Dutch–Selangor war (1784–1786)

The Dutch–Selangor war also known as Perang Satu Malam was conflict over a fort in Bukit Malawati.^[3] The Dutch saw this as an opportunity to attack Selangor as a response to Selangor's raids on Dutch Malacca.^[3] This enraged Sultan Ibrahim of Selangor who was still governing the sultanate. Both countries signed a peace treaty and later, improving relations.^[4]

Following the Dutch takeover of Malacca in 1641, Sultan Ibrahim of Selangor began to see Dutch Malacca as a threat to Selangorian territory and began raiding the city.^[5] The Dutch reacted strongly to this and asked Dirk van Hogendorp to launch a full invasion against the Selangor.^[6] Sultan Ibrahim also sympathized with Johor in their war with the Dutch for attacking Dutch Malacca in 1783 where the Dutch almost lost.^[7]

At 13 July 1784, The Dutch who was in charge of commander Dirk van Hogendorp with 11 warships and also a help from the Siak sultanate army led by Raja Muhammad Ali when they move out from Malacca to fully scaled an attack from Kuala Selangor. The Dutch army shelled Kuala Selangor fiercely and gave a tough battle to the Selangor soldiers from the direction of Sungai Selangor and were retaliated by the cannons of Sultan Ibrahim's soldiers in the fort. The Selangor military is led by a warlord named Saiyid Jaafar. The fierce war between these two sides lasted for 2 weeks.^[8]

After two weeks of fighting, the Dutch managed to capture Kuala Selangor and at the same time were able to capture the whole fortress of the Selangorian civilians. The Sultan Ibrahim and his followers retreated back to Pahang and were welcomed by Treasurer Abdul Majid. The Dutch also destroyed the fort and built a new one named it as a "Fort Altingsburg" as a respect for the Dutch Governor-general and "Fort Utrecht" as a Dutch warship.^[9]

Meanwhile in Pahang, Sultan Ibrahim has organized a strategy for a year to recapture Bukit Malawati from the hands of the Dutch. Treasurer Abd Majid has prepared and donated equipment for war. So in 1785, Sultan Ibrahim together with the people of Pahang as many towards Bukit Malawati to attack and recapture back from the Dutch. On 27 June 1785, an attack was launched on Bukit Malawati at night by surprise. Sultan Ibrahim, who is indeed known as an aggressive person in accordance with the identity of the Bugis, fought all the way that night. Daggers, spears, spears as well as maces and guns were used as best as possible to defeat the Dutch. Finally the Dutch soldiers retreated and escaped by boat back to Malacca, Sultan Ibrahim returned to the throne after a year of leaving the country.^[10]

Following that, once again Dirk van Hogendorp went to Kuala Selangor with a larger force of 17 warships. But this time no attack was made, only a siege was made. The siege around the Selangor River was launched in July 1785. So the price of rice and other necessities in Selangor rose due to the siege. The siege is concluded inclusive as many soldiers died due fighting. After a year of fighting, Peace was heard by both countries and was signed. It later also improved relationships against both countries^[11]