Sonbai Kecil facts for kids
Sonbai Kecil or Lesser Sonbai was a small kingdom of the Atoni people in West Timor. Today, this area is part of Indonesia. Sonbai Kecil existed from 1658 until 1917. At that time, it joined a larger area called Kupang, which was set up by the Dutch colonial government.
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Moving to Kupang
Sonbai Kecil started when a group broke away from a bigger kingdom called Sonbai. This happened during a time when European countries were fighting for control in Indonesia in the 1600s.
The Sonbai kingdom teamed up with the Dutch East India Company (VOC) in 1655. The VOC had a base in Kupang since 1653. They were fighting against Portugal, which controlled other parts of the region, like Larantuka on Flores and Lifau on Timor.
One reason for the fighting was a valuable tree called white sandalwood. This special wood grew in certain parts of Timor. After some battles where the Portuguese won in 1657 and 1658, a part of the Sonbai people moved to the Dutch area in Kupang. Another group, called Amabi, who were also allies of the Dutch, moved with them.
Another part of the Sonbai people stayed inland. They were watched by the Portuguese and became the kingdom of Sonbai Besar. The Kupang area was already home to the Helong people. But the new groups settled near the Dutch fort without major problems with the people already living there.
Working with the Dutch
Later, two more groups from northwest Timor, Amfoan (in 1683) and Taebenu (in 1688), joined Sonbai Kecil, Helong, and Amabi. These five groups were loyal friends to the Dutch East India Company. Most of the rest of Timor was controlled by people of mixed European and Asian background, called Topasses.
Until 1749, these five allies often had small fights with kingdoms that supported the Topasses. One of these was the kingdom of Amarasi.
Sonbai Kecil was led by a ruler the Dutch called an "emperor." In the official Dutch ranking, this ruler was second in importance after the Helong ruler. However, in the traditions of Timor, the Sonbai Kecil ruler was seen as a symbolic, "female" figure. This meant they were not expected to handle the daily running of the kingdom.
Instead, two main leaders, called regents, managed the kingdom's affairs. These regents were seen as "male" figures in relation to the ruler. They came from the Saubaki and Loewis families and usually worked closely with the Dutch.
After about 1740, the ruler's main home was in Bakunase. This place was a few kilometers south of Kupang, on a steep hill overlooking Kupang Bay.
Changes by the Dutch
In the early 1900s, the Dutch started to take more direct control over West Timor. Soon after, they changed how local areas were governed in Kupang.
In 1917, Sonbai Kecil, along with Amabi, Amabi-Oefetto, Kupang-Helong, Taebenu, and Funai, were all combined. They formed a larger self-governing territory called Kupang. This new territory did not include the town of Kupang itself.
From 1918, this new Kupang territory was led by a raja (king) from the Nisnoni family, named Nicolaas Isu Nisnoni. Under him were five district rulers called fettors. In 1930, his power grew to include Fatuleu, another kingdom further east.
Kupang was taken over by the Japanese in early 1942, and they ruled very strictly. Towards the end of their rule, Nicolaas Isu Nisnoni stepped down. His son, Alfonsus Nisnoni, became the ruler from 1945 to 1955.
Freedom for Indonesia
Soon after, Dutch troops returned. At the same time, the Indonesian National Revolution began, aiming for Indonesia's independence. Alfonsus Nisnoni led the local group of Persatoean Demokrasi Indonesia. This group wanted Indonesia to become independent.
Even so, Alfonsus Nisnoni chose to work with the Dutch authorities. In 1947, the town area of Kupang was added to the self-governing territory of Kupang.
After Indonesia became fully independent in 1949, the council of Timorese rajas agreed to slowly end the traditional roles of the rajas. President Sukarno visited West Timor in 1950. Alfonsus Nisnoni welcomed him when he arrived in Kupang. In 1955, the rule of the rajas in Kupang ended. The Nisnoni family then took on roles as traditional (adat) leaders and local government officials.
List of Rulers
- Ama Tuan Jr. 1659–1672
- Bi Sonbai (Usi Tetu Utang) 1672–1717
- Bernardus de Leeuw 1717–1726
- Corneo Leeuw 1728–1748
- Daniel Taffy 1748–1760
- Jacobus Albertus Taffy 1760–1776
- Alphonsus Adrianus of Sonbai Besar 1776–1782
- Baki Bena (Bernardus Nisnoni) 1776/82–1795
- Dirk Hendrik Aulasi 1795–1798
- Nube Bena (Pieter Nisnoni I) 1798–1821
- Isu Baki Sonbai after 1821
- Ote Nuben Nisnoni mentioned 1828–1833
- Babkas Nube (Pieter Nisnoni II) ?–1839
- Meis Babkas Nisnoni 1839–1860
- Pieter Messi Nisnoni 1860–1874
- Isu Nisnoni 1875–1889
- Said Meis Nisnoni 1890–1902
- Baki Bastiaan Meis Nisnoni 1905–1911
- Nicolaas Isu Nisnoni 1911–1917, of Kupang 1918–1945
- Alfonsus Nisnoni, of Kupang 1945–1955
