What You Need To Know About The 8 Heroes On The Current Rupiah Notes

Indonesian national heroes on rupiah (Photo via Smeaker)

With a new design of Indonesia's rupiah notes underway, we take a look at these heroes one last time.

Brilio.net/en - The central bank will soon be rolling out new designs of Indonesia's Rupiah banknotes.While we can't wait to get our hands on thecrisp notesand fresh colors coming our way, the thought of bidding farewell to the familiar faces printed on the current onesisleaving us just a tad sentimental. Wethought now would be the perfect time to look back on these heroes.

1. Kapitan Pattimura (Rp 1,000)

Pattimura on the Rp1,000 banknote. (Photo via delcampe)

The Pattimura statue in Ambon City. (Photo via nau-kibo)

Born Thomas Matulessy on June 8, 1783, Kapitan Pattimura is a symbol of the Moluccans' struggle against Dutch colonialists, leading skilled guerillatroops in battlesagainst theirarmies. He is most notorious for the War of Pattimura on May 5, 1817, during which he crushed the Dutch in their ownDuurstede Fort. The enemy, however, managed to capture Pattimura and he died at the gallows on December 16, 1817 after refusing to negotiate.His last words were, Old Pattimura may be hung to death, but young Pattimuras will soon arise! He was 34.

The Pattimura International Airportin Ambon, Maluku, isnamed after him.

2) Pangeran Antasari (Rp 2,000)

Prince Antasari on the Rp2,000 banknote. (Photo via allnumis)

The siege of Gunung Tongka fort - one of Antasari's bases - by the Dutch. (Photo via sairarasyaddi)

Pangeran (Prince) Antasari or Panembahan Amiruddin Khalifatul Mukminin was a ruler of Banjar Sultanate in Borneo or Kalimantan. He was a king, a warlord, anda religious leader who spent his life fighting against Dutch colonialism in Borneo. He led armies to crush Dutchs outposts inMartapura, Riam Kanan, Hulu Sungai, Tabalong, Tanah Laut, as well as the banks of the Barito River, all the way to Puruk Cahu.

Despite all the modern armaments and additional troops from Batavia (Jakarta), the Dutch had a hard time capturing Antasari. 10,000 guldens was offered for the prince's head, but no one dared to take the bounty. Antasari passed awayat the age of 75 due to smallpox and lung disease after the Bukit Bagantung war, without everbeing captured.

3. Tuanku Imam Bonjol (Rp 5,000)

Tuanku Imam Bonjol on the Rp5,000 banknote. (Photo via Duitkuno)

The Statue of Tuanku Imam Bonjol in Bukittinggi, West Sumatra. (Photo via ahlulbaitnabisaw)

Tuanku (Lord) Imam Bonjol or Muhammad Shahab (born 1772) was a ulema, a leader, and a warrior. He was a warlord during the Padri War, leading theMinang, Batak, and Mandailing tribes in Sumatra against the Dutch. Captured on October 1837 by the Dutch in what was supposed to be a negotiation, he was then exiled to Cianjur, West Java, and later on to Ambon, Maluku, and Minahasa in South Sulawesi, where he passed way on November 8, 1864.

4. Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II (Rp 10,000)

Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II on the Rp10,000 banknote. (Photo via allnumis)

The Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II Museum in Palembang. (Photo via Panduanwisata)

Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II or Raden Hasan Pangeran Ratu was the last sultan of Palembang-Darussalam in 1803 1821. He led several wars against the Dutch and Great Britain, the most famous beingthe War of Menteng, where from 1819 to 1821, a strong defense strategy managed to keep the Dutch out of their territory until a sudden attack during the month of Ramadan caught them off guard.

The Sultanand his family were exiled to Ternate, Maluku, in 1821, until he passed awayon September 26, 1852. TheSultan Mahmud Badaruddin II International Airport in Palembang is named after him.

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