via Jakarta Post, 09 May 2019: Manuscripts plundered from the Yogyakarta Palace during Raffles’ time have been returned – in digital form.
Seventy-five of Yogyakarta Palace’s centuries old manuscripts have finally returned home after being stolen by British troops around 200 years ago, albeit only in their digital form.
The Brits stole the manuscripts after winning a battle known as the Geger Sepoy (Sepoy Mayhem) in 1812, during the reign of Sultan Hamengkubuwono II.
The manuscripts contain historical and cultural accounts during the reign of Sultan Hamengkubuwono I. The valuable documents were pillaged when British forces attacked the palace.
They plundered not only hundreds of babad (chronicles) and serat (texts) but also palace heirlooms, treasures and cash. The tragic incident occurred during the British colonial rule over Java under Lieut. Gen. Sir Stamford Raffles.
Source: Yogyakarta Palace recovers centuries old manuscripts – Art & Culture – The Jakarta Post
