<![CDATA[Artikel ini mengeksplorasi strategi Inggris dalam memperkuat posisinya di Bengkulu pada pertengahan awal abad ke-19 dengan menitikberatkan pada aspek politik, ekonomi, dan militer sebagai instrumen kolonial. Fokus kajian diarahkan pada bagaimana Inggris mempertahankan eksistensi dan pengaruhnya di tengah persaingan kekuatan Eropa, khususnya Belanda, serta dinamika hubungan dengan elite lokal. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode penelitian sejarah yang meliputi empat tahap utama: heuristik untuk mengumpulkan sumber primer seperti arsip kolonial, laporan administrasi, dan catatan perjalanan, serta sumber sekunder berupa buku dan artikel ilmiah. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa strategi Inggris di Bengkulu dilakukan melalui penguatan struktur administrasi kolonial, optimalisasi perdagangan komoditas lada sebagai basis ekonomi, serta pembangunan dan modernisasi infrastruktur pertahanan seperti Benteng Marlborough. Di sisi lain, keterbatasan ekonomi Bengkulu dibandingkan wilayah lain seperti Singapura mendorong Inggris untuk melakukan penyesuaian strategi hingga akhirnya mempertimbangkan pertukaran wilayah melalui Traktat London 1824. Dengan demikian, penelitian ini menegaskan bahwa penguatan posisi Inggris di Bengkulu tidak semata-mata bersifat militeristik, melainkan merupakan kombinasi strategi ekonomi, politik, dan diplomasi yang terintegrasi dalam kerangka kepentingan imperial Inggris di Asia Tenggara. Abstract This article examines British strategies to strengthen its position in Bengkulu in the mid-19th century, with an emphasis on political, economic, and military aspects as colonial tools. The focus of this study is how Britain managed to maintain its existence and influence amid competition between European powers, especially the Netherlands, as well as the dynamics of its relationship with the local elite. This research uses historical research methods that include four main stages: heuristics to collect primary sources such as colonial archives, administrative reports, and travel notes, as well as secondary sources in the form of books and scientific articles. The results of the study show that Britain's strategy in Bengkulu was implemented through the strengthening of the colonial administrative structure, the optimisation of pepper trade as the economic base, and the development and modernisation of defence infrastructure such as Fort Marlborough. On the other hand, Bengkulu's economic limitations compared to other regions such as Singapore forced Britain to adjust its strategy, so that in the end they considered exchanging the region through the London Agreement of 1824. This research confirms that the strengthening of the British position in Bengkulu was not solely military in nature, but rather a combination of economic, political, and diplomatic strategies integrated within the framework of British imperial interests in Southeast Asia.]]>
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