Abstract

Existing historiography of the Banten Sultanate has largely emphasised its economic and political rise and decline in the 16th-17th centuries. Still, it has paid little attention to local traditions such as Sasapton, which played a crucial role in legitimizing authority and shaping external relations. This study addresses that gap by examining Sasapton, a traditional equestrian tournament initiated under Sultan Abdul Mufakir Mahmud Abdul Kadir (1596-1651) and further developed by Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa (1651–1672) as more than courtly entertainment. Drawing on archival records, oral traditions, archaeological data, and expert interviews, the research analyzes how Sasapton functioned as a form of proto-cultural diplomacy that projected Banten’s cosmopolitan identity, consolidated political legitimacy, and facilitated diplomatic encounters with foreign traders and kingdoms across Southeast Asia's maritime networks. By conceptualizing Sasapton as an early practice of cultural diplomacy, this paper contributes to broader debates on the intersections of culture, power, and diplomacy in pre-modern Southeast Asia. It highlights the significance of local traditions in shaping regional and global interactions in the 16th-17th centuries.