Lombok Cross 1894


Instituted / (code) 1895 / (LK)
Amount issued


Value category Average

At the end of the 19th century the people on Lombok rebelled against the reigning Balinese monarchs. Especially monarch Anak Agoeng Madé was notorious for his cruelties against the local Sasaks. A few Sasak leaders asked the Dutch for help against their Balinese oppressors. During the entering of Mataram the Balinese monarch Anak Agoeng Madé, who had oppressed the Sasaks population the most, committed suicide and so the direct motive had disappeared. The Dutch now had an opportunity to extend their power on Lombok. Negotiations with the Balinese radja of Lombok apparently went well, because the power of the Dutch troops was overwhelming. The Balinese monarchs suspected (rightly) that the Dutch might not soon be leaving. After a while they realised that the Sasaks request for help had only been an occasion for the Dutch to finally 'pacify' Lombok completely. One night, the Dutch troops were attacked. Almost a hundred people were killed and over 250 people were wounded (The Dutch called it "the Treason of Lombok"). Until then, it was the biggest defeat that the Dutch colonial troops had suffered in the 19th century. With the help of new troops Lombok was pacified with a lot of harsh violence. During the campaign the damage inflicted was large: artillery shot everything between Ampenan and Mataram. Anything that was still standing after that was more or less razed to the ground. Still, they hesitated to attack Tjakranegara, where the radja resided. They waited until there were about 10.000 soldiers. Everything between Mataram and Cakranegara was demolished: the artillery wanted to have space to attack. The radja sent a plea, which was answered, with grenades. The radja claimed to know nothing of the nocturnal attack on the Dutch. It was all invein: Tjakranegara was attacked and conquered. The radja escaped but later surrendered and he was banned to Batavia.

During a large manifestation on the Malieveld in The Hague in June 1895, Queen Emma and Princess Wilhelmina awarded decorations to the men who fought during this campaign. On the obverse the medal shows the battles Lombok/Mataram/Tjakranegara/1894. On the reverse the Dutch lion and in Dutch "tribute to Army and Navy".