility to the EIC, beginning Anglo-Dutch competition for control over the spices.
1605 – The VOC, still allied with Hitu, prepare an attack against a Portuguese fort in Ambon. Just then, however, the Portuguese surrender.
1606 – A Spanish fleet arrives and occupies Ternate and Tidore.
1610 – The VOC establishes a ‘Governor General’ to enable firm control over affairs in Asia.
1611 – The VOC establish a post in Jayakarta (later named Batavia and then the familiar Jakarta).
1619 – Jan Pieterszoon Coen becomes Governor-General of the VOC. Under his rule, the VOC would not hesitate to use brute force to establish control. This was evident after VOC forces drove Banten resistance from Jayakarta, now officially known as Dutch Batavia.
1620 – Almost all the population of the Banda Islands were either deported, driven away, starved to death, or straight up killed in an effort to replace them with Dutch colonial labour.
1623 – The infamous Amboyan Massacre starts. A total of twenty Englishmen and Japanese traders were arrested and beheaded following suspicion of conspiracy. The English withdrew from most of their Indonesian activities and the EIC focused on other Asian intetests, thus cementing the VOC’s rule.
1628 – Sultan Agung of Mataram launched a failed campaign to take back Dutch Batavia.
1674 – The Trunajaya Rebellion. Followers of the Prince Trunajaya rebelled against the Mataram Sultanate, the last major independent kingdom in Indonesia. Suffering defeat after defeat, the Mataram Sultanate sought help from the VOC, demanding territorial concessions in return. The VOC-Mataram alliance ultimately quashed the rebellion.
1704 – The First Javanese War of Succession between Sultan Amungkat III of Mataram and the VOC.
1717 – A major rebellion occurs in Surabaya.
1719 – The Second Javanese War of Succession begins. Interestingly, this war was fought between Sultan Amungkat IV, now supported by the VOC, against rival princes competing for power.
1740 – The VOC commences a massacre of Batavia’s ethnic Chinese population due to yet another suspicion of rebellion. Approximately 10,000 are killed, the Chinese quarter burned.
1755 – The Treaty of Giyanti effectively partitions the Mataram Sultanate. The VOC recognizes Mangkubumi as Sultan Hamengkubuwono I. The man ruled half of Central Java with enough respect from the VOC. He established the Yogyakarta Sultanate, moves to Yogya and renames it Yogyakarta.
1778 – Royal Batavian Society of Arts and Sciences was established by several Dutch intellectuals. This would later go on to become the National Museum of Indonesia.
1800 – The VOC goes bankrupt after internal corruption and other matters.
1803 – The first phase of the Padri War (Perang Padri) begins.
1806 – The Kingdom of Holland was formed as a puppet kingdom set up by Napoleon Bonaparte’s conquest of Europe. The kingdom was created to better govern Indonesia under indirect French rule.
1808 – Herman Willem Daendels was appointed as Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies (Hindia Belanda; what Indonesia was called back then). He begins construction of the Great Post Road (Jalan Raya Pos).
1811 – The British invasion of Java begins. Thomas Stamford Raffles was appointed as Lieutenant-Governor of Java.
1815 – Mount Tambora erupts, causing the largest volcanic eruption ever written in history.
1825 – Java War begins.
1831 – The second phase of the Padri War.
1864 – The first railway track in Indonesia was built. It was meant to connect Semarang and Tanggung, Central Java under direct orders from the Dutch colonial government.
1870 – The policy of ‘tanam paksa’ was officially dismantled.
1873 – The start of the Aceh War.
1879 – Kartini is born in Jepara. Her date of birth, 21st April, is commemorated as women’s emancipation day in Indonesia.
1883 – Mount Krakatoa erupts, killing around 36,000 people.
NATIONAL AWAKENING ERA
1904 – Kartini establishes a school for women in Rembang, similarly to Dewi Sartika.
1906 – The Dutch intervention in Bali effectively destroys the southern Bali kingdom.
1908 – Another Dutch intervention in Bali wiped out the last remaining Balinese leaders in puputan, which literally means suicidal battle to death.
1908 – Budi Utomo is proclaimed. It is the first official nationalist movement in this era.
1912 – Sarekat Islam becomes the first mass-based nationalist party.
1912 – A modernist Islamic organization, Muhammadiyah, was established by Ahmad Dahlan in Yogyakarta.
1914 – WWI in Europe breaks out. The Dutch remain neutral, so no side effects were brought to the East Indies.
1920 – Partai Komunis Indonesia (PKI) was formed during a mass economic downturn.
1929 – The Great Depression occurs, greatly affecting the economy of the Dutch East Indies.
1930 – Sukarno gives his famous nationalist speech, Indonesia Menggugat, as defence in his political trial. He was thrown in jail at the end though.
1941 – Following increasing Japanese aggression in the Pacific War and seeing their colony threatened, the Dutch declare war on Japan.
1942 – Battle of the Java Sea. The Imperial Japanese Navy defeat Allied ABDACOM (American-British-Dutch-Australian Command). The Japanese overthrow the Dutch East Indies and occupy Indonesia throughout World War II. The last Dutch resistance was destroyed on 8th March.
1944 – The liberation of Dutch East Indies by Allied forces begins. On 16th May, talks between the Allies and the Dutch begin regarding the administration of Indonesia by the Allies.
1945 – Sukarno starts his famous Pancasila speech in 1st June. The drafts of constitution for the Republic was formed through the BPUPKI. The Japanese surrender to the Allies on 15th August and Indonesian independence was declared by Sukarno and Muhammad Hatta. On August, a Republican government was set up in Jakarta and adopted the constitution. The KNIP (Komite Nasional Indonesia Pusat) was created. Sukarno and Hatta were inaugurated as President and Vice President respectively.
WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE ERA
1945 – The Bersiap killings take place during the early stages of the national revolution. Hatta gives the people right to form their own political parties. The Dutch NICA (Netherlands Indies Civil Administration) along with Allied forces arrive in Indonesia to take back the country into colonial hands. A series of struggling battles such as the Battle of Medan and Battle of Ambarawa, but the Battle of Surabaya in 10th November was one of the deadliest. The date is now celebrated as the national hero’s day in Indonesia.
1946 – The State of East Indonesia is set up by Dutch forces. It spans every island east of Kalimantan and Java. Several social revolutions occur as well.
1947 – The Linggardjati Agreement was signed on 25th March. It was the first ceasefire between Dutch and Indonesian forces. Not long after, however, AMB I (Agresi Militer Belanda I) occured following disagreement of the meeting by the Dutch and attempt to resolve it through military means.
1948 – The Renville Agreement was signed and establishes the Van Mook line, seperating Dutch and Republican territory. On 18th September, the Madiun Affair occurs, an armed conflict between the nationalists and left-wing groups. On 19th December, the Dutch initiate another military operation (AMB II) and capture the Republican capital Yogyakarta, capturing several Republican leaders.
1949 – On 1st August, both sides declared an official ceasefire. On December, during the Round Table Conference (Konferensi Meja Bundar; KMB), the Dutch officially transfer sovereignity to the United States of Indonesia.
POST-INDEPENDENCE ERA
1950 – On 25th April, the unrecognized Republic of South Moluccas is established. On 17th August, Sukarno proclaims a unitary state, the Republic of Indonesia rather than the USI. Indonesia joins the United Nations. To suppress the Republic of South Moluccas, the Indonesian army launch the Invasion of Ambon.
1955 – On 18th April, the city of Bandung hosts the Asia-Africa Conference to uphold the Non-Aligned Movement during the Cold War.
1956 – Muhammad Hatta resigns as vice president.
1957 – President Sukarno announces Konsepsi, his conception towards the nature of Indonesia. This would eventually become Guided Democracy. On 30th November, an attempt on his life was made as grenades were thrown during his visit to a school in Cikini, Jakarta.
1958 -Following an aerial incident, it was discovered that the US had been covertly supporting regional rebellions to undermine Sukarno’s government. The reason was very likely due to Sukarno’s NASAKOM (Nasionalisme, Agama, Komunisme) policy.
1960 – Indonesia severs diplomatic relations with the Dutch following Dutch refusal to hand over Netherlands New Guinea.
1961 – An agreement is signed in Jakarta with the Soviet Union. The agreement allows Indonesia to buy arms with long term loans from the USSR. The construction of Monas begins.
1962 – Western New Guinea is officially transferred to Indonesia in the New York Agreement. On 24th August, Jakarta hosts the Fourth Asian Games.
1963 – Sukarno leads the Konfrontasi campaign against newly formed Malaysia. The reason was Indonesian opposition for the incorporation of North Kalimantan to Malaysian territory. On 18th May, the Parliament elects Sukarno as a president for life.
1964 – Sukarno publicly denounces the United States and launches an anti-American campaign.
1965 – Indonesia leaves the United Nations. At the same time, the PKI grows in power and arms the peasants with weapons. On 30th September, a coup resulted in the murder of six generals (G30S). Under General Suharto, the Indonesian army launches a violent anti-communist purge.
1966 – A trial is held for the people suspected to be responsible for G30S. Sukarno gives key presidential powers to Suharto following the signing of Supersemar. The PKI is dissolved by Suharto. On 11th August, Indonesia and Malaysia establish more linear diplomatic relations and rejoins the United Nations.
1967 – Restrictions on Indonesian Chinese are introduced, addressing their religions. On 22nd February, in a ceremony at the presidential palace, Sukarno gives authority to Suharto. On 8th August, ASEAN was founded in Bangkok, a sort of NATO for Southeast Asia.
NEW ORDER/ORBA ERA
1968 – The parliament transfers the presidential title to Suharto. Sukarno is put under house arrest.
1969 – The ‘Act of Free Choice’ regarding Papua’s decision to join Indonesia or not is held. Papuan representatives attend.
1970 – Sukarno dies on 21st June. He is buried in Blitar, East Java.
1971 – The second Indonesian parliamentary election under the New Order is held. Golkar (Golongan Karya) wins an outright majority, for obvious political reasons.
1973 – Government forces merge into different political parties. Partai Demokratis Indonesia and Partai Persatuan are formed. Despite so, Golkar dominates the three-party system.
1975 – Suharto’s wife dedicates Taman Mini Indonesia Indah in the outskirts of Jakarta on April. In the same month, a civil war broke out in the former Portuguese colony of Timor Leste, leading to the invasion of the country by the Indonesian army.
1976 – On 8th July, the first Indonesian communications satellite, Palapa A1, was launched. On 17th July, Suharto integrates Timor Leste as the 27th province of Indonesia. The UN General Assembly do not approve of the act and do not recognize the annexation.
1978 – The MPR upholds the principles of Pancasila as compulsory moral education to the youths and even government officials. Suharto appoints B.J. Habibie as state minister of research and technology.
1979 – Jakarta hosts the 10th SEA Games.
1982 – The height of the Petrus shootings killed thousands of suspected criminals by security forces of the government.
1984 – Muslims protesting on insensitivities to Islam in Tanjung Priok. The situation in 12th December escalates into a riot. The military is employed, and the aftermath resulted with many deaths.
1987 – Jakarta hosts the 14th SEA Games.
1988 – Suharto is elected to a fifth term as president. No big surprise.
1989 – The ‘Free Aceh Movement’ (GAM; Gerakan Aceh Merdeka) reemerges, demanding independence of the Aceh region. Military suppression to its guerilla activities resulted in the deaths of 2,000 by 1991.
1993 – Suharto is elected to a sixth term.
1996 – A Free Papua Movement arises and gains international attention after the resistance movement kidnapped scientists and foresters. The abductees were rescued in an operation led by Prabowo.
1997 – The East Asian financial crisis starts after the collapse of Thailand’s baht currency. Indonesia is the country that is most affected.
1998 – Four students demonstrate at Trisakti University but are shot dead. The perpetrators were unknown, but it is very likely from army sources. Following the deaths of the students and economic hardship, Indonesia experiences several riots of vandalism, arson, looting, and rape. For some reason, the security forces did not pay attention to it for two days. 1,200 are dead. Then, Suharto is elected to a- Is it worth mentioning anymore? But that won’t last long.
The New Order comes to an end. Following intense corruption, desertion of the cabinet and civil unrest led to Suharto’s resignation as president.
B.J. Habibie assumes the presidency as the third Indonesian president.
RISE OF TERRORISM ERA
1999 – Indonesia holds its first free and fair elections since 1955, with almost no disruption. On September, Timor Leste vites to leava Indonesia under UN auspices. President Habibie allows a UN peacekeeping force (INTERFET) to restore order in Timor Leste.
2000 – President Habibie is succeeded by Abdurrahman Wahid. Although, his administration was met with disaster as the violence in Indonesia rises. On 24th December, a coordinated terrorist strike bombed several churches and eighteen people are killed. It is later revealed that a militarist and extremist organization called Jemaah Islamiyah was behind it as an act of revenge from a Christian-Islamic conflict in Maluku.
2001 – Ethnic violence in Kalimantan rises between the Dayaks and the Madurese. President Wahid is succeeded by vice president Megawati. Following the 9/11 attacks in the US, Megawati visted President George Bush amd welcomes American investment. The Islamic right criticizes her cooperation with America’s war in Afghanistan, and the nationalist left criticizes her for being too reliant on foreign investors.
2002 – Peace talks start to end the Christian-Muslim conflict in Maluku. But still, terrorist attacks occur, all orchestrated by Jemaah Islamiyah. One infamous incident was a bombing in Kuta, Bali in a nightclub. 202 people were killed. Indonesia, aided by ten other nations, begin tracking down Jemaah Islamiyah operatives.
2003 – Jemaah Islamiyah bombs Mariott Hotel in Jakarta, killing 12 people.
2004 – A bomb blast in the Australian embassy kills 11 people and injurrs over 100. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono becomes president following popular disillusionment with Megawati. Meanwhile, in 26th December, an earthquake-triggered tsunami killed an estimated 17,000 in Aceh.
2005 – Bombings in Bali killed another 20 people.
2007 – The Adam Air Flight 574 crashes into the sea in Malaka Strait.
2008 – Suharto dies from multiple organ failure. Jemaah Islamiyah operatives were also executed when found guiltyfor the 2002 attacks.
2009 – Jemaah Islamiyah bombs another two hotels in Jakarta, including the Mariott again. Fortunately, the head of Jemaah Islamiyah, Noordin Muhammad Top, is shot in Solo.
MODERN ERA
2010 – Merapi volcano erupts.
2014 – Indonesia holds their presidential election between Jakarta’s Governor Joko Widodo and Prabowo Subianto. The former won, but both sides claim victory.
2016 – A bombing occured where three people detonated explosives near a Starbucks and threw grenades at a nearby police post. A United Nations information centre was also bombed.
2018 – Jakarta and Palembang hosts the 2018 Asian Games. On 29th October, Lion Air Flight 610 crashes into the sea. All 189 passengers and crew were killed.
2019 – Joko Widodo is re-elected as Indonesian president. He announces that the capital will be moved from Jakarta to East Kalimantan.
2020 – The first two COVID-19 instances are found in Indonesia. The first infected were caused by an infected Japanese person in Depok.
NOW – Epic bruh momento