Amangkurat II of Mataram
Amangkurat II of Mataram | |
---|---|
Sunan Amral | |
Amangkurat I | |
Mother | Ratu Kulon |
Amangkurat II (also known as Rahmat; died 1703) was the
He was the first Javanese monarch to wear a European-style uniform, thus gaining the nickname Sunan Amral, Amral rendering the meaning "admiral" in Javanese.
Background
Born as Raden Mas Rahmat, he was the son of Amangkurat I of Mataram and Ratu Kulon, daughter of Pangeran Pekik of Surabaya.
Amangkurat II had many wives, but he only had one child, Sutikna (later Amangkurat III). According to the Babad Tanah Jawi, Sutikna's mother had used magic on another of Amangkurat II's wives to make them unable to conceive of child.
Conflict within family
Rahmat was raised in Surabaya. He then moved to the Plered Palace as adipati anom (crown prince). However, his relationship with his brother, Prince Singasari, worsened. There was also news that the position of crown prince would be transferred to Prince Singasari.
In 1661, Rahmat rebelled against his father, supported by the anti-Amangkurat I faction. The small rebellion was suppressed but Amangkurat I unsuccessfully poisoned Rahmat in 1663, thus worsening their relations.
In 1668, Rahmat fell in love with Rara Oyi, a Surabayan girl who would become his father's
Alliance with Trunajaya
Amangkurat I also relinquished the position of crown prince from Rahmat, and transferred it to Prince Puger (future
In 1670, Rahmat asked for help from Panembahan Rama, a spiritual teacher from the Kajoran family. Panembahan Rama introduced his former son-in-law, Trunajaya of Madura, to be his assistant.
In 1674, Karaeng Galesong of Makassar and his followers came to Mataram. They requested a tract of land in Mataram but were rejected by Amangkurat I. They were hurt by the refusal and joined with Trunajaya, who rebelled in Eastern Java. Rahmat secretly gave them a tract of land in Demung, Besuki (now in Situbondo Regency).
With the merging of Karaeng Galesong and Trunajaya's faction, their collective force became larger and more difficult to control. Rahmat was anxious and decided to join his father's side. He regained his position as crown prince, as Prince Puger was born from a mother originating from the Kajoran family, which supported the rebellion. With the reunion of Rahmat and his father, Amangkurat I, the rebellion of Trunajaya and Karaeng Galesong became increasingly violent.
Ultimately, Trunajaya invaded the Plered Palace on 2 July 1677. Amangkurat I and Rahmat themselves escaped to the west, while the palace was defended by Prince Puger as proof that not all members of the Kajoran family supported Trunajaya. However, Prince Puger himself was ousted to Kajenar.
End of Trunajaya rebellion
Amangkurat II became monarch in 1677 at the height of the
In Tegal, Rahmat was welcomed by Martalaya, Regent of Tegal. Rahmat initially planned to make for pilgrimage (hajj) instead of fighting Trunajaya. But he suddenly cancelled his plan, reportedly because he received his wahyu keprabon (divine mandate). Rahmat then implemented his father's will to collaborate with the Dutch East India Company. Like his father, Amangkurat II was nearly helpless, having fled without an army nor a treasury.[3] In an attempt to regain his kingdom, he made substantial concessions to the Dutch East India Company (VOC), who then went to war to reinstate him.[3]
In September 1677, a
Giri Kedaton rebellion
The city-state of Giri Kedaton, which was a vassal of Mataram's from the time of Sultan Agung around the early to mid-17th century, had supported the Trunajaya rebellion. Panembahan Ageng Giri actively looked for support to strengthen the rebels' force.
Upon accession to the throne, Amangkurat II came to Kadilangu,
Giri Kedaton became the last Trunajaya ally that had a large armed force. In April 1680, Panembahan Natapraja made a large-scale invasion towards Giri Kedaton, supported by the Dutch East India Company. The best commander who was also a reliable disciple of Giri Kedaton was Prince Singosari (Senopati Singosekar). He was eventually killed in action after dueling with Panembahan Natapraja. The latter's soldiers were small in number but they were still able to devastate Giri Kedaton.
Panembahan Ageng Giri was captured and sentenced to death by whip. His family was also exterminated. This marked the end of Giri Kedaton.
Separately in 1683, Wanakusuma, a Kajoran family member, rebelled. His Gunung Kidul-based rebellion was successfully suppressed.
Building new palace
Since the fallen Plered was considered inauspicious, Amangkurat II built a new palace in the Wanakarta forest and moved the capital to
Prince Puger, who initially stayed in Kajenar, moved to Plered after being left by Trunajaya. He refused to join Amangkurat II because he heard of the news that Amangkurat II wasn't Rahmat (his half-brother), rather it was Cornelis Speelman's son disguised as Rahmat. The confusing news ultimately caused a chaotic condition.
The war between Plered and Kartasura occurred in November 1680. The Babad Tanah Jawi mentions it as a war between Mataram and Kartasura. Then, in 1681, the alliance of the Dutch and Amangkurat II forced Prince Puger, his younger half-brother, who styled himself susuhunan ing Alaga when he seized the throne, then proceeded to relinquish it after he surrendered on 28 November 1681.
The Babad Tanah Jawi relates that the Mataram Sultanate had fallen in 1677, and the Sunanate of Kartasura was the successor of Mataram, legitimized by Panembahan Natapraja of Kadilangu who was considered as a Mataram elder.
Attitude toward the Dutch
Javanese chronicles depict Amangkurat II as a weak ruler who was easy to influence, while Prince Puger, his half-brother, had a deeper role in government. Amangkurat II ascended to the throne with the help of the Dutch and ended up having to pay for war costs for as high as 2.5 million guilders. An anti-Dutch official, Patih Nerangkusuma, was successful in persuading him to be rid of the debt.
By providing help in regaining his throne, the Dutch brought Amangkurat II under their tight control. Amangkurat II was unhappy with the situation, especially the increasing Dutch control of the coast, but he was helpless in the face of crippling financial debt and the threat of Dutch military power. The king engaged in a series of intrigues to try to weaken the Dutch position without confronting them head-on. For example, he tried to cooperate with other kingdoms such as
In 1685,
Amangkurat II then approved Untung Suropati and Nerangkusuma to seize the Pasuruan Regency. Anggajaya, Regent of Pasuruan who was initially appointed by Amangkurat II himself, had to be a victim. He escaped to Surabaya, along with his brother, Anggawangsa.
The ambiguous attitude of Amangkurat II gained the attention of the Dutch East India Company, who found Amangkurat II's
The Dutch East India Company increased pressure on the Mataram court for the 2.5 million guilders war cost. Amangkurat II himself attempted to improve relations by pretending to invade Untung Suropati in Pasuruan.
Death
Amangkurat II died in 1703 and was briefly succeeded by his son, Amangkurat III (r. 1703–1705),[12] whose reign was marked by the First Javanese War of Succession.
Notes
- ^ Andaya 1981, p. 213.
- ^ Pigeaud 1976, p. 74.
- ^ a b Pigeaud 1976, p. 77.
- ^ Pigeaud 1976, p. 79.
- ^ Ricklefs 2008, p. 93.
- ^ Pigeaud 1976, p. 83.
- ^ Ricklefs 2008, p. 94.
- ISSN 0018-2753
- ISBN 978-0-8014-9963-0
- ^ Ricklefs 2008, p. 102.
- ^ Ricklefs 2008, p. 101.
- ^ a b Ricklefs 2008, p. 103.
- ^ Ricklefs 2008, pp. 102–103.
References
- ISBN 9789004287228.
- ISBN 981-261-226-2
- ISBN 90-247-1876-7.
- ISBN 978-1-86373-380-9.
- ]
- Babad Tanah Jawi: Mulai dari Nabi Adam Sampai Tahun 1647. (transl.). 2007. Yogyakarta: Narasi>
- De Graaf HJ. 1935. De moord op Kapitein François Tack. Amsterdam: HJ. Paris.
- Moedjianto. 1987. Konsep Kekuasaan Jawa: Penerapannya oleh Raja-raja Mataram. Yogyakarta: Kanisius.
- Purwadi. 2007. Sejarah Raja-Raja Jawa. Yogyakarta: Media Ilmu.
- Ras JJ. Geschiedschrijving en de legitimiteit van het koningschap op Java. Bijdragen tot de Taal-, Land- en Volkenkunde 150 (1994), no. 3, Leiden, 518–538.