The Principality of Pakualaman (also written Paku Alaman; Dutch-spelling: Pakoe-alaman) is a minor Javanese princely state within the Sultanate of Yogyakarta. It was created in 1812 when Natakusuma (later Prince Paku Alam I) was rewarded for helping the

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. * British national identity, the characteristics of British people and culture ...

quell the conflict in Yogyakarta in June 1812. It became the mirror image of Mangkunegaran in the territory of the Surakarta Sunanate. A Pakualaman Corps of 100 cavalry (later 50 cavalry and 100 infantry) was established, but was never to become as significant as the Mangkunegaran Legion, and disbanded in 1892. Due to Paku Alam VIII's role in the Indonesian independence movement, a law was passed to allow the position of vice-governor of the Yogyakarta Special Region to be filled hereditarily by the reigning Prince Paku Alam at any particular time, while the Sultans of Yogyakarta fills the role of Governor on a hereditary basis.

Etymology

The name ''Paku Alam'' translates literally into "Nail of the Universe" or "Nail of the World" in English (''paku'' means "nail" and ''alam'' means "Universe" or "world").

Formation

Kadipaten Pakualaman, also known as Nagari Pakualaman or Praja Pakualaman, was established on March 17, 1813, when Prince Notokusumo, son of Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono I with his Royal Consort was crowned by

Governor-General Governor-general (plural governors-general), or governor general (plural governors general), is the title of an official, most prominently associated with the British Empire. In the context of the governors-general and former British colonies, ...

Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles (Governor General of British East Indies who ruled at that time) as ''Kangjeng Gusti Pangeran Adipati'' (abbreviated K.G.P.A.). The use of the later title ''Kangjeng Gusti Pangeran Adipati Arya'' (K.G.P.A.A.) was only used by Paku Alam V. The status of this princely state was similar to that of Mangkunegara in Surakarta. Starting from the Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat dispute under Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono II against the government of the

Herman Willem Daendels of the French-Netherlands (under French influence during King Louis Bonaparte of French-Holland). Daendels sent his troops to attack the Yogyakarta Palace in December 1810 to quell the rebellion of Raden Ronggo (K.A.A. Ronggo Prawirodirdjo III, regent of Madiun, and political adviser of Sultan Hamengkubuwono II) which eventually resulted in the forced decline of Hamengkubuwono II from the throne. The power was transferred to G.R.M. Soerojo who was appointed as regent (regent) with the title Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono III. Sultan Hamengkubuwono II's half-brother, Prince Notokusumo, and his son Notodiningrat, who supported the rebellion were also captured by the Dutch in

Semarang Semarang (Javanese script, Javanese: , ''Kutha Semarang'') is the capital and largest city of Central Java province in Indonesia. It was a major port during the Netherlands, Dutch Dutch East Indies, colonial era, and is still an important regio ...

and taken to Batavia. In 1811, Dutch-French colonial rule on

Java Java is one of the Greater Sunda Islands in Indonesia. It is bordered by the Indian Ocean to the south and the Java Sea (a part of Pacific Ocean) to the north. With a population of 156.9 million people (including Madura) in mid 2024, proje ...

was captured by the

with the Capitulation of Tuntang on August 11, 1811, and the British sent Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles to lead this colony with the position of Lieutenant Governor General. Raffles tried to get support from local authorities, one of whom was Sultan Hamengkubuwono II (known as Sultan Sepuh). He sent Captain John Robinson to Yogyakarta to return Hamengkubuwono II to his throne and lowered R.M. Suryo (Hamengkubuwono III) again to become the crown prince with the title ''Kangjeng Pangeran Adipati Anom'' (K.P.A.A.) on December 10, 1811.

Princely state

Kadipaten Pakualaman, Nagari Pakualaman, and Praja Pakualaman are the official names used by the smallest monarchy in southern Central Java. The monarchy founded in 1813 was in the form of a Kadipaten or a princely state. The government was run by Pepatih Pakualaman together with the Resident / Governor of the Dutch East Indies for Yogyakarta. Pakualaman's status changed over time. In 1813–1816 was a dependent state under the Government of the United Kingdom of East India (East Indian). Furthermore, in the years 1816–1942 was the dependent state of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, with the status of Zelfbestuurende Landschappen in the

Dutch East Indies The Dutch East Indies, also known as the Netherlands East Indies (; ), was a Dutch Empire, Dutch colony with territory mostly comprising the modern state of Indonesia, which Proclamation of Indonesian Independence, declared independence on 17 Au ...

. From 1942 to 1945 was part of the

Empire of Japan The Empire of Japan, also known as the Japanese Empire or Imperial Japan, was the Japanese nation state that existed from the Meiji Restoration on January 3, 1868, until the Constitution of Japan took effect on May 3, 1947. From Japan–Kor ...

with Kooti status under the supervision of the Army XVI Army Ruler. In 1945 the monarchy joined the Republic of Indonesia. It formed a joint government with the

Yogyakarta Sultanate The Sultanate of Yogyakarta, officially the Sultanate of Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat ( ; ), is a Javanese monarchy in Yogyakarta Special Region, in the Republic of Indonesia. The current head of the sultanate is Hamengkubuwono X. Yogyakart ...

until 1950, when officially they were given the status of a ''Daerah Istimewa'' (special region) inside

Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania, between the Indian Ocean, Indian and Pacific Ocean, Pacific oceans. Comprising over List of islands of Indonesia, 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, ...

List of rulers

* Paku Alam I (1812–1829) * Paku Alam II (1829–1858) * Paku Alam III (1858–1864) * Paku Alam IV (1864–1878) * Paku Alam V (1878–1900) * Paku Alam VI (1901–1902) * Paku Alam VII (1903–1938) * Paku Alam VIII (1938–1998) * Paku Alam IX (1999–2015) * Paku Alam X (2016–present)

References

{{Reflist * M. C. Ricklefs, ''A History of Modern Indonesia Since c. 1300'', Vol. 2, Stanford: Stanford University Press, 1993, 113–114. Yogyakarta Sultanate Special Region of Yogyakarta British rule in Indonesia Indonesian families Former duchies Green and yellow flags