Origins Inderapura was known as
Ujung Pagaruyung (lit. 'Edge of Pagaruyung') in
Minangkabau. As Inderapura originally constituted the southernmost extremity of the Minangkabau realm as western
rantau or
pasisir (dependencies). Inderapura together with
Benkulen,
Painan,
Padang and
Pariaman on the same coast, and
Siak, Inderagiri and Jambi on the eastern flank, made up the eight
bab or gateways to the kingdom. With the weakening of
Pagaruyung's power during the 15th century, several other coastal Minangkabau regions, such as
Inderagiri,
Siak,
Jambi and Inderapura were left to fend for themselves. But the development of Inderapura only really began when
Malacca fell to the Portuguese in 1511. Trade flows that had previously travelled through the
Malacca Strait were largely shifted to the west coast of Sumatra and the
Sunda Strait. Inderapura's development and expansion was mainly supported by pepper. also known as
Negeri Dua Puluh Kota. However, it is thought to have coincided with the start of the pepper trade in the region in the mid-16th century, fuelled by pepper cultivation efforts on Inderapura's southern boundary as far as Silebar (now in
Bengkulu Province). By this time, Inderapura had established friendships with the Banten and
Aceh sultanates.
Acehnese influence script When the
Sultanate of Aceh expanded into the
Pariaman region, Indrapura halted its expansion and formed a friendship with Aceh. Through a marriage between Raja Dewi, the daughter of
Sultan Munawar Syah (Raja Mamulia) of Indrapura, with
Sultan Firman Syah, brother of the then King of Aceh,
Sultan Ali Ri'ayat Syah (1569–1575). Through this marital relationship and its economic power, Indrapura gained great influence in Kotaraja (
Banda Aceh) and its court. Indeed, given Aceh's thriving commercial interests on the Minangkabau coast, it was in Aceh's best interests to cultivate an alliance with Inderapura to keep the vital sources of supply from the south open to the Minangkabau pepper ports. Inderapura's immense economic sway in Aceh swiftly transformed into a commanding influence over the Kota Raja court, evoking profound anxiety among the
ulama (Muslim scholars) and
orangkaya (chiefs and noblemen) of Aceh. A
hulubalang (district chief) from Indrapura are said to have collaborated in the assassination of Sultan Ali Ri'ayat Syah's son, thus paving the way for Raja Dewi's husband to ascend the throne and be renamed
Sultan Sri Alam in 1576. Although his reign lasted only three years before he was ousted from the throne due to an incompetent administrative skills and conflict with Aceh's
ulamas, especially in his addiction to
cockfighting. However, Indrapura's influence continued to persist in the Sultanate of Aceh from 1586 to 1588. A relative of Raja Dewi, Sultan Buyong, reigned under the title Sultan Ali Ri'ayat Syah II, before being killed through
regicide by the machinations of Acehnese
ulamas. By in 1620, Acehnese influence extended well beyond
Tabing (in
Padang) or
Kota Tengah. According to Dutch reports, in 1616 Inderapura was described as a prosperous kingdom under the rule of
Raja Itam, with around 30,000 people engaged in agriculture and
plantations that relied on rice and pepper. Furthermore, during the time of Raja Besar around 1624, the
Dutch East India Company (VOC) succeeded in making an agreement for the collection of agricultural products to be directly loaded onto ships without having to dock at the harbour first, as well as being exempted from port taxes. Likewise, during the time of Raja Puti, Raja Besar's successor, Inderapura continued to implement a duty-free harbour to boost its economy. There were early Dutch efforts to collect Inderapura pepper at Silebar. But the difficulties of timing the pepper's arrival there, as well as competition with rival traders, eventually convinced them to try direct collection at Inderapura, even at the risk of getting dangerous diseases. Sultan Iskandar Muda was alarmed by Inderapura's efforts to resist his commercial control. In 1626, Wide spread rumors circulated among Inderapura peoples, about the Acehnese sovereign's plans to extend his authority further south towards Silebar, but they evidently had no effect on Inderapura's foreign policy. When
Raja Besar died and his brother
Raja Puti took over, he also defied Aceh and continued the duty-free trade with the Dutch. This culminated to Inderapura refusing and trying to evade paying taxes to the Acehnese commanders. This angered the Acehnese rulers who sent a fleet in 1633 to punish Inderapura. Raja Puti who ruled Inderapura at the time was executed along with several other nobles. All pepper cargo available were seized and many people were taken prisoner to be brought to
Kotaraja. The Dutch did not respond for a reprisal as Sultan Iskandar Muda encouraged transactions with the Dutch. Aceh stationed its commander in Inderapura and
Raja Malfarsyah, grandson of Raja Dewi and close connection with Aceh's royal house, was appointed king in place of
Raja Puti. Aceh's control weakened when it was led by Iskandar Muda's successor,
Sultan Iskandar Tsani. Furthermore, during the reign of
Ratu Tajul Alam, Aceh's influence in Inderapura, particularly along the southern fringe of its empire on the west coast began to be replaced by the Dutch (VOC). The foremost exponent of the Dutch forward policy on the west coast was
Johan Groenewegen, who was appointed Resident at Aceh in 1659. Company policy toward Inderapura under Groenewegen was significantly different from Aceh's in its heyday, and was temporarily conducive to the resurgence of local political groups. Whereas Aceh attempted to administer its conquered territories directly through royal representatives, the Dutch desired minimal administrative involvement at this stage. Acehnese policy had previously meant the suppression of indigenous political life, but the Dutch now saw it as critical to strengthen local authority to protect against external threats and to maintain local internal cohesion, both of which are required for peaceful trade.
Decline and power struggle Raja Muzzaffar Syah's appointment of his son, Muhammad Syah, as successor. This did not follow the existing Minangkabau succession principle which, although in all other respects stringly
matrilineal, recognized the
patriline in the case of the rulership. Not until the death in 1676 of Sultan Ahmad Syah, ruler at
Pagaruyung, was the rule challenged in Minangkabau proper, when the title of Raja Alam was contested between his son and nephew. This struggle was apparently settled in 1683 in favor of the matrilineal system, but had been anticipated some two decades earlier by a similar institutional challenge in Inderapura. Although the inauguration of Muhammad Syah as sultan did not meet opposition from the
menteri, the subsequent extension of his authoritarian influence into the
Negeri Empat Belas Kota (or
Menjuto) provoked a reaction. De facto authority in this region was in the hands of
Raja Adil (or Raja Itam), Raja Muzzaffar Syah's eldest sister's son. He had the undivided support of the fourteen menteri who favored the matrilineal tradition, but the old Muzzaffar Syah, ignoring popular wishes, appointed his son-in-law Sulaiman to the rank of wakil (deputy). This was a deliberately calculated move to hold Raja Adil in check in the knowledge that the young chief aimed ultimately at attaining the rulership of Inderapura on the basis of his matrilineal claims, as opposed to the patrilineal claims of Sultan Muhammad Syah. Fueled by discontent, Raja Adil forged a rebellion that ignited internal dissent within Inderapura. This uprising, spearheaded by Raja Adil, was sparked by his unwavering conviction in the right to claim the throne, grounded in the matrilineal system. Unprepared,
Sultan Muhammad Syah and his father asked the Dutch for help in quelling the rebellion in Inderapura in 1662. As a result, the Sultan of Inderapura was forced to flee along with his father and relatives. Sultan Mansur Syah was sent to
Batavia to sign a treaty in 1663 granting the VOC a monopoly on pepper purchases and the right to work the gold mines. Thus the domination of the VOC in Inderapura was secured. In October 1663 the government of Inderapura was restored under firm VOC influence, and the Sultan of Inderapura recognised Raja Adil as his representative in
Manjuto. == Governance ==