Benteng Bukit Kursi di Pulau Penyengat Sebagai Pusat Pertahanan Kesultanan Lingga Riau

Summary

The Bukit Kursi Fortress on Penyengat Island, built by Sultan Mahmud in 1805, was a crucial defensive structure for the Riau Lingga Sultanate. Located atop a hill, it served as a strategic stronghold against Dutch attacks. Accessible by boat and foot, visitors can explore the fortress and its 8 cannons while enjoying panoramic views of the sea. The fortress features a moat and bastions designed for defense, and it reflects the island's historical significance as a former royal hub. Sultan Mahmud gifted the island to his wife, Engku Putri Raja Hamidah, making it a center of political and trade importance.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Bukit Kursi Fort is a historical fort built by Sultan Mahmud of the Riau-Lingga Sultanate on Penyengat Island.
• 😀 The fort is located on a hill called Bukit Kursi and can be accessed by boat from Tanjung Pinang, followed by a walk up the hill.
• 😀 Visitors can also rent a rickshaw to tour the island, though walking is required to reach the fort.
• 😀 To reach the fort, visitors must walk past significant landmarks like the Penyengat Mosque and the tomb of Sultan Abdurrahman.
• 😀 The fort is surrounded by a moat with a bridge, and it features cannons positioned at various corners for defense.
• 😀 Bukit Kursi Fort was built to defend the Sultanate from attacks, especially from the Dutch.
• 😀 Penyengat Island, the location of the fort, was an important strategic location for trade and was once the political center of the sultanate.
• 😀 The fort was a gift from Sultan Mahmud to his wife, Engku Putri Raja Hamidah, in 1805.
• 😀 The fort covers nearly 7,000 square meters and has a strong defensive design with high, wide moats that are difficult to penetrate.
• 😀 The fort features eight cannons placed at bastions, which are strategically positioned for both observation and defense against sea attacks.

Q & A

What is Bukit Kursi Fortress and where is it located?

Bukit Kursi Fortress is a defense fort built by the Sultanate of Riau Lingga. It is located on Pulau Penyengat, specifically on Bukit Kursi, an elevated area on the island.

Who built the Bukit Kursi Fortress?

The Bukit Kursi Fortress was built by Sultan Mahmud.

How can visitors reach the Bukit Kursi Fortress?

Visitors can reach the fortress by first taking a boat ride from Tanjung Pinang to Pulau Penyengat, which takes about 15 minutes. From the island’s harbor, visitors can either rent a rickshaw to tour the island or walk uphill to the fortress.

What is the historical significance of Pulau Penyengat?

Pulau Penyengat is historically significant as the center of government of the Riau Lingga Sultanate during the reign of Sultan Mahmud and Sultan Jafar. It was also a strategically important location due to its favorable position on trade routes.

What were the primary defenses of the Bukit Kursi Fortress?

The Bukit Kursi Fortress was primarily defended by 8 cannons, strategically placed at various bastions, and a deep moat surrounding the fort to make it harder for enemies to breach.

What is the purpose of the moat surrounding the fortress?

The moat, which is about 3 meters deep, served as an additional defensive feature, making it difficult for enemies to reach the fortress and enhancing its security.

How is the fortress structured?

The Bukit Kursi Fortress is rectangular in shape and built with neatly arranged bauxite stones. It covers an area of nearly 7,000 square meters and includes bastions where the cannons are placed.

What was the reason for Sultan Jafar to move the government center to Pulau Penyengat?

Sultan Jafar moved the government center to Pulau Penyengat due to its strategic location along profitable trade routes, which made it an ideal hub for administration and defense.

How many cannons are placed on the fort’s bastions, and where are they located?

There are 8 cannons placed on the fort’s bastions. Two cannons are positioned on the southwest, northwest, and northeast bastions, while one cannon is placed on the southeast bastion and at the central part of the fortress facing north.

What was the strategic purpose of placing the cannons facing the sea?

The cannons were strategically placed facing the sea to defend the fortress and the Sultanate against naval attacks, particularly from the Dutch, who were a common enemy at the time.