History of Bandung

The city of Bandung did not exist simultaneously with the formation of the Bandung Regency. The city was built with a very long grace period after the Bandung Regency was established. Bandung Regency was formed around the middle of the 17th century AD, with the first Regent Tumenggung Wirangunangun. He ruled Bandung Regency as its capital at Krapyak (now Dayeuhkolot), about 11 kilometers to the south from the center of present-day Bandung City. When Bandung Regency was led by the 6th Regent, namely R.A. Wiranatakusumah II (1794-1829) nicknamed "Dalem Kaum", power in the archipelago shifted from the Company to the Dutch East Indies Government, with the first Governor-General Herman Willem Daendels (1808-1811). To carry out his duties smoothly on the island of Java, Daendels built Jalan Raya Pos (Groote Poshweg) from Anyer at the tip of West Java to Panarukan at the tip of East Java (± 1000 kilometers). The construction of the highway was carried out by the indigenous people under the leadership of the respective regional regents.

In the Bandung area in particular and the Priangan area in general, Jalan Raya Pos was started in mid 1808, by repairing and widening the existing road. In the area of ​​Bandung today, the highway is Jalan Jendral Sudirman – Jalan Asia Afrika - Jalan A. Yani, continues to Sumedang and so on. In order to make road construction smooth, and to make it easier for colonial government officials to visit the bupati's office, Daendels in a letter dated May 25, 1810 asked the Bandung Regent and Parakanmuncang Regent to move the district capitals to Cikapundung and Andawadak (Tanjungsari) areas respectively, closer to Jalan Raya Pos.

Apparently Daendels did not know that long before the letter was issued, the Regent of Bandung had planned to move the capital of Bandung Regency, and had even found a good and strategic place for the center of government.

The place chosen is a vacant land in the form of forest, located on the west bank of the Cikapundung River, south bank of Jalan Raya Pos which is under construction (center of Bandung City now). The reasons for the relocation of the capital, among others, are that Krapyak is not strategically located as the center of government, because it is located on the south side of the Bandung area and is often hit by floods during the rainy season.

Around the end of 1808/early 1809, the Regent and a number of his people moved from Krapyak to the land for the new capital. At first the Regent lived in Cikalintu (Cipaganti area), then moved to Balubur Hilir, then moved again to Kampung Bogor (Kebon Kawung, on the current Pakuan Building land). The regent led a number of his people, including residents of Kampung Balubur Hilir, to clear forest on land for the future capital (downstream Cikapundung area). It is not known for certain how long the city of Bandung was built. However, the city was not built on the initiative of Daendels, but on the initiative of the Regent of Bandung, in fact the construction of the city was led directly by the Regent. In other words, Regent R.A. Wiranatakusumah II is the founder (The Founding Father) of the City of Bandung. The city of Bandung was inaugurated as the new capital of Bandung Regency with a besluit (letter of graduation) on September 25, 1810. This means, as long as there are no other sources that show more accurate facts regarding the founding of the City of Bandung, then September 25, 1810 can be accounted for for its validity as "Anniversary Day". Bandung".