Luso-Sundanese padrão facts for kids
The Luso-Sundanese padrão is a special stone monument. It was set up to remember an important agreement, or treaty, between the country of Portugal and the Sunda Kingdom. This agreement is often called the Luso-Sundanese Treaty of Sunda Kalapa.
Contents
A Treaty and a Stone: The Luso-Sundanese Padrão
Why the Treaty Was Needed
Around the early 1500s, the Hindu King of Sunda, named Sri Baduga, was worried. Powerful Islamic kingdoms like Demak and Cirebon were growing nearby. King Sri Baduga wanted help to protect his kingdom.
So, he sent his son, Prince Prabu Surawisesa, to Malacca. This was a Portuguese trading post. The prince went in 1512 and again in 1521. He wanted to invite the Portuguese to sign a peace treaty. He also wanted them to trade in pepper and build a fort at his main port, Sunda Kalapa.
By 1522, the Portuguese were ready to work with the Sundanese king. They wanted to get involved in the very profitable pepper trade.
Signing the Agreement
The leader of the Portuguese fort in Malacca at that time was Jorge de Albuquerque. In 1522, he sent a ship called the São Sebastião. Captain Henrique Leme was in charge of the ship. He brought valuable gifts for the king of Sunda.
We know about this treaty from an original Portuguese document from 1522. It includes the treaty's words and the signatures of people who saw it happen.
The Portuguese were warmly welcomed by the former prince, who was now King Prabu Surawisesa. The king allowed the Portuguese to build a fort. This fort would be at the mouth of the Ciliwung River. From there, they could load black pepper onto their ships. The king also promised to give 1000 sacks of black pepper each year to the Portuguese. That's more than 20 tons!
The treaty was made in two copies. One was for the king of Sunda, and one for the king of Portugal. Both copies were signed on August 21, 1522. Important Sundanese officials, like the chief minister, treasurer, and harbor master, were there.
The Stone Marker
On the same day the treaty was signed, Henrique Leme and his group went to the river mouth. This was the spot where the fort would be built. It was on the "land called Sunda Kalapa." There, they set up a special memorial stone. This stone is called a padrão.
It was a common Portuguese tradition to set up a padrão. They did this whenever they explored a new land. This particular padrão is now known as the Luso-Sundanese padrão. You can see it today at the National Museum in Jakarta.
Because of problems in another Portuguese area called Goa, the Portuguese couldn't keep their promise. They had planned to return the next year to build the fort. They didn't come back to the Java Sea until November 1526. Then, six ships arrived from Bintan.
Rediscovering History
The padrão was lost for a long time. It was found again in 1918. This happened at the corner of Jalan Cengkeh and Jalan Kali Besar Timur in North Jakarta. The Dutch East Indies government was working on the land in that area when they found it.
What the Padrão Looks Like
The Luso-Sundanese padrão is a stone pillar. It stands about 165 centimeters (about 5.4 feet) tall. The top part of the padrão shows an armillary sphere. This was a symbol of discovery used by King Manuel of Portugal. On top of the sphere is a three-leaf shape called a trefoil.
A cross, which is the symbol of the Order of Christ, is carved above the first line of writing. The writing itself says OSPOR .ESFERЯa/Mo. This is a short way of saying O Senhor de Portugal. Esfera/Espera do Mundo. In English, this means The Lord of Portugal. Sphere/Hope of the World.
See also
- List of personal standards of the Kings of Portugal
