HISTORY OF THE BANJARMASIN

The origin of Banjarmasin city

The origin of banjarmasin city comes from the long hisyory of Banjarese Kingdom. At that time it had been known the term of Banjarmasin. This term was taken from the name of Patih who has rendered many services in founding the Banjarese kingdom. He has Patih Masih who came from the village of Oloh Masih that in the term of ngaju language means the people of Malay or village of Malay people. The village of Oloh Masih becomes village of Banjarmasin thereafter.

Patih Masih and some of other Patih agreed to assign the Prince Samudera to become The King. Prince Samudera is one of the sons of Kingdom Daha who was thrown away and isolated in the village of Oloh Masih. Since that time, the Banjarese Kingdom founded. Then Prince Samudara subjugated Muara Bahan and other small kingdoms, and also dominated the river lanes where at that time became central of trading.

The deveopment of Banjarese Kingdom had disturbed the power of Prince Tumenggung. He has the King of Daha who was also the uncle of Prince Samudera. Finally, there had been invasion by Daha. The long war had made Prince Samudera had been pushed and needed some helps from Demak Kingdom. Demak Kingdom was the first Islamic and the largest Kingdom in Indonesia. Demak agreed to help Banjarese Kingdom with the term that the King and also their people declared to become Moslem. Prince Samudera agreed. The military of Demak came with Khatib Dayan to Islamize the people, and the Prince Samudera changed his name to become Sultan Suriansyah.

Banjarese Kingdom attacked and defeated Daha with the supports and help of Demak. It occurred on september 24, 1526. The event has been declared as:

1. The day of the winning of Prince Samudera. It was the origin Banjarese Islamic Kingdom.

2. The surrender of Daha Kingdom to Banjarese Kingdom.

3. The birthday of city of Bandjarmasih as the capital city of the Kingdom, it had
succeeded in dominating the rivers and mainland of South Kalimantan.

Name of Banjarmasih was called by the Dutch Banjarmasih. Until 1664, the letters which came from Nedherland to Indonesia for Banjarmasin Kingdom still mentioned the Kingdom of Banjarmasin. In the dutch, they called it “Bandzermash” after 1664 it changed to be bandjarmassingh, in the middke of 19 century, when the Japanese arrived, it mentioned again Bandjarmasin and the in Indonesia New Spelling, it is mentioned Banjarmasin.

The Brief of Banjarmasin in the past

The live of Banjarmasin city is not inseparable from the Barito River and the small rivers surrounded. Banjarmasin has played the strategic role in trading among the island since along time ago. It was due to located between Barito and Martapura River. Barito River was large and deep, and Martapura River was so big that it could be passed by the big ships. The ship of Samudera could arrive in Banjarmasin city which located 22 km from Java sea.

In the dutch era, Banjarmasin had become the harbor for all the area of Barito river stream. It was also a transist harbor for the ships which came from Singapore and Java to the east coast of East Kalimantan. The goods sent from Kalimantan namely rattan, dammar, purun mat, duck egg, fruits, plaited rattan, material, jewelry, Diamonds. The goods sent from java and Singapore such as rice, salt fish, ceramics, kerosene, salt, etc.

The industry belonged to European founded in Banjarmasin such as fabric of ice, shipyard that that belonged to BorneoIndustry Mij. The trading managed by Borneo Soematra Handel Mij, heinneman &Co, and branch office of Javache bank en Factorij.

At that time, Banjarmasin had regular and straight voyage to Sampit, Kotabaru, Samarinda, Martapura, Marabahan, Negara, Amuntai, Buntok, Muara Teweh, Kuala Kapuas, Surabaya, And Singapore.