The city of Jakarta was founded in the early 16th century by the Sultan of Banten, Fatahillah. Jakarta was then known as Jayakarta, which means “victory city” in Sanskrit.
Jakarta’s history is closely tied to the rise and fall of the sultanate of Banten. The sultanate was established in the early 16th century, and quickly became one of the most powerful states in the region. In 1527, the sultan of Banten launched a successful attack against the Portuguese stronghold of …