A state super power which lies in Southeast Asia

Ever there is a large country in Southeast Asia

Gendero Gulo Klopo, National Flag of the Majapahit Kingdom

On the islands of Southeast Asia there is a superpower had great power and have a strong influence in mainland Southeast asia to east Asia. He was the Majapahit kingdom with the national flag Gulo klopo the saka bi color as the title of the archipelago, which means a large unitary state and consists of islands along the south east Asia. This is what makes some countries in southeast Asia such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei calls itself as Nusantara.

Majapahit was a big kingdom here, with capital in Trowulan, Mojokerto East Java  which was established by Raden Wijaya warlords and stood for over 200 years since the year 1293 - 1500. Raden wijaya is a warrior of noble descent group of Rajasa dynasty, the offspring of kings - king Singhasari founded by a warrior from the descendants of the common people are known as Ken Arok. Ken Arok was a child born without a father from the womb of a mother who named Ken Endhog, which eventually he claimed himself as the reincarnation of the god Vishnu Bathara.

The Prime Minister Gajah Mada Mahapatih

Majapahit reached its peak glory during the reign of King Hayam Wuruk supported by the prime minister who is very obedient to the king of  Mahapatih Gadjah Mada, who famous with palapa sacred oath that aims to unite all the islands in the entire southeast asian country as a unified whole, which ruled during the years 1350 - 1389 was marked by the conquest of the entire nation - colonial country that stretches across southeast asia, from Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, South Thailand, Philippines, East Timor and Papua New Guinea. These achievements attained by the performance of Gadjah Mada Mahapatih, prime minister who won the trust of the king.

Majapahit was one of the last great empire in this region as one of the largest and most powerful empire in the history of empire in Asia as the country's super power at that time, which makes it seems as the boundaries of the territory of the unitary Republic of Indonesia. Its influence far exceeds the state Indonesia is now compared to this time and has been the subject of many studies by historian around the world. A German Orientalist named Berthold Laufer explained that Maja derived from the Javanese from Mojo word that means is the name of a tree on the island of Java, Indonesia.

Singosari temple in Malang, royal heritage Singhasari

The birth of the Majapahit empire began when the collapse of the empire Singhasari conquered Srivijaya kingdom in Sumatra in 1290 that has made Singhasari become the strongest empire in the region. An emperor of the greatest empire on the plains of China named Kublai Khan of the Mongol empire which descended from the Yuan Dynasty Singhasari intend to make as a country colonized by sending an envoy to demand tribute or taxes from Singhasari which he considered as a vassal state.

King Kertanegara which is the last ruler Singhasari refused to pay tribute and the tribute request is considered as an insult. Then Kertanegara replied to the Kublai Khan's humiliation by cutting off envoy's both ears and challenging returned to Kublai Khan came to Singhasari to surrender in exchange for tributes to be paid. In return for the rejection and challenge, in 1293 Kublai Khan sent tens of thousands of troops on a large scale with thousands fleet of warships to the island of Java to attack Singhasari and throughout the state.

Majapahit kingdom Heritage

At that time, King Jayakatwang as the king of Kediri who is a vassal state of Singhasari, seized power by murdering Kertanegara Singhasari as an effort to restore power Kediri which has overthrown by Ken Arok by killing the king of Kediri Kertajaya when Ken Arok lead Tumapel who also captured from the hands of the duke Tumapel named Tunggul Ametung who had killed by using the dagger masters Gandring creation and marry queen, Ken Dedes (daughter of a Brahmin) as a way to take over the reins of government Duchy Tumapel and eventually changed its name to the kingdom Singhasari or Singosari after successfully conquer Kediri.

Finally, after killing Kertanegara by Jayakatwang, Singhasari are at the mercy King Jayakatwang. But the King's son named Aryan Wiraraja Kertanegara aka Raden Wijaya was pardoned by King Jayakatwang the help protection of the regents of Madura, and then were given land in the area of forest areas Pull Mojokerto. He then opened a vast land in the forest (tripe base) with the help of loyal followers and building a new village there. The little village called Majapahit, because the forest there are many Maja trees that fruit  have a bitter taste (Maja  is the name of the tree in the Java forest and Pahit is taste of the fruit of Maja).

Majapahit kingdom Heritage

Finally, soldiers from the Mongolian Tartars sent by Kublai Khan arrived on the north coast of Java island in order to attack and control Singhasari. At that time, Raden Wijaya directly use this opportunity to invite allied to the Tartar troops to reclaim his father who had captured and killed by King Jayakatwang and this tactic is not known by Tartar troops.

Then implemented on a large scale attack by Raden Wijaya who was allied with Tartar troops consisting of tens of thousands of soldiers to conquer King Jayakatwang and finally managed to be destroyed in a big battle. After Jayakatwang fall, Tartar forces intend to occupy and control the entire country Singhasari subordinates.

However, Raden Wijaya refused to drive them to go from the land of Java, they finally attacked Raden Wijaya, then there was the second massive battle between the Tartar troops that have been reduced in number by the army of followers Raden Wijaya consisting of the warriors of Java and Madura. Army Yuan pressed and destroyed in a gun battle with paramilitary leaders Raden Wijaya and left only hundreds of people, but Raden Wijaya forgive him by allowing the attackers from the land of Mongolia was to return home safely. It becomes a mirror in many studies as a sense of humanity of the Indonesian nation to the aggressors high which is usually punished by death.

Keris, the Majapahit kingdom relic weapon

In 1293 Raden Wijaya was appointed as the King of Majapahit and also become the first king of Majapahit and established a fort in the village of Majapahit which has been transformed into the kingdom of Majapahit. So the most appropriate date to use as the birth of the Majapahit kingdom was that the coronation day, the 15th of the month Kartika 1215 Caka in the Javanese calendar, which is exactly on the date of 10 November 1293. In his coronation, King Raden Wijaya title Kertarajasa Jayawardhana.

When the newly established kingdom of Majapahit, a new problem arises. Some royal courtier who is King Kertarajasa trust, namely Ranggalawe, Sora, and Nambi rebelled, but successfully broken. The rebellion was allegedly triggered by Mahapatih Halayuda as prime minister of Majapahit who had arranged the plot against the king for him to get the highest position in government. But after the death of the last rebel named Kuti, Mahapatih Halayudha arrested and imprisoned during the coup and eventually executed. Raden Wijaya himself eventually died in 1309.

Then replaced by his son named King Jayanegara as the King of Majapahit. During the reign Jayanegara, the Italian priest Pordenonio Odoric visiting to Majapahit kingdom in Java. Jayanegara King who is the son  and successor of Raden Wijaya  is famous as the ruler of the evil and immoral. He was called Kala Gemet, meaning the ruler who oppresses the weak. Finally, in 1328 the despot Jayanegara was killed by his own doctor,  namely a medical expert called Tanca.

Majapahit kingdom Heritage

Because King Jayanegara not have children, then her stepmother who named Gayatri Rajapatni replace him, but Rajapatni choose to go from the palace and into exile to become nuns (female Buddhist priest). Finally Rajapatni appoint daughter named Tribhuwana Wijayatunggadewi and titled as Tribhuwannatunggadewi Jayawishnuwardhani as the queen of Majapahit under the guidance of his mother Rajapatni.

Tribhuwana then appoint Gadjah Mada as prime minister in 1336. While this is the inauguration of Mahapatih Gajah Mada pledge to declare an oath amuktii palapa Nusantara, the contents of which promised to implement its vision and mission to unite the whole archipelago in southeast asia as one unified whole country and is based in Majapahit called Archipelago. Thus began the government's Tribhuwana Majapahit kingdom grow much larger and became famous in Asia region. Tribhuwana master Majapahit until her death in 1350 and later replaced by his son Hayam Wuruk.

Hayam Wuruk community call as Prabu Rajasanagara also referred to as the King who has ruled Majapahit in the year 1350-1389. During this period of Majapahit reached top glory with continued help from his prime minister Mahapatih Gajah Mada, very obedient to the king. Under the command of Gadjah Mada in 1313 - 1364, Majapahit conquered almost the entire southeast asian region and become a tremendous regional power.

Majapahit kingdom Heritage

According to the book Nagarakertagama Canto (canto), XIII and XIV mentioned several states in Sumatra, Malay Peninsula, southern Thailand, Borneo, Sulawesi, Nusa Tenggara, Maluku, Papua New Guinea and the Philippine archipelago as the Majapahit empire. This is the maximum expansion of the Majapahit empire in history. Majapahit also has diplomatic relations and bilateral with Campa, Cambodia, Siam, southern Burma, Vietnam and also put some of its ambassador in various kingdoms in China.

Furthermore, to launch a naval expedition and the entire military force to expand its power, Majapahit also involved diplomacy and alliances. Maybe it's for political reasons, King Hayam Wuruk decided to marry the daughter Rashmi Citra (Pitaloka) from his kingdom Pajajaran as his wife. Pajajaran assess this proposal as a treaty alliance. In 1357 the king and all the Sundanese royal family came to Majapahit to accompany his daughter's wedding with Hayam Wuruk. However Gajah Mada see this event as an opportunity to file a submission Pajajaran to the Majapahit ruler or the country as his superiors.

Arca Gadjah Mada, Majapahit kingdom Heritage

Pajajaran party refuses, finally fierce battle took place between troops of the royal family bodyguard Pajajaran and Majapahit troops in the square Bubat. By making the maximum resistance, eventually guard the royal family so that recessive Pajajaran overwhelmed and destroyed. Almost the entire royal party Pajajaran killed in the fighting. In the history mentions that the princess had committed suicide in order to maintain the honor his country. Pasundan Bubat tragedy became the main theme of the Song of Sunda and also mentioned in the book Pararaton, but never mentioned in the book Nagarakertagama.

Nagarakertagama written in 1365 describes a sophisticated court with fine taste in art and literature and a complex system with religious rituals. The poet describes Majapahit as a major theater center that stretches from Papua New Guinea to south Thailand. In 1377, several years after the death of Gajah Mada, Majapahit sent sea attack against the insurrection in Kilkenny which is a contribution towards the end of the kingdom of Srivijaya.

Coins, relics of the Majapahit kingdom

After the death of King Hayam Wuruk on in 1389, Majapahit power entered a period of decline with the emergence of various conflicts. Hayam Wuruk Kusumawardhani replaced by the crown princess and marry his own brother, the Prince Wikramawardhana. Hayam Wuruk also has a son from a previous marriage of crown prince Wirabhumi who also claim rights to the throne.

Finally this is what caused the civil war that was known as Paregreg war, which occurred in tahun1405 - 1406. The civil war was won by the prince and cut Wikramawardhana with Wirabhumi prince. Civil war is impacting the weakening of support from foreign countries, as well as the entire country for their support to the Majapahit colony.

During the reign of Wikramawardhana, a series of expeditions of the Ming Dynasty naval fleet led by Admiral Zheng He is known as Admiral Cheng Ho, a Muslim warlord forces unit from China arrived in the land of Java in a few times during the period 1405 to 1433. In the 1430 expedition of Zheng form China and Arab Muslim communities in the northern port of Java such as Semarang, Demak, Tuban and Ampel, so that Islam began to gain some ground on the north coast of Java island.

Statue of Admiral Cheng Ho

Wikramawardhana government ended in 1426 AD and was succeeded by his daughter Suhita, who ruled from 1426 to 1447 period. He was the second son of Wikramawardhana of a concubine. In 1447 Suhita died and was replaced by Kertawijaya, his brother and ruled until the year 1451. After Kertawijaya's death, Prince Pamotan became king with the title and reign in the kingdom Rajasawardhana Kahuripan and later died in 1453. Then Girisawardhana, son of Kertawijaya and power in 1456 and died in 1466 AD and was replaced by Singhawikramawardhana.

In 1468 AD Prince Kertabhumi rebelled against Singhawikramawardhana and claimed himself as king of the western empire collapsed Majapahit.Wilayah, Majapahit was not able to control the rising power of the Sultanate of Malacca in the mid-15th century to begin to master effective control over the straits of Malacca and expand its influence into Sumatra. Some followers of Majapahit and other colonies began to liberate themselves from domination and power of the king of Majapahit.

Majapahit kingdom Heritage

Singhawikramawardhana move Daha (Kediri kingdom's capital) further into the hinterland and to continue his administration until he was replaced by his son Ranawijaya in the year 1474. In 1478 AD he defeated Kertabhumi and reunited as a kingdom of Majapahit. Ranawijaya reigned from 1474 - 1519 with a degree Girindrawardhana. Nevertheless, Majapahit power has dropped by family conflict.

Period to the end of the Majapahit Kingdom range from year 1478 - 1527 with the fall of Daha Kediri kingdom's capital which was destroyed by the kingdom of Demak in 1527, Muslim forces that emerged eventually defeat the remnants of the Majapahit kingdom in the early 16th century. Demak under the leadership of Raden Patah (Arabic name: Fatah) has been acknowledged as the legitimate successor of Majapahit. According to the book of Babad Tanah Jawi and tradition of Demak, the source of legitimacy because of Raden Patah their first sultan who is the son of the king of Majapahit UB V with Chinese concubine.

Another argument that supports a successor Demak Sultanate Demak Majapahit is due to the increased easily to be accepted as the nominal ruler. Demak is a former follower of Majapahit and is located near the former territory of Majapahit in East Java.

Demak established itself as a regional power and the first Islamic sultanate in Java. After the fall of Majapahit, the Hindu kingdom in Java Blambangan just stay on the east bank and Pajajaran in the west. People are starting to retreat to the mountains in East Java and also the neighboring island of Bali. A small bag Hindu community still living in mountainous Tengger.

Majapahit kingdom's territory

Majapahit was the largest empire ever created in Southeast Asia. Majapahit society develop a high level of sophistication both commercial and artistic activities. Its capital is inhabited by a growing cosmopolitan population among which are works of art and literature.

The rulers of Majapahit was the continuity of the dynasty started by Sri Singhasari Ranggah Rajasa, Founder Rajasa Dynasty in the late 13th century.

1. Raden Wijaya, the title Kertarajasa Jayawardhana (1294-1309)
2. Kalagamet, title Jayanagara (1309-1328)
3. Sri Gitarja, title Tribhuwana Wijayatunggadewi (1328-1350)
4. Hayam Wuruk, titled Sri Rajasanagara (1350-1389)
5. Wikramawardhana (1389-1429)
6. Suhita (1429-1447)
7. Kertawijaya, titled UB I (1447-1451)
8. Rajasawardhana, Born Prince Pamotan, titled UB II (1451-1453)
9. Transition (1453-1456)
10. Prince Wengker, Purwawisesa or Girishawardhana, titled UB III (1456-1466)
11. Singhawikramawardhana, Pandanalas, or Suraprabhawa, UB title IV (1466 - 1468 or 1478)
12. Kertabumi, titled UB V (1468-1478)
13. Girindrawardhana, UB title VI (1478-1498)

This is a long history of being a superpower has ever found in southeast asia that named the archipelago with gendero Gulo klopo the saka bi color as its national flag that has stood for over 200 years and finally destroyed by civil war since gaining power with each other. Now the only remaining as a small country - small, medium divided and fight each other endlessly region because it is dominated and controlled by the state - the West.

By: Kalipare Raya

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