Sanggau Regency
Sanggau Regency is a regency in the north-central section of West Kalimantan province of Indonesia. On 18 December 2003, the regency's eastern portion was split off to create a new regency called Sekadau, leaving Sanggau with an area of. As of the 2020 census, Sanggau Regency had a population of 484,836; the official estimate as at mid 2024 was 510,415. Alongside the Landak, Sekadau, and Sintang regencies, it is one of four West Kalimantan regencies with a predominantly Catholic populations.
History
Etymology
Local legend says the name came from that of a plant that grows around the Sekayan River, where the Sanggau Kingdom was founded in the 4th century.Early history
The Kingdom of Sanggau is thought to have been founded on 7 April 1310, which is now commemorated as the anniversary of the founding of Sanggau town, where the regency seat is located. The kingdom was led by the princess Dara Nante, who abdicated and gave the throne to her personal assistant Dakkudak. Dakkudak, who proved to be an incompetent ruler, was unable to lead the kingdom's administration. He fled the kingdom in secret, abandoning the throne and leaving the kingdom paralyzed.:171After Dakkudak's flight, the state of the kingdom is unclear until 1485, when one of Dara Nante's relatives, a princess named Dayang Mas Ratna took the throne. She moved the kingdom's capital from Labai Lawai to Mengkiang, which is close to the Sekayam river. During this time, she married Nurul Kamal, a Muslim from the Banten Sultanate. It is unclear whether Sanggau has adopted Islam at this point.:172 Ratna's successor was a princess named Dayang Puasa, who was related to the royal family of the neighbouring Sintang Kingdom.:32 During Puasa's reign, Sanggau and Sintang maintained good relations, and she consolidated power within the realm.:32
Puasa's successor was a king named Abang Gani, the kingdom's first male ruler. During his reign, Sanggau was involved in a conflict with the Matan Kingdom, which was also known as the Tanjungpura Kingdom. The conflict started when Gani's daughter Dayang Seri Gemala married a noble from the Matan royal family. Gemala's husband was unfaithful to her and married again, insulting the Sanggau royal family. Gemala was brought back to Sanggau not long after.:172 Following Gani, every ruler of Sanggau was male.:97 Gani's reign ended in 1614 and in 1658. Bungsu changed his name to Sultan Mohammad Jamaluddin Kusumanegara. During Jamaluddin's reign, Sanggau moved its capital to its current location, Sanggau town. During this time, Sanggau formed ties with the Cirebon Sultanate in Java.:173
19th century
Mohammad Tahir II ruled Sanggau from 1860 to 1876. Tahir II made an agreement that settled the border between Sanggau and Brunei Sultanate, which later defined the modern Indonesia–Malaysia border.:175 During Tahir II's reign, Sanggau made its first contact with the Dutch Empire. Tahir II welcomed the Dutch in the kingdom's capital and allowed them to build an outpost in Sanggau.:175Tahir II died in 1876 and was succeeded by Sultan Sulaiman Paku Negara. The era after Tahir II is defined by the start of Dutch control over the region. In 1877, the sultan of Sanggau and the governor-general of the Dutch East Indies, Johan Wilhelm van Lansberge, signed a treaty leasing land to the Dutch East Indies. in 1921, the Dutch forced Sultan Muhammaid Said Pakunegara to step down and he was replaced by Sultan Tahir III.
20th century
In 1942, Japan occupied the Dutch East Indies. During that time, the reigning sultan of Sanggau was Sultan Muhammad Arif Pakunegara. His reign only lasted for a year; he was killed by Japanese forces and replaced by pro-Japanese Sultan Marhabah Saleh.:98 Marhabah Saleh was succeeded by Gusti Ali Akbar. The region also underwent conflict between natives and Japanese forces over forced labour, known as the Dayak Desa War. The town Meliau in Sanggau was captured briefly by Dayaks and revolting labourers but the Japanese recaptured it on 31 August 1945.After the Japanese surrendered, the region was left in a power vacuum. Ali Akbar was supportive of the establishment of an Indonesian republic and the returning Dutch staged a coup against him using troops under the command of a Dutchman named Riekerk. Ali Akbar was replaced by Muhammad Taufik Surya Negara,:177 whose reign lasted until the abolishment of swapraja under the newly recognized Indonesian Republic on 2 May 1960, ending the existence of the sultanate.
Recent history
After fall of Suharto and the rapid decentralization that followed, on 18 December 2003 Sanggau Regency was split to create a new Sekadau Regency, reducing its size. On 26 July 2006, Sanggau Sultanate was revived by cultural figures with the assistance of local government, nearly 49 years after its abolition. The sultanate was only intended for symbolic and cultural purposes, and no longer held political power. The revival ceremony was attended by several other Indonesian ceremonial monarchs such as sultan of Palembang, as well as local politicians.Geography
Sanggau Regency borders Sintang and Sekadau Regencies in the east, Malaysia in the north, Ketapang Regency in the south, and Landak Regency in the west. Sanggau Regency is located in the interior of Borneo, and is divided by the Kapuas River, which is one of the longest rivers in Indonesia. Its topography is dominated by wetlands and swamps, which are generally low-lying. The regency's soil formation is dominated by podzol, which covers around 44% of the regency's area. In Toba and Meliau District, latosol soil can be found.Climate
Sanggau has a tropical rainforest climate with heavy to very heavy rainfall year-round. The wettest months generally are November and December with average rainfall on as many as 20 days while the driest is usually August with average of 5 days rainfall. The regency's highest annual rainfall is also during November, which is around and the lowest is during August which may be as low as.Governance
Administrative districts
Sanggau Regency consists of fifteen districts. The areas and populations as of the 2010 and 2020 censuses are given below, together with the official estimates as at mid 2024. The table also includes the locations of the district administrative centres, the number of administrative villages in each district, and its post code.| Kode Wilayah | Name of District | Area in km2 | Pop'n 2010 census | Pop'n 2020 census | Pop'n mid 2024 estimate | Admin centre | No. of villages | Post code |
| 61.03.13 | Toba | 1,127.20 | 11,954 | 15,829 | 17,365 | Teraju | 7 | 78572 |
| 61.03.20 | Meliau | 1,495.70 | 46,150 | 50,408 | 51,328 | Meliau Hilir | 17 | 78571 |
| 61.03.01 | Kapuas | 1,382.00 | 78,768 | 88,308 | 90,832 | Sanggau | 26 | 78511 - 78516 |
| 61.03.02 | Mukok | 501.00 | 18,256 | 21,240 | 22,163 | Kedukul | 9 | 78581 |
| 61.03.04 | Jangkang | 1,589.20 | 26,674 | 29,010 | 29,490 | Balui Sebut | 11 | 78591 |
| 61.03.05 | Bonti | 1,121.80 | 20,281 | 23,288 | 24,176 | Bonti | 9 | 78552 |
| 61.03.09 | Parindu | 593.90 | 32,426 | 38,993 | 41,211 | Pusat Damai | 14 | 78561 |
| 61.03.11 | Tayan Hilir | 1,050.50 | 29,990 | 36,710 | 39,065 | Kawat | 15 | 78464 |
| 61.03.12 | Balai | 395.60 | 22,279 | 28,891 | 31,439 | Batang Terang | 12 | 78563 |
| 61.03.10 | Tayan Hulu | 719.20 | 31,080 | 38,169 | 40,670 | Sosok | 11 | 78562 |
| 61.03.08 | Kembayan | 610.80 | 25,796 | 31,776 | 33,898 | Tanjung Merpati | 11 | 78553 |
| 61.03.06 | Beduai | 435.00 | 10,744 | 13,032 | 13,819 | Bereng Berkawat | 5 | 78555 |
| 61.03.03 | Noyan | 487.90 | 9,873 | 11,674 | 12,258 | Noyan | 5 | 78554 |
| 61.03.07 | Sekayam | 841.01 | 29,639 | 39,811 | 43,916 | Balai Karangan | 10 | 78556 |
| 61.03.21 | Entikong | 506.89 | 14,558 | 17,697 | 18,782 | Entikong | 5 | 78557 |
| Totals | 12,857.70 | 408,468 | 484,836 | 510,415 | Sanggau | 169 |