What was capital before Jakarta?

Answer 1

Since the dutch occupation (about 4 centuries ago) the capital remains in Jakarta however Jakarta was known in different names. they are:

1. Sunda Kelapa (original name)

2. Jayakarta (after the occupation of the Pajajaran kingdom in West Java)

3. Batavia (since the dutch occupation)

4. Jakarta (after Japan came to occupy)

After Indonesian Declaration of Independence on 17 aug 1945 (which wasnt recognized yet by the Netherlands until dec 1949). The hollands made some military aggressions, one of them was successful to invade the capital (Jakarta). Since then, Yogyakarta serves as the capital. And then after Yogyakarta was taken over as well, Bukittinggi in Sumatra island serves as the capital of Indonesian emergency government at the time.

After the recognition of Indonesian independence and sovereignty by dutch in 1949, the capital was restored to Jakarta and since then Jakarta serves as the capital of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia again.