The History

The history of the Yogyakarta region begins in ancient times when the old Mataram Kingdom centered in Medang came into existence around 732 AD. The King at that time was Sanjaya, who took the title Rakai Mataram and established control over Central Java. The religion of the Sanjaya dynasty was Shivaite Hinduism. The ruins of the oldest Shivaite Hindu Temples are on the Dieng Plateau at a height of more than 2000m above sea level, about 125 km northwest of Yogyakarta.

The Cailendra dynasty, who were Mahayana Buddhists, continued to rule over the Mataram Kingdom for more than a century. Towards the middle of the 8^th century the Buddhist Cailendra dynasty brought Central Java under their influence but without completely subjugating the Shivaite Hindu Sanjaya dynasty. The amazing fact is that more than one religion as well as religious sects could get along well with each other and a variety of societies live side by side in harmony.

Shiva and Buddha seem to have been regarded by their adherents as manifestations of one and the same spiritual being. Both Shivaite Hinduism and Mahayana Buddhism were practiced but they were essentially court religions and only very slowly did their influence seep down into village life.

The period of intensive Hindu-Buddhist influence in Central Java extended from 8^th – 15^th centuries.

The massive Borobudur monument (40 km northwest Yogyakarta) and the magnificent Prambanan Temple complex (18 km east of Yogyakarta) were constructed during the 8^th-9^th centuries AD. It is interesting to note that the temples surrounding the Prambanan complex belong to religions: Hinduism and Buddhism.

During the 10^th century power shifted from Central Java to East Java, and late in the 13^th century the Majapahit Kingdom was founded which was centered in East Java. The capital of the Kingdom was near Mojokerto and the ruins of the palace have been found within the Trowulan district.

The Majapahit Kingdom reached the golden age of its power and glory under the powerful leadership of its Prime Minister Gajahmada, during the 14^th century. In this era the territory of Majapahit extended over Central and East Java, Madura and Bali, with trading outpost in Sumatera and mainland Asia. Trade grew rapidly and a number of foreign traders came and established footholds in Majapahit’s ports and trade centers.

Those trades, particularly Arabs and Indians, were mostly Muslims and besides merchandise they also brought Islam, which gradually spread in Java and other islands of the Indonesian archipelago.

From the late 15^th century Majapahit slowly declined due to civil war and aristocratic conflicts, disappearing early in the 16^th century. After the fall of Majapahit, the Moslem era began with emergence of the Demak Kingdom, which established control over Central Java. By that time, Islam was accepted by aristocracy and a large section of the population in Central Java.

Demak, the first Islamic realm, was succeeded by Pajang and finally the Mataram Kingdom, founded by Sutawijaya better known as Panembahan Senopati – in 1586 AD.

Mataram lay in the southern part of Central Java with its capital near Yogyakarta. The greatest monarch of Mataram was Sultan Agung Hanyakrakusuma who reigned from 1613-1645. In this era the Mataram reached the golden age of its power and at once time was powerful enough to threaten Dutch military in Batavia. Sultan Agung Hanyakrakusuma tried but failed to clear the Dutch from Java in 1628 and 1629. During the reign of Sultan Agung Hanyakrakusuma, Mataram territory extended throughout Central Java, East Java, parts of Kalimantan and part of West Java.

After Sultan Agung Hanyakrakusuma passed away in 1645, Mataram gradually lost its power and came under pressure from the Dutch. In the Mataram Kingdom, as elsewhere, the Dutch cleverly applied the principle of ‘divide and rule’. The Dutch acted as a third party to take advantage of internal disputes.

In the middle of 18^th century, the Mataram Kingdom came under Dutch control and the King depended on Dutch made commercial inroads and finally assumed the role of colonial rulers, the capital of Mataram shifted to Kartosuro. After the Chinese rebellion, the capital was moved to Surakarta (Solo).

A dispute between the King of Mataram, Sunan Paku Buwono II, and his younger brother Prince Mangkubumi, was resolved in 1755 by division of the Mataram Kingdom into 2 self governing principalities: Yogyakarta and Surakarta. Mangkubumi assumed the title of Sultan Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat with a temporary capital at Ambarketawang while his palace was being constructed.

Het "tijger-spietsen" (rampog macan) als hofvermaak. (Chromolithografie van C.W. Mieling naar L.H.W.M. de stuers, 1865. Collectie KITLV.)

In 1757 as a result of a further dispute between the Susuhunan (king) of Surakarta and one of its aristocrats, Surakarta was split into two principalities. A small self-governing principalities called Mangkunegaran was formed, led by R.M.Said who took the title Mangkunegoro I.

From 1811-1816 the British took over the Dutch hegemony in Java and continued the principle of ‘divide and rule’. In 1816, under an agreement with the British Governor Raffles, the Sultanate of Yogyakarta was split into two: a small enclave within the Sultanate of Yogyakarta was declared a self-governing principality named the Kadipaten Pakualaman. Prince Notokusumo, a brother of the Sultan, became its first ruler under the title KGPAA Paku Alam I.

During 1942-1945 Java was under the control of the Japanese, who unwittingly aided the Sultan of Yogyakarta in his efforts to transform the feudal state he had inherited. To curry favor with the Indonesian people, the Japanese released the nationalist leaders who had been exiled by the Dutch.

Nationalist leaders began to organize the country for eventual independence. On August 17^th, 1945 Soekarno and Hatta proclaimed the Independence of the Republic of Indonesia on behalf of the Indonesian people.

The Sultan of Yogyakarta was one of the first Indonesian leaders to rally to the cause of the Republic and offer his support to the nationalist leaders. It soon became clear that they were unable to hold Jakarta. In 1946 Yogyakarta became the capital city of the Indonesian Republic. Therefore this city was known as the capital of the revolution, and is still regarded as having a special place in Indonesian history.

In recognition of the loyalty and support given by Sultan in struggle for Independence, Yogyakarta was made a special Region with provincial status within Indonesia, with the Sultan as Governor: the only former principality to have received this privilege.