The Kutai Martadipura Kingdom (locally known as Kerajaan Kutai Martadipura) is a 4th-century or perhaps much earlier
Hindu kingdom located in the Kutai area, East Kalimantan.[1]: 52 Its capital is believed to be the current Muara Kaman district located in Kutai Kartanegara Regency and is one of, if not the earliest ancient kingdom(s) in Indonesian history. Muara Kaman district which is currently one of the many districts in Kutai Kartanegara regency is proven to be the place where the capital of the kingdom once stood, it is proven by an ancient remnant of a megalith stone known as Lesong Batu, believed to have been used to make the Yupa inscriptions during the 4th century AD. The seven stone pillars, or yūpa (“sacrificial posts”), have been found in Kutai, Kaman Estuary, near the Mahakam River.[2] The plinths bear an inscription in the Pallava script of India reading "A gift to the Brahminpriests" in Sanskrit. The style of the script has been dated to the last half the 4th century.[3] It is believed these religions were brought to Indonesia around the 2nd and 4th centuries, respectively, when Indian traders arrived on the islands of Sumatra, Java and Sulawesi.[4]
The names of three rulers are known from the inscriptions. The first ruler mentioned is
Brahmins which received alms from Mulavarman. While nothing of the military actions of his two predecessors is known, "Raja" Mūlawarman is stated to have conquered his neighbors in battle. He is also said to have increased the land of Kutai by a Vedic ritual known as the "Asvaredjwa", a ritual also performed by Indian rulers of the past. This ritual required a horse released to his land. The footsteps of the freely roaming horse were taken as evidence that this land belonged to his kingdom. Mulawarman was also known for his tribute of gold to his God. The name of his kingdom is not mentioned on the inscriptions nor do any other documents in other countries relate to a kingdom at this time in this region. It is not known what became of the kingdom after these pillars had been erected. It may be possible that the name Kutai, as in Tuñjung Kute of the 1365 Javanese Majapahit poem Nāgarakṛtāgama
is as ancient and reflects the original name used a thousand years earlier.
The Kutai Kartanegara Sultanate (locally known as Kesultanan Kutai Kertanegara ing Martadipura) was established around the end of the
13th century AD in the region of Tepian Batu or Kutai Lama. The first known ruler is known to be Aji Batara Agung Dewa Sakti, who was thought to have ruled from 1300 to 1325.[2] Aji Pangeran Sinum Panji Mendapa, who ruled 1635–1650, was able to conquer the kingdom of Kutai Martadipura and merged the two realms thus becoming "Kutai Kartanegara Ing Martadipura".[2]
Islam took hold in the region since the 17th century (most of the Bugis were Muslims) and Aji Muhammad Idris, ruling 1732–1739?, was the first ruler to have an Islamic name.
In 1844, following the repulse of James Erskine Murray's expedition and attempt to settle,[7] the Dutch defeated the Sultan Aji Muhammad Salehudin, forcing him into exile, and took direct control of Kutai.
The
Tenno
. In 1945 Kutai joined, along with its neighbours, into the East Kalimantan federation.
On 4 October 1999, the territory once belonging to the Sultanate of Kutai Kartanegara, until then composing the single Kutai Regency, was divided between the Kutai Kartanegara, East Kutai and West Kutai Regencies, and the independent city of Bontang; on 14 December 2012 the western districts of West Kutai Regency were split off to create a separate Mahakam Ulu Regency. Each regency was and is headed by a regent (known locally as Bupati) and forms a part of East Kalimantan Province. Meanwhile, the position of Sultan of Kutai Kartanegara still exists and resides in the Kutai Palace (Kedaton) in Tenggarong but administratively, the governance is conducted by the regional government of the Republic of Indonesia, not the sultanate. The Sultan[who?] holds an honorary status in Kutai and is highly respected by Kutai people. During the festival of Erau, he will be the guest of honour accompanied by the local government officials such as the governor of East Kalimantan and the Regent of Kutai Kartanegara.