Kuto Besak fortress

Kuto Besak is building a palace in the XVIII century became the center of Palembang Sultanate. The idea of establishing Benteng Kuto in initiative by Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin I who ruled in 1724-1758 and the implementation of the development is completed by the successor Sultan Mahmud Bahauddin who ruled in 1776-1803. Sultan Mahmud Bahauddin is a figure of Palembang Darussalam Sultanate of realistic and practical in international trade and a believer that makes Palembang as the central religious literature in the archipelago. Marking its role as a sultan's palace he moved to Kuto LAMO Kuto Besak. Dutch call Besak as Kuto Nieuwe palace new .

This fortress built in 1780 dengn architect who is not known with certainty and implementation of control work in a Chinese trust. Adhesive cement limestone bricks used in the Ogan River hinterland with egg white. Time used to build this Kuto Besak approximately 17 years. Place officially on Monday on 21 Feburari 1797.

Sketsa picture palace Palembang by J. Jeakes

Unlike the old location of the palace is located in the hinterland, the new palace stands in a position that is very open, strategic, and it is very beautiful. Position facing the Musi River.

At that time, the City of Palembang is still surrounded by the children of the river that split the city into islands. Kuto Besak was as if standing on the island because it is limited by Sekanak River in the west, Tengkuruk River in the east, and Kapuran River in the north.

Sketch a picture palace Palembang year 1811

Kuto Besak fortress at this place by Komando Military Region (Kodam) Sriwijaya.
Development and regulation in the area around Plaza Benteng Kuto Besak akan projected to be a place of entertainment open to sell Musi charm and historic buildings. If viewed from the bridge or across Ulu Ampera, the look is the broad background with a palm tree row in the Benteng Kuto Besak, and the water tower at the Office Mayor of Palembang.

At night in the day, akan atmosphere feels more dramatic. Light from the light-tier garden lights create the reflection on the surface of the yellow river.

The city has a number of local government development plan to support the Plaza Benteng Kuto Besak as tourism.


Forms and soil conditions in the city of Palembang as though berpulau-island, and by the Netherlands gave him the title as the de Twintig Eilanden der Stad (City of Two Puluh Island). Then according to G. Bruining, the island's most valuable (dier eilanden) is the place Kuto Besak, Kuta Lama and the Great Mosque stands.

Form to its islands in the city of Palembang is because the number of children and the river that cut through this city. Palembang is also rightly called River City One hundred. Whereas in the early colonial period, Palembang dijuluki by them as het Indische Venetie. Other is the surname de Stad des Vredes, that is where the rest (mean's Dar Salam). And this is indeed the official name of the Sultanate of Palembang Darussalam.

Structure and Technical

According to I. J. Sevenhoven, regeering commisaris Netherlands first in Palembang, Kuto Besak measuring 77 roede width and length of 49 roede (Amsterdamsch roede = approximately 3.75 m, or the length is 288.75 meters and 183.75 meters wide), with a strong wall around high and 30 feet wide and 6 or 7 feet. This wall with 4 bastion (bastion). Inside the walls there are still similar and almost the same height, with the gates strong, so that this can also be used to paint the walls first if you can didobrak (see LJ. Sevenhoven, Painting, page 14).

Measurement of the latest konsutan get yourself a slightly different size, the length of 290 meters and 180 meters wide.

Opinion de Sturler megenai condition fortress Kuto Besak:
"... Roede width 77 and length 44 roede, equipped with a 3 and a half bastion bastion full, a complete wall around all four sides. Wall thickness is 5 feet high from the ground and 22 and 24 feet.
In the middle of the Palace called Dalem, a special residence for the king, the higher a few feet from the ordinary building. Entirely surrounded by high walls of protection, so take one for the king. No one shall be king to live near this place unless the person or family who diperintahkannya. The other stone buildings in the Palace is a place to store ammunition and bullet. " (see W. L de Sturler - Proeve - page 186)

At the time of the battle against Dutch colonists year 1819, there were as many as 129 shoots gun above the wall Kuto Besak. Meanwhile, when the war years in 1821, only 75 shoots gun above the wall Kuto Besak and 30 shoots in the wall along the river, which threaten the attacker mode .*** [triyono-infokito]


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Buratan gate (west gate side) Benteng Kuto Besak remaining