Locations index

Rulers from more than 350 different locations in and around Asia sent diplomatic letters to Batavia Castle during the 1625-1812 period. These were selected for the current digitisation project. This page provides in a clear overview and a map showing these locations in relation to Batavia and the details of the correspondence, such as the amount of letters received and sent.

A world map showing all the locations found in the incoming and outgoing diplomatic letters from Batavia:

Download the full KML file with the geographical coordinates of all locations here:

The top ten locations from which letters were written to and received from Batavia:

Download the full overview here, sorted by their number of letters:

Download the full overview here, sorted geographically:


Browsing and searching for locations

The locations were the respective administrative and political centres, and residences of the rulers. Sometimes these centres (kratons, palaces) still exist. The location names are given by their modern name and are grouped alphabetically under that name. Locations may have different alternative names and usually they have a known geographical position on the world map. For research purposes, the location’s modern name is used throughout.


Place Number of letters Location
Batavia Castle of Batavia > Java/Bali > South East Asia 8537
Banten Surosowan Palace > Java/Bali > South East Asia 807
Palembang Benteng Kuto Gawang > Sumatra > South East Asia 393
Cirebon Keraton Kasepuhan > Java/Bali > South East Asia 385
Ayutthaya Ayutthaya Historical Park/King Narai's Palace > Thailand > Siam > South East Asia 378
Ternate Keraton Kesultanan Ternate > Moluccas > South East Asia 376
Timor Timor > South East Asia 336
Solor West- and East Nusa Tenggara > South East Asia 327
Jambi Kediaman Sultan Jambi, desa Dusun Tengah > Sumatra > South East Asia 324
Padang Sumatra > South East Asia 303
Banjarmasin Kayu Tangi > Borneo > Banjar > South East Asia 265
Tidore Keraton Sultan Tidore > Moluccas > South East Asia 249
Bima Istana Sultan Bima > West- and East Nusa Tenggara > South East Asia 246
Makassar Istana raja Gowa > Sulawesi > Gowa > South East Asia 219
Bacan Keraton Sultan Bacan, Labuha (original palace destroyed) > Moluccas > South East Asia 202
Rote West- and East Nusa Tenggara > South East Asia 186
Kupang Benteng Concordia > Timor > South East Asia 178
Kartasura Keraton Kartasura > Java/Bali > South East Asia 167
Semarang Fort Prins van Oranje > Java/Bali > South East Asia 165
Lamakera West- and East Nusa Tenggara > Solor > South East Asia 161