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Syarif Hamid II of Pontianak
Syarif Hamid II of Pontianak
Syarif Hamid II of Pontianak
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Sultan Hamid II (born Syarif Abdul Hamid Alkadrie; 12 July 1913 – 30 March 1978) was the 7th Sultan of Pontianak and the only President of the State of West Kalimantan from 1946 to its disestablishment in 1950. He was the eldest son of Sultan Syarif Muhammad Alkadrie.[1] He was of mixed Malay-Arab ancestry and was raised by two British nationals — Salome Catherine Fox and Edith Maud Curteis.

Key Information

His wife Didie van Delden was a young Dutch woman who bore him two children – both reside in the Netherlands. During the Indonesian National Revolution, he was sympathetic to the returning Dutch and their attempts to implement a federal Republic of the United States of Indonesia, viewing the unitary Republic of Indonesia as an extension of Javanese domination. He was also a colonel in the Royal Dutch East Indies Army and designed the Indonesian national emblem—Garuda Pancasila.

Childhood and education

[edit]

Until the age of 12, Hamid was raised by Scottish foster-mother Salome Catherine Fox and fellow British expatriate Edith Maud Curteis.[2] Salome Fox was the sister of the head of a British trading firm based in Singapore. Under their tutelage, Hamid became fluent in English in addition to his native, Malay (standard Indonesian as well as his local Pontianak dialect). In 1933, Miss Fox died but he still remained in touch with her companion Curteis.[2]

Syarif was educated at several Europeesche Lagere School (European Primary Schools) in Sukabumi, Pontianak, Yogyakarta and Bandung. He studied for one year at a Hogere Burgerschool (Senior High School) in Bandung but did not graduate from THS Bandung. Syarif completed his studies at the Koninklijke Militaire Academie in Breda, Holland; graduating as a lieutenant in the Royal Dutch East Indies Army.

Japanese Occupation and the Indonesian Revolution

[edit]
Garuda Pancasila is the most visible legacy of Sultan Hamid II

Following the Japanese occupation of the Dutch East Indies on 10 March 1942, he was interned by the Japanese for three years in a Javanese prison camp due to close ties with the Dutch. Hamid's resentment towards the Japanese occupiers was affected by the murders of 28 relatives and his mentor Miss Curteis.[2] Hamid's father and two of his brothers along with many of the Malay elite of Kalimantan were executed by the Japanese in the Pontianak incidents. Following the Japanese surrender and defeat on 15 August 1945, Hamid was liberated by the returning Allied Powers that landed in Indonesia. He was subsequently promoted to the rank of colonel by the returning Dutch.

On 29 October 1945, he succeeded his father as the Sultan of Pontianak, adopting the title Sultan Hamid II. During the Indonesian National Revolution, Sultan Hamid II acquired an important position as a delegate for the State of West Kalimantan and always participated in negotiations at Malino, Denpasar, the Federal Consultative Assembly (BFO) and the Dutch-Indonesian Round Table Conference in Indonesia and the Netherlands.[3] As an active leader in the BFO, he was a firm supporter of federalism and opposed President Sukarno's concept of a unitary Indonesian Republic due to its domination by the Javanese.[2] [3]

Sultan Hamid II quickly ascended to the position of Adjudant in Buitengewone Dienst bij HM de Koningin der Nederlanden (Adjutant in the Extraordinary Service of Her Majesty the Queen of the Netherlands), which is the highest position as assistant to the Dutch Queen. As a colonel, he was the first Indonesian to acquire a significant military position in the colonial army. Due to international opposition to Dutch attempts to reinstate control over Indonesia in the United Nations, the Dutch were forced to recognise Sukarno's Republic as the de facto government of Java and Sumatra and to grant independence to a Republic of the United States of Indonesia on 27 December 1949.[4]

The APRA Coup and Unitarianism

[edit]

On 17 December 1949, Hamid II was appointed by Sukarno to the RUSI Cabinet but held no portfolio. This Cabinet was headed by Prime Minister Mohammad Hatta and included 11 Republicans and five Federalists. This federal government was short-lived due to conflicting differences between the Republicans and the Federalists as well as growing popular support for a unitary state.[4]

Hamid II would subsequently conspire with the former KNIL Captain Raymond Westerling to organise an anti-Republican coup in Bandung and Jakarta. On 22 December 1949, Westerling offered the leadership of APRA to Hamid II, this was initially rejected. Although, on 10 January 1950, Hamid II would agree to the position, with three conditions: APRA troops have to be Indonesians, Westerling told him all the location and strength of APRA troops, and Hamid II want to know the funding of APRA.[5] Westerling's Legion of the Just Ruler (Angkatan Perang Ratu Adil; APRA) comprised elements of the KNIL, the Regiment Special Forces, the Royal Netherlands Army and several Dutch nationals including two police inspectors. On 23 January 1950, APRA overwhelmed the small RUSI garrison and occupied parts of Bandung until they were driven away by reinforcements under Major General Engels.[1]

On 26 January 1950, elements of Westerling's forces infiltrated Jakarta as part of a coup d'état to overthrow the RUSI Cabinet. They also planned to assassinate several prominent Republican figures including the Defense Minister Sultan Hamengkubuwono IX, Secretary-General Ali Budiardjo, and APRIS Chief of Staff, TB Simatupang. To hide his involvement, Hamid II would receive a gunshot in his leg. Later Hamid II would ask Soekarno and Muhammad Hatta for a new cabinet to be formed, and he would be the new Defence Minister. However, they were intercepted and forced to flee by Indonesian military forces. Meanwhile, Westerling was forced to flee to Singapore and APRA had ceased to function by February 1950.[1][5]

Evidence from arrested co-conspirators led to the incarceration of Hamid II on 5 April. By 19 April, Hamid II had confessed to his involvement in the botched Jakarta coup and to planning an abortive second attack on Parliament scheduled for 15 February. Due to the presence of RUSI troops, the attack was aborted. The role of the Pasundan government in the coup led to its dissolution by 10 February, further undermining the federal structure. By late March 1950, Hamid's West Kalimantan was one of the four remaining federal states in the United States of Indonesia.[1]

Sultan Hamid II (1966)

Hamid's role in the coup led to increased agitation in West Kalimantan for its integration into the Republic of Indonesia. Following a fact-finding mission by the Government Commission, the RUSI House of Representatives voted by fifty votes to one to merge West Kalimantan into the Republic of Indonesia.[6] Following clashes with demobilised KNIL troops in Makassar and the attempted secession of an Ambonese Republic of South Moluccas, the federal United States of Indonesia was dissolved on 17 August 1950, turning Indonesia into a unitary state dominated by the central government in Jakarta.[6]

Family

[edit]

Sultan Hamid II's Dutch wife Didie van Delden was styled as Sultana Maharatu Mas Makhota and they had two children, a son and a daughter. Their son was styled as Pangeran (Prince) Syarif Max Yusuf Alkadrie, and died in the Netherlands on 9 August 2018. Sultana Maharatu died on 19 June 2010.

Citations

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d Kahin (1952), p. 454-56.
  2. ^ a b c d McDonald (1952), p. 150
  3. ^ a b Kahin (1952), p. 430-31
  4. ^ a b Kahin (1952), p. 448-49
  5. ^ a b Pamungkas, Oleh M. Fazil (25 June 2020). "Jabatan Panglima APRA untuk Sultan Hamid II". Historia - Majalah Sejarah Populer Pertama di Indonesia (in Indonesian). Retrieved 4 July 2024.
  6. ^ a b Kahin (1952), p. 456

Bibliography

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Syarif Hamid II of Pontianak

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Sultan Hamid II (born Syarif Abdul Hamid Alkadrie; 12 July 1913 – 30 March 1978) was the eighth and final ruling Sultan of the in western , reigning from 1945 to 1950, and the sole President of the State of from 1946 until its dissolution in 1950 amid Indonesia's transition to a unitary republic. Of mixed Malay-Arab aristocratic descent, he received a Western-style upbringing, including education at a in the , and attained the rank of colonel in the Royal Army. Hamid II ascended following his father's death after , during which he had been detained as a Japanese prisoner of war, and was installed as under Dutch auspices as negotiated independence. He advocated for a federal system of governance in the United States of , serving as a and contributing to national symbolism by designing the Pancasila, the emblem depicting a mythical bird clutching the Pancasila principles, which was formalized in 1950 under President Sukarno's supervision. His federalist position, perceived as collaboration with lingering Dutch interests against the centralizing Republican forces, resulted in his arrest in late 1950 and subsequent imprisonment until 1958, during which the was effectively abolished. This episode highlighted tensions between regional autonomists and Jakarta's unitary vision, with Hamid II enduring charges of that reflected broader purges of federalist leaders post-decolonization.

Early Life and Background

Birth and Family Origins

Syarif Abdul Hamid Alkadrie, who later reigned as Sultan Hamid II, was born on 12 July 1913 in , the capital of the in western (present-day , ). His birth occurred within the Dutch colonial administration of the , where the sultanate maintained nominal sovereignty under . He was the eldest son of Sultan Syarif Muhammad Alkadrie, who ruled as the sixth Sultan of from 1884 until his death in 1940. The Alkadrie dynasty, to which Hamid II belonged, originated with Sharif Abdurrahman Alkadrie, a of Arab descent from the Hadhrami lineage claiming prophetic ancestry, who founded the in 1771 after allying with Dutch forces against local rivals in . Over generations, the family intermarried with Malay nobility, resulting in Hamid II's mixed Arab-Malay heritage characteristic of the sultanate's aristocratic elite. This lineage emphasized Islamic scholarly and trading ties to the broader and Middle Eastern networks, with the Alkadrie rulers often bearing the "Syarif" denoting sharifian descent.

Childhood in Pontianak

Syarif Abdul Hamid Alkadrie, the future Hamid II, grew up in the royal palace of as the eldest son of Sultan Syarif Muhammad Alkadrie of the Alkadrie dynasty, which traced its origins to Arab-Malay nobility in western . His upbringing reflected the sultanate's status as a Dutch colonial , blending local aristocratic traditions with European influences amid 's role as a key trade port on ’s northwest coast. From infancy until approximately age 12 (around 1925), he was primarily raised by two British expatriate governesses: the Scottish Salome Catherine Fox and Edith Maud Curteis, who provided a structured, Western-oriented environment and taught him fluent English. This arrangement contributed to his cosmopolitan worldview, supplemented by instruction from native Malay-Arab tutors on princely responsibilities, Sunni Islamic principles, and sultanate customs. Such dual education was common among colonial-era princely heirs, fostering adaptability in a multi-ethnic, trade-dependent society where Arab-descended rulers maintained authority over Dayak and Malay subjects under Dutch oversight. During his primary years, Hamid attended several Europeesche Lagere Scholen (European-style primary schools) within the , including one in itself, as well as institutions in , , and . These schools emphasized Dutch , arithmetic, languages, and colonial , preparing elites for administrative roles while reinforcing European cultural norms over local ones. His childhood thus occurred in a period of relative stability before the global economic disruptions of , with 's palace serving as a hub for diplomatic interactions between Dutch officials, local , and international traders.

Education and Formative Influences

Upbringing Under Colonial Tutelage

Syarif Abdul Hamid Alkadrie, who would become Sultan Hamid II, spent his early childhood in the royal court of , a Malay-Arab sultanate allied with the administration since its founding in 1771. Born on 12 July 1913 as the son of Sultan Syarif Muhammad Alkadrie, he was groomed from infancy for potential succession amid the colonial framework that integrated local rulers into the Dutch governance structure. Until the age of 12, Hamid was raised primarily by two British governesses, Catherine Fox—a Scottish woman and sister of a British trading firm executive in —and Edith Maud Curteis, who immersed him in and , resulting in his fluency in the language. This arrangement, unusual in a Dutch-dominated colony, underscored the permeable influences of British and expatriate networks on elite Bornean courts, where Western tutors supplemented traditional Malay-Arab upbringing to prepare heirs for interactions with colonial powers. Concurrently, native instructors provided religious education in and tutelage in sultanate duties, balancing Islamic heritage with emerging Western sensibilities. Hamid's formal primary education occurred at multiple Europeesche Lagere Scholen (ELS), the Dutch colonial primary schools reserved for European settlers and privileged indigenous nobility, which he attended in , , , and between the early 1920s and mid-decade. These institutions delivered a modeled on Dutch metropolitan standards, emphasizing in Dutch and English, , , and European history, while enforcing disciplined routines and Western etiquette to assimilate select local elites into colonial administration. Attendance at such peripatetic schools reflected the mobility of princely families across the , exposing Hamid to diverse Javanese and Sundanese environments under tight Dutch oversight, which prioritized loyalty and utility over indigenous autonomy. This phase of tutelage cultivated in Hamid a pragmatic orientation toward colonial authority, evident in his later , while embedding linguistic and administrative skills that facilitated navigation of the hybrid socio-political order of the . The ELS system's exclusivity—enrolling fewer than 1% of indigenous children—reinforced class divisions but equipped figures like Hamid with tools for influence within the imperial hierarchy.

Military Training in the Netherlands

In 1933, Syarif Hamid Alkadrie, then the crown prince of , enrolled at the Koninklijke Militaire Academie (KMA) in , , the premier institution for training officers in the Dutch military. This enrollment followed his secondary education at European-style schools in the , including a year at the Hogere Burgerschool in , reflecting the colonial administration's practice of grooming indigenous elites for roles in the Royal East Indies Army (KNIL). The KMA curriculum emphasized infantry tactics, leadership, engineering, and colonial warfare doctrines tailored to the [East Indies](/page/East Indies) theater, preparing cadets for service in imperial forces. Syarif Hamid completed the three-year program in 1936, graduating with the rank of and immediate assignment to the KNIL, the Dutch colonial army responsible for maintaining order in the . His training occurred amid rising tensions in the , where Dutch policies sought to integrate select native aristocrats into the officer corps to bolster loyalty and administrative control, though such opportunities were limited and often viewed skeptically by Indonesian nationalists as tools of assimilation. Upon return to the , he served in various KNIL postings, eventually advancing to major before the Japanese invasion disrupted colonial structures in 1942. This Dutch military education instilled a worldview, influenced by European governance models, which later shaped his political stances.

Ascension Amid War and Occupation

Japanese Internment and Family Executions

During the Japanese occupation of the , which began with the invasion of in early , Syarif Hamid II was interned by Japanese forces in a camp on , reflecting their distrust of Malay elites perceived as aligned with Dutch colonial interests and unlikely to collaborate. This confinement lasted approximately three years, from March until Japan's surrender in September 1945, separating him from and sparing him from local purges. Hamid's internment occurred amid broader Japanese efforts to consolidate control over , where (military police) units conducted sweeps against suspected dissidents, including indigenous nobility. His absence from during this period positioned him as one of the few surviving members of the ruling family, as Japanese authorities executed his father, Syarif Alqadrie, along with two brothers and numerous relatives in a targeted operation on June 28, 1944. These killings formed part of the , a series of roundups and mass executions from September 1943 to mid-1944, aimed at eliminating potential sources of resistance or espionage among Malay, Dayak, and Chinese elites, with victims numbering in the thousands across sites like Mandor. The executions stemmed from Japanese paranoia over Allied infiltration and local unrest, prompting the of over 1,000 individuals in , including traditional leaders and scholars, many of whom were beheaded or shot without trial. Syarif Muhammad's death, confirmed as a direct result of Japanese reprisals, decimated the Sultanate's leadership, leaving as the presumptive heir upon his release. This loss of family members, alongside the broader elite purge, underscored the occupation's brutal suppression tactics, which prioritized security over governance and alienated potential local allies.

Return to Pontianak and Coronation as Sultan

Following the capitulation of Japanese forces in August 1945, Syarif Abdul Hamid Alkadrie, who had been interned during the occupation, returned to on 17 October 1945 in the company of Lieutenant Governor-General and elements of the Royal Netherlands (KNIL). This arrival occurred amid a two-month after the Japanese withdrawal, during which local Dayak and Malay groups had provisionally installed the 18-year-old Syarif Alkadrie as on 23 October 1945, anticipating the restoration of pre-war authority. Van Mook, seeking to reestablish Dutch administrative control through the (NICA), requested that Hamid—the designated heir of his father, Syarif Alkadrie, executed by the Japanese in 1943—accept the throne to provide continuity and counter Republican agitation. Hamid, then 32 years old with prior Dutch and KNIL service, agreed after deliberation, positioning himself as the legitimate successor over , whom he deemed too inexperienced for the post-war volatility involving ethnic tensions and independence movements. On 29 October 1945, the NICA formally announced Hamid's coronation as Sultan Hamid II, restoring the sultanate under Dutch auspices to stabilize West Borneo against Dayak unrest and nascent Republican forces. This move reflected NICA's strategy of backing compliant native rulers amenable to federal arrangements rather than full independence, though it provoked local opposition from those favoring unmediated sovereignty or viewing Hamid's alignment with colonial restoration as a betrayal of anti-Japanese resistance efforts.

Contributions to Indonesian Independence

Presidency of West Kalimantan State

Sultan Hamid II assumed the presidency of the State of (Negara Kalimantan Barat, later redesignated as the Special Region of or Daerah Istimewa Kalimantan Barat) in 1946, amid the Dutch reassertion of control following the Japanese occupation and the onset of the . This federal entity, comprising territories in western Borneo including the and surrounding principalities, was established as part of the ' strategy to counter the unitary Republic of Indonesia proclaimed in by fostering decentralized states loyal to a federal framework. As president, Hamid II, who had been installed as earlier that year, prioritized regional stability and representation for local ethnic groups such as Malays, Dayaks, and Chinese communities, inviting Dayak leaders to key negotiations like the Malino Conference (July 16–22, 1946) to ensure indigenous voices in federal discussions. The state's formal structure evolved on May 12, 1947, when it transitioned into the Special Region of West Kalimantan under Hamid II's continued leadership, aligning with the broader United States of Indonesia (Republik Indonesia Serikat or RIS) provisional federal system ratified on December 27, 1949. In this capacity, he advocated for federalism to safeguard outer island interests against perceived Javanese centralism, participating as a delegate in interstate consultations and serving as a minister without portfolio in the RIS cabinet to bridge local governance with national unity. His administration emphasized administrative continuity from pre-war sultanate models, including efforts to integrate diverse principalities (swapraja) into a cohesive entity while navigating revolutionary unrest and Dutch military presence. The endured until early 1950, when mounting pressure from unitary republicans led to the dissolution of federal states under the provisional , integrating into the unitary Republic of Indonesia by August 1950. Hamid II's tenure, spanning approximately four years, is credited by proponents of with preserving relative order in a volatile , though critics—often aligned with Jakarta's unitary narrative—later portrayed it as accommodationist toward Dutch interests, reflecting broader tensions between centralist and decentralized visions of Indonesian .

Design of National Emblem and Federal Advocacy

Sultan Hamid II contributed to the symbolism of the newly independent by designing the Pancasila, the adopted in 1950. His submission won a design competition organized to create a symbol representing the Pancasila state ideology, featuring the mythical bird as the central figure bearing a inscribed with the five principles: belief in one God, just and civilized humanity, unity of , democracy guided by wisdom in deliberation, and for all. The design drew from traditional Indonesian iconography, with symbolizing divine protection and vigilance, and was revised under President Sukarno's supervision before official adoption on 11 February 1950. This emblem has since represented the Indonesian state's foundational values, enduring as a core element of national identity despite Hamid's later political marginalization. As president of the State of within the federal structure established under the 1949 Dutch-Indonesian Round Table Conference agreement, II actively advocated for a of the (RIS) over a . He argued that would preserve regional autonomies and ethnic diversities across the archipelago's vast geography, preventing Java-centric dominance and fostering equitable power-sharing among states like , which encompassed Malay, Dayak, and Chinese communities. This position aligned with Dutch efforts to devolve authority post-independence, contrasting with the centralist republicans who sought to dissolve federal entities into a unified by 1950. 's advocacy, rooted in his role as a local sovereign and military officer familiar with colonial administrative divisions, emphasized pragmatic governance suited to Indonesia's multi-ethnic reality, though it ultimately contributed to his conflicts with unitarian forces.

Political Conflicts and the APRA Crisis

Tensions Between and

Syarif Hamid II, serving as president of the State of from 1946 to 1950 and a key participant in the Federal Consultative Assembly (BFO), advocated for a federal structure in post-independence to preserve regional autonomies and mitigate the risks of centralized dominance by the Java-centric Republican leadership. He argued that aligned with 's ethnic, cultural, and geographic diversity, allowing traditional sultanates like to maintain influence against uniform nationalization efforts. This position stemmed from his experiences under Dutch colonial federal experiments and post-war state-building, where he viewed as essential for equitable power distribution across the archipelago's outer islands. Opposing this, unitarian proponents under President and the Republican core emphasized a singular Republic of Indonesia (NKRI) to consolidate , eliminate Dutch-influenced divisions, and enforce ideological unity through centralized governance. They perceived as a mechanism prolonging colonial fragmentation, potentially weakening national defense and amid ongoing insurgencies and economic instability. These clashing visions surfaced acutely after the Conference, which established the federal (RIS) on December 27, 1949, granting states like legislative and executive powers under a loose . The federal-unitarian divide fueled political instability, with federalists like Hamid II resisting encroachments on state prerogatives, such as fiscal controls and military deployments dictated from . By early 1950, mounting pressures from Republican factions led Mohammad Hatta's federal cabinet to negotiate the RIS's dissolution on , 1950, reinstating a unitary provisional that dismantled state autonomies and integrated them as provinces. This shift not only dissolved as a entity but also positioned federal advocates as adversaries to the emergent unitary regime, exacerbating regional grievances and paving the way for subsequent rebellions in outer islands.

Alleged Role in the APRA Coup and Its Aftermath

Sultan Hamid II, as president of the State of and a advocate within the , contacted APRA leader in January 1950 to discuss actions amid the push toward unitarism. His alleged role involved conspiring with Westerling to support a coup against the republican leadership, aiming to preserve federal structures against centralization efforts. This collaboration reportedly arose from Hamid's frustration over exclusion from key positions, including the Defense Ministry in Sukarno's cabinet. Indonesian accounts, shaped by the post-coup republican dominance, frame such ties as subversive, though Hamid positioned them as defense of decentralized governance against Java-centric control. The APRA operations, including the January 23 Bandung uprising and a foiled Jakarta plot, implicated Hamid through associations with Westerling's Legion of Ratu Adil forces. Arrested in early April 1950 on evidence from co-conspirators, Hamid's detention marked the immediate unraveling of West Kalimantan's autonomy. His involvement fueled local unrest, prompting Dayak and other groups to demand direct integration with the unitary Republic of Indonesia to avert further instability. In the coup's aftermath, —previously one of the last persisting federal states—faced accelerated dissolution, merging into the republic by mid-1950 and eroding Hamid's political base. This shift reflected broader suppression of federalist remnants, with Hamid's case exemplifying the punitive response to perceived threats to national unity, leading to his prolonged ouster from power.

Imprisonment, Exile, and Later Years

Trial, Conviction, and Incarceration

Syarif Hamid II was arrested in early 1950 in connection with the failed APRA coup attempt of January that year, amid accusations of supporting federalist rebels against the unitary Indonesian state. Evidence from detained co-conspirators implicated him in plotting assassinations of key republican figures, including then-Defense Minister Sultan Hamengkubuwono IX, as part of efforts to restore federal structures. He confessed to involvement in these plots by mid-April 1950, leading to his initial incarceration without immediate trial. The case proceeded under forum privilegiatum, a legal provision allowing the (Supreme Court) to conduct the trial in the first instance due to the defendant's status and the era's statutes. Prosecutors demanded an 18-year sentence for (makar), citing his admitted intent to assassinate ministers and undermine the government, though direct ties to Dutch-backed elements in the remained unproven in court. On 8 1953, the convicted him of intending to commit , imposing a 10-year term minus three years already served in , resulting in seven additional years of confinement. Hamid II was imprisoned primarily in Jakarta facilities, enduring isolation reflective of political prisoner treatment during the early republican consolidation. His incarceration, spanning from 1950 to 1958, aligned with the broader suppression of holdouts, though later assessments by Indonesian scholars have highlighted the verdict's roots in unitarian political pressures rather than unequivocal evidence of treasonous acts beyond confessed intents. Release came in 1958 without formal pardon, marking his withdrawal from public life.

Release, Exile, and Death

Syarif Hamid II was released from in 1958, having served approximately eight years since his in 1950 related to the APRA coup allegations. His early release came amid Indonesia's consolidation as a , though details of the pardon or conditional terms remain sparse in historical records. Following his release, Hamid II resided primarily in , distant from , amid ongoing political sensitivities that precluded his return to active roles in . He adopted a low-profile existence, focusing on personal and limited communal service without re-entering public political life. Hamid II died on 30 March 1978 in at the age of 64, leaving the throne vacant and his palace in as a diminished landmark. His marked the end of direct dynastic continuity for the ruling line, with succession disputes emerging later.

Legacy and Historical Reassessment

Initial Portrayals as Traitor and Rehabilitation Efforts

Following the establishment of the unitary in August 1950, Syarif Hamid II was initially portrayed in official narratives and historical accounts as a traitor who collaborated with Dutch colonial remnants to undermine national unity. His advocacy for federalism through the (Republik Indonesia Serikat, RIS) from 1949 to 1950, coupled with allegations of involvement in the Andi Abdul Rahman Perkasa (APRA) coup attempt in 1950, framed him as an opponent of the centralist vision championed by President and republican forces. Convicted in 1953 on charges related to siding with Dutch-backed elements during post-independence conflicts, he received a sentence effectively amounting to 10 years of imprisonment, reinforcing depictions of him as a feudal relic loyal to foreign interests rather than Indonesian sovereignty. This portrayal aligned with the dominant unitarian ideology, which marginalized federalist leaders as disloyal, often overlooking Hamid's earlier roles in provisional governance and symbol design. Rehabilitation efforts gained momentum in the post-Suharto era, driven by historical reassessments emphasizing Hamid's tangible contributions to amid the complexities of . The Yayasan Sultan Hamid II, established by his descendants, has actively petitioned for recognition of his design of the Pancasila emblem—adopted in 1950 as Indonesia's national symbol—and his presidency of State from 1946 to 1950, arguing these predated and supported independence without proven treasonous acts. Proposals to confer national hero (Pahlawan Nasional) status surfaced as early as 2016, with submissions to the Ministry of Social Affairs highlighting archival evidence that his stance was part of the legally recognized RIS framework negotiated at the 1949 Round Table Conference, not inherent disloyalty. By 2020, these campaigns intensified, citing a 2023 designation for his original Garuda sketches as bolstering claims of patriotic legacy over alleged collaboration. Controversy persists, as evidenced by former intelligence chief A.M. Hendropriyono's 2020 public statement labeling Hamid a "pengkhianat" (traitor) for purported Dutch ties, which prompted legal complaints and debates in Indonesian media questioning the evidentiary basis of his 1950s conviction. Scholars and advocates counter that such views reflect a post-1950 historiographical bias favoring unitarian victors, with sources like Tirto.id noting insufficient proof of makar (treason) in trial records, urging a nuanced view of federalism as a pragmatic response to regional diversity rather than betrayal. Despite no formal hero conferral as of 2023, these efforts have shifted public discourse, incorporating Hamid's biography into discussions of Indonesia's pluralistic founding and prompting archival reviews that challenge earlier monolithic traitor narratives.

Enduring Impact on and Indonesian Symbolism

Sultan Hamid II's most prominent enduring contribution to Indonesian symbolism is the design of the Pancasila, adopted as the on February 11, 1950, during his tenure as Minister of State without Portfolio in the federal Republic of States (RIS). The emblem depicts the mythical bird bearing a shield with the Indonesian coat of arms and clutching a scroll inscribed with the five principles of Pancasila—, internationalism, , , and belief in one God—encapsulating the state's foundational . This symbol has persisted across 's unitary republic framework post-1950, appearing on official documents, currency, military insignia, and public architecture, underscoring its role in unifying diverse archipelago populations under a shared ideological banner despite the designer's later political marginalization. In , Hamid II's legacy manifests through his brief presidency of the State of from 1946 to 1950, which positioned the region as a federal entity advocating for local autonomy amid national centralization debates. This period highlighted Kalimantan's strategic role in early independence negotiations, influencing regional administrative structures and ethnic Dayak-Malay dynamics that echo in contemporary provincial governance. Local efforts to recognize him as a national hero, citing his emblem design and sovereignty contributions, reflect persistent cultural reverence in , where the Kadriah Palace—seat of his sultanate—remains a dynastic and historical landmark, with successors installed as recently as 2004. The , adapted from his era in republican colors, further perpetuates sultanate iconography, blending Islamic-Malay heritage with national symbols.

Personal Life and Family

Marriages and Immediate Relatives

Syarif Hamid II was born on July 12, 1913, as the son of Syarif Muhammad al-Qadri, the sixth of , and his third wife, Syecha Jamilah Syarwani. He had one full brother, Syarif Mahmud al-Qadri, and two half-sisters from his father's other unions, Syarifah Khadijah al-Qadri and Syarifah Fatimah al-Qadri. He married Dina van Delden, known as Didie or Marie van Delden, on May 31, 1938, in ; she was a woman of Dutch and Indonesian descent, later styled Sultana Maharatu Mas Makhota. The couple had two children: a daughter, Syarifah Zahara (also known as or Edith Denise Corry al-Qadri), who died before her mother, and a son, Syarif Yusuf (also known as Max Nico or Pangeran Syarif Max Yusuf Alkadrie), who resides in the . Didie van Delden passed away in 2010. Genealogical records indicate a second marriage to Reni, a woman from , though no children from this union are documented and contemporary historical accounts primarily reference only the marriage to van Delden.

Descendants and Dynastic Continuity

Syarif Hamid II and his principal wife, Marie van Delden (also known as Didie Alqadrie), had two children: a son, Syarif Yusuf Alkadrie (styled Pangeran Syarif Max Yusuf Alkadrie or Max Nico), born during the , and a daughter, Syarifah Zahara (also known as Edith Denise). The son, who resided primarily in the following the family's exile, was designated prior to the sultanate's effective dissolution but did not assume the throne amid the political upheavals of Indonesia's independence era. He maintained ties to , visiting the Kadriah Palace in April 2010 after an absence of 32 years to discuss family matters, and held the title Pangeran Jaya Sesepuh Keraton Kadriyah. Syarif Max Yusuf Alkadrie died on January 22, 2019, in at the National Brain Center Hospital. The patrilineal descent from Syarif II thus continued in exile abroad, with no resumption of sovereign rule, as the Indonesian government's unitarian policies post-1950 abolished formal sultanates and integrated former principalities into the . Dynastic continuity for the Alkadrie lineage, however, persisted through collateral branches of the , rooted in the Arab-Malay founding dynasty established by Syarif Abdurrahman Alkadrie in 1771. In a ceremonial revival on January 15, 2004, Syarif Abubakar Alkadrie—a cousin of Syarif II's son—was installed as sultan at Kadriah Palace in Pontianak, restoring symbolic traditions without political authority. He was succeeded in 2017 by Syarif Machmud Alkadrie as Sultan Pontianak IX, who continues the role in a cultural and advisory capacity, including conferring honorary titles within . This revival reflects broader post-Suharto efforts to rehabilitate regional royal houses as symbols of local identity, though the II branch remains detached from titular succession.

References

  1. https://www.kitlv.nl/sultan-hamid-ii-of-pontianak/
  2. https://jurnal.icjambi.id/index.php/ijes/article/download/164/249
  3. https://www.insideindonesia.org/archive/articles/return-of-the-sultans
  4. http://madmonarchist.blogspot.com/2016/08/princely-profile-sultan-hamid-ii-of.html
  5. https://www.geni.com/people/Sultan-Hamid-II/6000000010924386166
  6. https://www.genealogieonline.nl/en/stamboom-diehl/I539159.php
  7. https://alchetron.com/Sultan-Hamid-II
  8. https://archive.lib.cmu.ac.th/full/T/2007/socs1207sy_app.pdf
  9. https://www.scribd.com/document/424331003/Biography
  10. https://www.historia.id/article/sultan-hamid-ii-dan-polemik-gelar-pahlawan-nasional-dwj9z
  11. https://rri.co.id/pontianak/daerah/1880129/hut-tni-refleksi-nasionalisme-sultan-hamid-ii
  12. https://suvannabhumi.bufs.ac.kr/suvannabhumi/index.php?pCode=MN200005&pg=3&mode=fdn&idx=94736&num=1
  13. https://ari.nus.edu.sg/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/wps03_009.pdf
  14. https://www.iias.asia/sites/iias/files/nwl_article/2019-05/iias_nl56_0607_0.pdf
  15. https://www.nationaalarchief.nl/onderzoeken/nieuws/nieuw-binnengekomen-archief-max-alkadrie-voorvechter-van-een-federaal-indonesie
  16. http://www.hubert-herald.nl/IndoPontianak.htm
  17. https://www.iias.asia/the-newsletter/article/sultans-pocket-watch-case-japanese-wartime-robbery
  18. http://www.rode-leeuw.nl/IndoKalBarat.html
  19. https://teraju.id/english-version/determination-of-sultan-hamid-ii-national-hero-eliminating-dutch-factors-as-determining-the-title-of-hero-14128/
  20. https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/history/indonesia-regains-its-independence
  21. https://www.studenttheses.universiteitleiden.nl/access/item%253A2603781/view
  22. https://teraju.id/english-version/how-important-sultan-hamid-ii-to-become-a-national-hero-14175/
  23. https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2020/07/18/former-spy-chief-reported-to-police-for-alleged-defamation-of-national-emblem-designer.html
  24. https://journal.kci.go.kr/svn/archive/articleView?artiId=ART002927137
  25. https://research.vu.nl/files/98091985/528882.pdf
  26. https://studenttheses.universiteitleiden.nl/access/item%253A2603781/view
  27. https://www.kompas.id/artikel/en-jaksa-agung-soeprapto-abdi-hukum-yang-terlupakan
  28. https://www.ajhssr.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/ZL2049319323.pdf
  29. https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2025/01/20/ldyf-j20.html
  30. https://library.oapen.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.12657/53173/9789048557172.pdf
  31. https://www.nytimes.com/1953/03/26/archives/jakarta-trial-recessed-18year-term-asked-for-borneo-sultan-accused.html
  32. https://dandapala.com/flashback/detail/arsip-ma-1953-forum-privilegiatum-hukum-sultan-hamid-10-tahun-penjara
  33. https://www.bbc.com/indonesia/indonesia-53660517
  34. https://www.historia.id/article/lima-fakta-tentang-sultan-hamid-ii-vxl3x
  35. https://timesindonesia.co.id/kopi-times/282478/dilema-sejarah-sultan-hamid-ii
  36. https://rmol.id/read/2020/06/02/437310/sultan-hamid-ii-keturunan-habib-perancang-lambang-negara-indonesia-yang-terlupakan
  37. https://www.jpnn.com/news/sultan-hamid-ii-diusulkan-jadi-pahlawan-nasional
  38. https://rri.co.id/hukum/371775/alur-pengusulan-calon-pahlawan-nasional-sultan-hamid
  39. https://news.detik.com/berita/d-5055953/catatan-singkat-soal-sultan-hamid-ii-yang-disebut-hendropriyono-pengkhianat
  40. https://tirto.id/sultan-hamid-ii-tidak-terbukti-melakukan-makar-boCP
  41. https://www.kompas.com/tren/read/2025/08/09/133000065/sultan-hamid-ii--perancang-lambang-negara-yang-dianggap-pengkhianat-bangsa
  42. https://www.bbc.com/indonesia/majalah/2015/06/150610_majalah_perancang_garuda
  43. https://bpip.go.id/public/buku/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Garuda-Pancasila_Sejarah-Penciptaan-Lambang-Negara.pdf
  44. https://www.gramedia.com/literasi/biografi-sultan-hamid-ii/
  45. http://kerajaan-indonesia.blogspot.com/2010/07/last-dutch-queen-from-indonesia-dies.html
  46. https://teraju.id/opini/istri-sultan-hamid-didi-van-delden-ternyata-juga-keturunan-raja-sulawesi-selatan-ada-tuang-la-wawo-13781/
  47. https://generasisalaf.wordpress.com/2012/11/19/syarif-hamid-bin-muhammad-al-qodrie-lampung-pencipta-lambang-negara/
  48. http://kerajaan-indonesia.blogspot.com/2010/04/max-nico-son-of-sultan-hamid-ii-after.html
  49. https://www.tribunnews.com/regional/2019/01/22/syarif-max-yusuf-alkadrie-pangeran-jaya-sesepuh-keraton-kadriyah-pontianak-tutup-usia
  50. https://en.antaranews.com/news/122748/pontianak-sultanate-confers-royal-title-on-prabowo-subianto
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