Conquest of fort in the Kalike mountains, 6 August 1655

Conquest of fort in the Kalike mountains, 6 August 1655. After the conquest of Asaudi by VOC troops, during the Great Ambon War (1651-1656), a large part of the defenders had fled into the mountainous interior, and had erected a new fortification in a location as yet unknown to the VOC. Tensions between the Hoamoalese inhabitants and their Makasar allies ultimately brought the head of Hulong to offering the VOC troops to lead them to this new fortification. On 6 August, VOC troops conquered the hilltop fortress with no substantial opposition, and captured one of the Hoamoalese leaders, Kaicili Saidi, who was wounded. De Vlamingh, the commander of the VOC troops, personally killed him in a brutal manner.

The drawing shows, among others, how the VOC troops land and use abandoned local forts as a staging area for their expedition into the interior, and the hillfort which is eventually conquered. A poem on the top right praises the victory.

Part of an illustrated manuscript version of Livinus Bor, Amboinse Oorlogen, describing the events of the Great Ambon War (1651-1656), and defending and glorifying the acts of the VOC commander in this conflict, Arnold de Vlamingh van Oudshoorn.

Legend: A. Twee verlate vestingen van Maccassaren, B. Ons volck dat Berghwaert op marcheert, C. Daer ons volck uijt de Cloof tussen de bergen van daen comen daer sij haer’t meest deel van nacht verhouden hadden, D. Daer ons volck inde negerie trecken, en op rugh de Maccassaren uijt hare woonstede drijven, E. De Negerie, F. Het huijsie, daer den Capp. Laut in geattrapeert ende ter nedergemaeckt is, G. Waer de Heere Superintendent met een gedeelte van het volck weeder van booven comt.

See also: Koninklijke Bibliotheek Brussel, Ms. 17982, fol. 85.