Indonesia Pilgrimage To Larantuka East Flores
Article by OCEANIA WORLD TRAVEL
Larantuka, Historycal of Royal
Larantuka royal was a direct hereditary royal from Patigolo Ara Kian and his wife WatoWele Ata Utan. The ancient couple is believed as a man and a woman who was born from Mount Mandiri.
The historical fact said that since XI to XIII centuries, Larantuka with Madjapahit, and simultaneously brought the Hinduism influence to Larantuka and the area around, but the Islamic influence to Lamahala, Terong, and the areas around.
Archipelago, that be well known as the clan of Lamaholot, Lamaholot is also as their own language and their customs and traditions.According to the historical fact, there is the only one dynasty of Larantuka royal who ordered as the king, and they put Diaz Viera de Godhino (DVG) in to their family’s name.
Larantuka royal is an old royal, according to the appraisal it was approximately 700 years old. The removal phase inter-clans was happened, either from west or east, finally in development then be mixed in various wedding process or culture assimilation, and then transformed in a bigger union society that consisting of all Solor.
History Of The Arrival Of Portuguese In Flores Timur ( East Flores)
The historical fact said that on XV century a lot of traders from Portuguese visited Solor and dropped in Larantuka. The trade expedition sailed from Sumatera, Java, and Nusa Tenggara, to Maluku. They dropped in Flores Island to fill the water, brought food, and send sandalwoods that was very popular in trade with China. They also introduced the catholic religion to the villager through the trade expedition. Before the arrival of Portuguese, the local people were animist. They adored caves trees, big stone, etc. they belief was then turned by the Portuguese in to catholic.
In 1529, Solor and Timor area are given to the missionaries of Portuguese by the pope for spreading of catholic religion. In 1561, the bishop of Malaka sent some missionaries among others Father Antoni da Cruz, OP, Father Simao da Chagas, OP and brother Alexio, OP to establish the first catholic mission of Solor that concentrated in Lohayong village, because of the good situation of catholic expansion in East Flores. In 1556, Father Antonio da Cruz, Op initiated to build a fortress of fort Henriques in the center of mission in Lahoyang village.
Larantuka The Town of Reinha
Since the arrival of Portuguese, catholic began to develop in Flores and Solor archipelago. There were many parishes established at the time. The villages of Larantuka looked very interested in attendance of new religion. In 1559, Father Baltazar Diaz notified that there was a trade Portuguese baptized ± 200 people in big island located ± 16kms from Solor and a native noble brought to Malaka to be thought and baptized as an apostle.
While there was rivalry between Portuguese and the traders from Jawa. It was the threat to the mission security. The situation resulted in killing incident and some missionaries of Portuguese died as the first martyrs. They are Father Antonio Pestana, Father Simao de Monthanas, Father Simao da Chagas, and Father F. callasa, who was as the parish priest of Lewonama. The security annoyance also come from the Dutch. They attacked against the Portuguese in fortress of lohayong and just succeed to be defeated the fortress after blockading it during 3 months by their shooting from the sea. The down fall of the fortress resulted in many Portuguese left Solor for Malaka. While Father Agustino de Magdalena and Kapitan Fransiskus Fernandez lead some faithful followers moved to Larantuka. After dominating the fortress of Lohayong, the Dutch usually threatened Larantuka, and there were twice historical attacking in 1621 and 1641. on May 16, 1621, 4 ships of the dutch followed by 17 traditional boats of non-catholic natives did bombardment to Larantuka during two hours. It made the Larantukanese fled to the forest. Father Luis de Andrada as the parish priest at the time took the bigger responsibility to protect Larantuka as the center of mission. Like a miracle, Father Luis de Andrada succeeds to chase away the Dutch from Larantuka. The catholicons of Larantuka and surroundings realized that the affair meant to destroy their belief, the catholicon
By the full awareness, they prayed to God and surrendered themselves bellow the Mother Marry protection. After occupying Malaka,on 20 January 1641 the Dutch began to attack Portuguese again, which caused the existence of Portuguese in Larantuka was pressed. The King Tella, a king from sultanate of Makasar, considered that the moment had come to take by force the Solor archipelago, an area of Larantuka Royal. He arrived in Larantuka by a combat fleet that consisting of 150 ships and 6000 soldiers. He urged Father Antionio de S. Jacinto and Kapitan Fransiskus Fernandes to do a negotiation. But it refused by the both men. Therefore, the King Tella became angry and he ordered his soldiers to destroy Larantuka by sword and fire. All people of Larantuka fled to the forest. They witnessed the destruction of their hometown from the forest with hurt. Father Jacinto aroused a feeling of the people and urged them to do counter attack. They believe that God would save them. Finally, they surprised! The enemies were beaten back, and there were _+ 300 soldiers died in the battle. The King Tella and the others fled to Timor island. Larantuka town could be saved. The people of Larantuka experienced it as a miracle that happened again In their town. They gathered and went in procession to thank God. They handed over all of the to Mother Mother’s protection. The downfall of Malaka on January 14,1641 also caused the evacuation of the Portuguese on a large scale. A group of evacuee sailed to Larantuka bellow the guidance of Father Lucas Da Cruz, OP. While in 1665,there is group of evacuee came from Makasar lead by Vikjen Antonio Fransisco and judge of Portuguese, Mr. Fransisco Vieyra de Figuiredo.
There are some questions behind the history of power struggle of the trade policy hegemony in Archipelago, be related to the evacuation problem that faced by the Portuguese. Why did the Portuguese choose Larantuka as the best place for them.
Why didn’t they sail to Macao, Goa, Maluku, or Timor IslandIs it true, because of Larantuka never surrendered bellow the Dutch, as the reason for them leaved Malaka for Larantuka. Or is it true, because Larantuka already developed as one more important trade centre for Portuguese at the time. What were they looked for. The miracle experiences of the protection of Mother Mary. The Catholic Church of Indonesia notified that the King Ola Ado Bala, the 10th King, is the first king of Larantuka who baptized as a Catholic with the baptism name Don Fransisco Ola Ado Bala DVG. The King ruled by handing over the royal stick with golden head to St. Mary Reinha Rosary. This event has meaning that Reinha Rosary was in fact the King of Larantuka Royal and the descendants of Diaz Viera de Godinho were her representative in the world. When the King Don Lorenzo II, who has the proper name The King Usi Nenno. Ascended the throne on 1882,he performed again the ceremony of handling over the royal stick to St. Mary. Therefore, since that time Larantuka had the title of the TOWN OF REINHA.
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About the Author
Born in Philipina and having lived and studied in Philipina for over 5 years, Elsie Natalie is a recent university graduate with a passion for travel who has taken much inspiration from the exotic destination she has visited throughout the years.Having travelled extensively herself, throughout her home country in Philipina, Indonesia Region, Flores, Sumba, West Timor island, East Timor, Alor, Rote, Lembata, Sabu and other faraway destinations in Asia , including exotic hot spots like Komodo Island, Rinca, Kanawa Island, Bidadari Island, The Multy colored Lakes of Kelimutu, Labuan Bajo, Ruteng Manggarai, Ngada Bajawa, Ende, Maumere, Riung Marine Garden, and Much More unspoil region in east Nusa Tenggara, East Timor Holiday, she continues to nourish and build upon her tourism knowledge to bring our travel readers with a fresh outlook on the latest happenings in the holiday industry. More Information Tours and Travel Operator in Indonesia : Oceania World Travel