The article contains an in-depth study of the Balinese kingdom of Gelgel and its relations with external polities in the mid 17th century. These included Siam, the VOC, Lombok, Makassar, and Mataram on Java. The study is based on unpublished Dutch and Balinese materials, and suggests a degree of interest among the Balinese elite for economic and political contacts, which have hitherto been overlooked by historical research.