About Bengkulu

Bengkulu (formerly known as Bencoolen, Benkoelen, or Bengkulen, some call Bangkahulu) is a province located on the island of Sumatra. To the north is bordered by West Sumatra, in the east of Jambi and South Sumatra, while in the south with the Lampung.

History

In the area of Bengkulu now been established kingdoms, such as ethnic River Serut Kingdom, the Kingdom of Selebar, Pat Petulai Kingdom, the Kingdom of Central Buntar, Kingdom River Lemau, Sekiris Kingdom, the Kingdom of Great House, and the Kingdom of Marau cheery. Under the Sultanate of Banten, they become vazal.

British East India Company (EIC) since 1685 to establish trade center Bencoolen and pepper and place in storage now the City of Bengkulu. At that time, EIC expedition led by Ralph Ord and William Cowley to find a substitute for pepper trade center after the port of Banten falling into the hands of the VOC and EIC are forbidden to trade there. Treaties with the Kingdom of Selebar dated 12 July 1685 to allow the UK to establish a stronghold and various building trade. Fortress York was founded in 1685 around the River estuary Serut. The name "Bencoolen" is the name taken from a hill in Cullen, Scotland, Bin of Cullen (or variations, Ben Cullen). Since 1713 the fort was built Marlborough (completed 1719), which until now still standing upright. However, these companies realize the long run it is not profitable because it can not produce sufficient quantities of pepper.

Implementation since the New Testament London 1824, Bengkulu submitted to the Netherlands, with the Malacca rewards (as well as confirmation of ownership Tumasik / Singapore and Pulau Belitung). Bengkulu since then become part of the Dutch East Indies.

Discovery of gold deposits in the Rejang Lebong second half of the 19th century to make the place as a center of gold mining until the 20th century. Currently, commercial mining activities have been discontinued since the utmost deposit.

In the 1930's, the place Bengkulu disposal a number of supporters of independence activists, including Sukarno. At the time this is Fatmawati Sukarno acquainted with the soon to be his wife.

Since the independence of Indonesia, Bengkulu first into residency in the South Sumatra Province. New since the 18 November 1968 raised the status to a province-26 (before termuda East Timor).