Majapahit was an ancient kingdom in Indonesia who had stood from about 1293 to 1500 AD This kingdom reached its peak during the reign of Hayam Wuruk, who reigned from 1350 to 1389. Kingdom of Majapahit Hindu-Buddhist kingdom was the last master of the Malay Peninsula and is regarded as one of the greatest countries in the history of Indonesia.Kekuasaannya unfolds in Java, Sumatra, the Malay Peninsula, Borneo, the Sulu Archipelago, Manila (Saludung), to eastern Indonesia, although the area power is debatable.
Historiography
There is little physical evidence remains of Majapahit, and its history is unclear. The main sources used by historians are Pararaton ('Book of Kings') in Kawi language and Nagarakretagama in Old Javanese. Pararaton particularly telling Ken Arok (the founder of the Kingdom Singhasari) but includes several short sections of the formation of Majapahit. Meanwhile, Nagarakertagama an ancient Javanese poem written during the Majapahit golden age under the reign of Hayam Wuruk. After that, the thing that happens is not clear. In addition, there are several inscriptions in Old Javanese language and history of China and other countries.
The accuracy of all Javanese manuscripts are contested. There is no denying that the resources it contains the non-historical and mythical. Some scholars like C.C. Berg considers all of the text is not a record of the past, but have meaning in terms of the supernatural can know the future. However, there are many scholars who argue that the outline of these sources can be accepted as consistent with historical records of China, especially the list of rulers and kingdoms situation seemed pretty sure.
Established history of Majapahit
After Singhasari expel Sriwijaya of Java as a whole in 1290, Singhasari be the most powerful empire in the region. This is a concern of Kublai Khan, the ruler of the Yuan Dynasty in China. He sent a messenger named Meng Chi [9] to Singhasari demanding tribute. Kertanagara, the last ruler of the kingdom Singhasari refused to pay tribute and embarrass messenger by destroying his face and cut off his ear.
Kublai Khan was angry and then despatch the expedition to Java in 1293.
At that time, Jayakatwang, duke of Kediri, was killed Kertanagara. On the advice of Aria Wiraraja, Jayakatwang pardoned the Raden Wijaya, son Kertanegara, who came to surrender. Raden Wijaya then given Tarik forest. He opened the forest and build a new village. The village was named Majapahit, which was named after maja fruit, and taste "bitter" of the fruit. When the Mongols arrived, Wijaya allied with the Mongols to fight Jayakatwang. Raden Wijaya Mongolnya allies turned on them, forcing them pull back its troops home as chaotic as they were in foreign territory. [11] [12] It was also their last chance to catch the monsoon winds to go home, or they should be forced to wait six months in a foreign island.
The exact date is used as the date of birth of the Majapahit kingdom is the day of the coronation as king Raden Wijaya, the date of 10 November 1293. He was named the official name Kertarajasa Jayawardhana. The kingdom is facing the problem. Some people trusted Kertarajasa, including Ranggalawe, Sora, and Nambi rebelled against him, though the rebellion was unsuccessful. Slamet Muljana Mahapatih Halayudha suspect that was the conspiracy to overthrow all the people trusted the king, so that he can reach the highest positions in government. But after the death last rebel (Kuti), Halayudha arrested and jailed, and then sentenced to death. [12] Wijaya died in 1309.
Son and successor Wijaya, Jayanegara, is the master of evil and immoral. He was named Kala Gemet, which means "weak villain". In 1328, Jayanegara killed by tabibnya, Tanca. Gayatri Rajapatni stepmother is supposed to replace, but Rajapatni resigned from the palace and a priestess. Rajapatni appoint his daughter to become queen Tribhuwana Wijayatunggadewi Majapahit. During power Tribhuwana, Majapahit kingdom become larger and well-known in the area. Tribhuwana control of Majapahit until the death of his mother in 1350. He continued by his son, Hayam Wuruk.
Glory of Majapahit
Hayam Wuruk, also called Rajasanagara, Majapahit ruled from 1350 to 1389. At the time of Majapahit reached its peak with the help of mahapatihnya, Gajah Mada. Under the command of Gajah Mada (1313-1364), the Majapahit control more territory. In 1377, several years after the death of Gajah Mada and Majapahit sea attack to Palembang, [2] led to the collapse of the remnants of the kingdom of Srivijaya.
According Kakawin Nagarakretagama stanza XIII-XV, Majapahit territory covers Sumatra, the Malay Peninsula, Borneo, Sulawesi, Nusa Tenggara islands, Maluku, Papua, and some islands of the Philippines [13]. However, the natural and economic constraints suggest that the areas of power does not seem to be at the mercy of centralized Majapahit, but connected to one another by trading which may be monopoly by King [14]. Majapahit also has a relationship with Campa, Cambodia, Siam, southern Burma, and Vietnam, and even sent his envoys to the Chinese ambassador
The fall of Majapahit
After reaching its peak in the 14th century, Majapahit power gradually weakened. Apparently civil war (War Paregreg) in the year 1405-1406, the Wirabhumi against Wikramawardhana. Similarly, there has been a change of kings who contested the 1450's, and the great rebellion waged by a nobleman in 1468 [7].
In Java, there is a tradition or candrasengkala kronogram that reads gone ilang kretaning earth. Sengkala this is supposedly the year end of Majapahit and should be read as 0041, the year 1400 Saka or 1478 AD. Meaning sengkala is "gone gone prosperity of the earth". However, the truth is illustrated by the death of Bre candrasengkala Kertabumi, the 11th king of Majapahit, by Girindrawardhana.
When Majapahit was founded, Muslim traders and missionaries have started entering the archipelago. At the end of the 14th century and beginning of the 15th century, the influence of Majapahit in the archipelago began to decrease. At the same time, a new trading empire based on Islam, the Sultanate of Malacca, began to appear in the western part of the archipelago.
The historical record of Chinese, Portuguese (Tome Pires), and Italy (Pigafetta) indicate that there has been a transfer of power from the hands of the Hindu Majapahit into the hands of the Duke of Unus, the ruler of the Sultanate of Demak, between the years 1518 and 1521 AD
Majapahit kings
Here is a list of rulers of Majapahit. Note that there is a gap between government Rajasawardhana period (8th ruler) and Girishawardhana that may result from a succession crisis that solves the Majapahit royal family into two groups.
1. Raden Wijaya, title Kertarajasa Jayawardhana (1293 - 1309)
2. Kalagamet, styled Sri Jayanagara (1309 - 1328)
3. Sri Gitarja, title Tribhuwana Wijayatunggadewi (1328 - 1350)
4. Hayam Wuruk, styled Sri Rajasanagara (1350 - 1389)
5. Wikramawardhana (1389 - 1429)
6. Suhita (1429 - 1447)
7. Kertawijaya, holds UB I (1447 - 1451)
8. Rajasawardhana, title of UB II (1451 - 1453)
9. Purwawisesa or Girishawardhana, UB title III (1456 - 1466)
10. Bhre Pandansalas, or Suraprabhawa, UB title IV (1466 - 1468)
11. Bhre Kertabumi, title UB V (1468 - 1478)
12. Girindrawardhana, UB title VI (1478 - 1498)
13. Hudhara, UB title VII (1498-1518) [24]
REFERENCES
- D.G.E. Hall (1956). "Problems of Indonesian Historiography". Pacific Affairs 38 (3/4): 353-359.
- Ricklefs (1991), page 19
- Prapantja, Rakawi, trans. by Theodore Gauthier Pigeaud, Java in the 14th Century, A Study in Cultural History: The State-Kertagama by Pakawi Parakanca of Majapahit, 1365 AD (The Hague, Martinus Nijhoff, 1962), vol. 4, p. 29. 34; G.J. Resink, Indonesia's History Between the Myths: Essays in Legal History and Historical Theory (The Hague: W. van Hoeve, 1968), p. 21.
- Taylor, Jean Gelman (23 March 2010). Indonesia: Peoples and Histories. New Haven and London: Yale University Press. pp. pp.29. ISBN 0-300-10518-5.
