Sack of Yogyakarta

The sack of Yogyakarta took place on 20 June 1812, during British rule of Java. Under Robert Rollo Gillespie, a British expeditionary force assaulted the keraton of Yogyakarta, deposing the reigning Sultan of Yogyakarta Hamengkubuwono II after a series of disputes between the sultan and colonial rule.

Tensions between the British and the Yogyakarta Sultanate arose shortly after the British takeover of Java, and despite a treaty in late 1811, both sides began preparations for war with Hamengkubuwono II preparing a military rebellion against the British. Conflict erupted in June 1812 as the British dispatched over 1,000 soldiers to Yogyakarta, which captured the keraton by storm on 20 June. Hamengkubuwono II was captured and exiled, with his son Hamengkubuwono III installed as new Sultan. British and Sepoy troops also plundered the keraton, seizing a large amount of treasure along with Javanese literary works and archives.