Jan Pieterzoon

Jan Pieterzoon Coen, the Butcher of Banda, was a ruthless Dutch colonial administrator known for his brutal conquest of the Banda Islands and the massacre of thousands of Bandanese people to secure Dutch control over the nutmeg trade.

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Profession :

Character

Persona :

Gaming

Universe :

World of Darkness

Birthplace :

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Jan Pieterzoon Coen, born in 1587, was a prominent figure in Dutch colonial history. He joined the Dutch East India Company (VOC) in 1607 and quickly rose through the ranks, becoming Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies from 1619 to 1623 and again from 1627 to 1629.

Coen’s notable achievements include founding the city of Batavia (now Jakarta, Indonesia) in 1619, establishing Dutch control over the spice trade in the East Indies, and expanding the VOC’s territory and influence in Asia. He was knighted by the Dutch government in 1623 and awarded the title of “Father of the Dutch East Indies” by the VOC.

Coen was known for his ruthlessness and ambition, often criticized for his harsh treatment of the indigenous peoples of the East Indies. Despite these criticisms, he remains a significant figure in Dutch colonial history, remembered as a skilled navigator, cartographer, and one of the most influential individuals in the VOC’s expansion in Asia.