The Chinese Conquest of Taiwan: A Detailed Look at the Battle of Baxemboy, 1661
The history of Taiwan has been shaped by various powers throughout the centuries, with the island playing a significant role in regional conflicts, trade, and military strategy. One of the most pivotal events in Taiwan’s early history occurred in 1661, during the Chinese Conquest of Taiwan. This event, which culminated in the Battle of Baxemboy, marked a critical turning point as the Ming dynasty sought to establish control over the island, displacing the Dutch, who had previously established a colonial foothold there.
Background to the Battle: The Chinese Conquest of Taiwan
By the mid-17th century, Taiwan had become a strategic prize in the larger power struggles of East Asia. The island had been under the control of the Dutch East India Company since 1624, when the Netherlands established a colonial presence in the region, primarily focusing on trade and missionary work. The Dutch used Taiwan as a base for furthering their influence in the region, but their control was challenged by the arrival of the Ming loyalists under the leadership of Koxinga (Zheng Chenggong), a military commander who had risen to prominence after the fall of the Ming dynasty to the Qing.
The fall of the Ming dynasty in 1644 to the Qing forces left many Ming loyalists scattered throughout Asia, continuing to resist the new Qing rulers. Koxinga, a Ming loyalist and the grandson of a prominent Ming general, sought to establish his own power in southern China and Taiwan. His father, Zheng Zhilong, had been a key figure in the region’s maritime trade but had defected to the Qing. Upon his father’s death, Koxinga made it his mission to assert control over Taiwan, which had become a symbol of resistance to Qing rule.
In 1661, Koxinga launched an ambitious military campaign to drive the Dutch out of Taiwan and establish a base for his operations against the Qing. The Dutch, who had been in Taiwan for nearly four decades, were not prepared for the scale of the attack that Koxinga would bring.
The Battle of Baxemboy, 1661
The Battle of Baxemboy, fought in 1661, is a significant event within the broader Chinese Conquest of Taiwan. The battle itself was not one single confrontation but a series of engagements that culminated in the Dutch surrender. The key figures involved in the battle were Koxinga’s forces and the Dutch colonial defenders stationed at Fort Zeelandia, the Dutch stronghold on the island.
The Forces Involved
Koxinga’s forces were substantial and well-prepared. According to historical records, the Chinese side numbered approximately 2,000 land troops, supported by 60 war junks, each crewed by about 150 men. This suggests that Koxinga’s total force could have numbered as many as 11,000 soldiers and sailors, a formidable force for the time. On the Dutch side, the defenders at Fort Zeelandia were significantly outnumbered, with estimates suggesting around 500 Dutch soldiers, along with a smaller number of local allies, who were tasked with defending the fort against the approaching Chinese assault.
The Battle and its Strategy
The battle itself was characterized by a combination of land and naval engagements, which were a hallmark of the conflict in East Asia during the 17th century. The Chinese forces, led by Koxinga, utilized their superior numbers and the mobility of their war junks to block Dutch supply lines and isolate Fort Zeelandia from reinforcements. The junks, which were large, heavily armed ships, played a crucial role in the naval component of the battle, while Koxinga’s land forces engaged in a siege of the fort.
The Dutch, realizing the vulnerability of their position, attempted to break the siege with several sorties, but they were ultimately overwhelmed by the superior numbers and strategic coordination of the Chinese forces. The siege continued for months, with the Dutch defenders running low on supplies and facing mounting pressure.
The Surrender of the Dutch
After several months of intense siege warfare, the Dutch, facing starvation and dwindling morale, were forced to negotiate a surrender with Koxinga. The Dutch were granted safe passage off the island, and in return, they handed over control of Taiwan to the Chinese forces. The surrender marked the end of Dutch rule on the island and the beginning of Koxinga’s brief rule over Taiwan, which lasted until his death in 1662.
The Dutch departure from Taiwan was a significant blow to European colonial ambitions in East Asia. It also signified the first major Chinese foothold on the island, which would later become a part of the Qing Empire after Koxinga’s death.
The Aftermath: Ming Control and Legacy
The Chinese Conquest of Taiwan had lasting implications for both the island and the broader region. For Taiwan, the end of Dutch rule meant a shift in the island’s political and cultural landscape. Koxinga, despite his victory, ruled Taiwan for only a short time. His death in 1662 led to his son, Zheng Keshuang, taking control of the island, but the Ming loyalists’ hold on Taiwan was fragile. In 1683, the Qing Empire, now fully established under Emperor Kangxi, would take Taiwan from the Zheng family, marking the island’s full incorporation into the Qing Empire.
For the broader Chinese context, the conquest of Taiwan was an important symbol of resistance against Qing rule and the Ming loyalist cause. Koxinga’s victory was celebrated by many as a triumph for the Ming dynasty and its supporters, even though the Ming dynasty had long been overthrown. The battle and Koxinga’s rule on Taiwan also represented the complex maritime power struggles in East Asia during the 17th century, involving not just Chinese and Dutch forces, but also Japanese pirates, indigenous Taiwanese groups, and other regional players.
Conclusion: A Military and Cultural Turning Point
The Battle of Baxemboy and the subsequent Chinese Conquest of Taiwan in 1661 were crucial moments in the island’s history. The Dutch surrender and Koxinga’s brief reign marked a shift in Taiwan’s political control, setting the stage for later Qing domination. This event also underscores the role of Taiwan as a focal point of regional power struggles in East Asia, with colonial interests, local resistance, and the ambitions of different Chinese dynasties playing out on the island.
Koxinga’s military acumen and strategic use of naval forces helped shape the future of Taiwan, and his victory over the Dutch remains a significant event in the history of both Chinese maritime warfare and Taiwan’s eventual integration into the Chinese state. The legacy of the battle is not just in its military outcomes, but in the cultural and political transformations it set in motion for Taiwan, a legacy that continues to influence the island’s identity and role in East Asian history to this day.