Raden Wijaya or Raden Vijaya, also known as Nararya Sangramawijaya and his
regnal name Kertarajasa Jayawardhana was a Javanese emperor and founder of the
Majapahit Empire who ruled from 1293 until his death in 1309.
[Slamet Muljana, 2005, ''Runtuhnya Kerajaan Hindu-Jawa dan Timbulnya Negara-negara Islam di Nusantara'', Yogyakarta: LKiS, .] The history of his founding of Majapahit was written in several records, including
Pararaton
The ''Pararaton'' (''Book of Kings''), also known as the ''Katuturanira Ken Angrok'' (''Story of Ken Angrok''), is a 16th-century Javanese historical chronicle written in Kawi language, Kawi (Old Javanese). The comparatively short text of 32 f ...
and
Negarakertagama
The ''Nagarakretagama'' or ''Nagarakṛtāgama'', also known in Bali as ''Desawarnana'' or ''Deśavarṇana'', is an Old Javanese eulogy to Hayam Wuruk, a Javanese king of the Majapahit Empire. It was written on lontar as a '' kakawin'' ...
.
His rule was marked by
the victory against the army and the Mongol navy of
Kublai Khan's
Yuan dynasty
The Yuan dynasty ( ; zh, c=元朝, p=Yuáncháo), officially the Great Yuan (; Mongolian language, Mongolian: , , literally 'Great Yuan State'), was a Mongol-led imperial dynasty of China and a successor state to the Mongol Empire after Div ...
.
Ancestry
There are several versions of his ancestry. According to
Pararaton
The ''Pararaton'' (''Book of Kings''), also known as the ''Katuturanira Ken Angrok'' (''Story of Ken Angrok''), is a 16th-century Javanese historical chronicle written in Kawi language, Kawi (Old Javanese). The comparatively short text of 32 f ...
, Raden Wijaya was the son of
Mahisa Campaka, prince of
Singhasari
Singhasari ( or , ), also known as Tumapel, was a Javanese people, Javanese Hindu-Buddist empires, Hindu-Buddhist Monarchy, kingdom located in east Java (island), Java between 1222 and 1292. The kingdom succeeded the Kingdom of Kediri as th ...
. Mahisa Campaka alias Narasingamurti is the son of Mahisa Wonga Teleng. Meanwhile, Mahisa Wonga Teleng was the son of Ken Arok, founder of the Rajasa dynasty.
According to later controversial source from 17th century, Pustaka Rajyarajya i Bhumi Nusantara, Raden Wijaya was the son of Rakeyan Jayadarma (son of Sunda-Galuh King Prabu Guru Darmasiksa) and Dyah Lembu Tal (daughter of Mahisa Campaka from
Singhasari
Singhasari ( or , ), also known as Tumapel, was a Javanese people, Javanese Hindu-Buddist empires, Hindu-Buddhist Monarchy, kingdom located in east Java (island), Java between 1222 and 1292. The kingdom succeeded the Kingdom of Kediri as th ...
). Rakeyan Jayadarma was poisoned and after her husband's death, Dyah Lembu Tal returned from
Sunda-Galuh Kingdom to Singhasari with Raden Wijaya. This story is similar to that of Babad Tanah Jawi which mentioned the founder of Majapahit was Jaka Sesuruh, a son from the king of
Pajajaran's which is located in
Sunda Kingdom
The Sunda Kingdom ( , ) was a Sundanese people, Sundanese Hindu kingdom located in the western portion of the island of Java from 669 to around 1579, covering the area of present-day Banten, Jakarta, West Java, Lampung, and the western part of ...
. Jaka Sesuruh ran to the east because of a rivalry with his step brother
Siyung Wanara.
Alternatively with Nagarakretagama, Dyah Lembu Tal, also known as Dyah Singhamurti, was a man and the great-grandson of
Ken Arok, 1st King of Singhasari (1222–1227) and
Ken Dedes, by their son
Mahisa Wonga Teleng, and his son
Mahisa Campaka (Nara Singhamurti). Because Nagarakretagama was written in 1365, 56 years since the Raden Wijaya's death, popular opinion supports it.
Conflict with Kediri and Mongols
In 1289,
Kublai Khan sent a demand for tribute to the Kingdom of
Singhasari
Singhasari ( or , ), also known as Tumapel, was a Javanese people, Javanese Hindu-Buddist empires, Hindu-Buddhist Monarchy, kingdom located in east Java (island), Java between 1222 and 1292. The kingdom succeeded the Kingdom of Kediri as th ...
, although the demand was refused by
Kertanagara,
King
King is a royal title given to a male monarch. A king is an Absolute monarchy, absolute monarch if he holds unrestricted Government, governmental power or exercises full sovereignty over a nation. Conversely, he is a Constitutional monarchy, ...
of Singhasari and the messenger was humiliated with his ear cut off.
Shortly after, there was a
rebellion against Singhasari in the duchy of Gelang-Gelang (modern day
Madiun) led by
Jayakatwang. Kertanagara was killed in the attempt to put down the rebellion in 1292, and Raden Wijaya fled to
Sumenep,
Madura
is an list of islands of Indonesia, Indonesian island off the northeastern coast of Java. The island comprises an area of approximately (administratively including various smaller islands to the east, southeast and north that are administratively ...
, along with the governor of that region,
Arya Wiraraja. There, Raden Wijaya made a plan to establish a new kingdom. Wijaya promised that he would divide Java with Arya Wiraraja if Arya Wiraraja could help him overthrow Jayakatwang's
Kediri kingdom . When he was young, Wiraraja served Narasingamurti, Raden Wijaya's grandfather. So, he was willing to help the prince to overthrow Jayakatwang. Raden Wijaya vowed that if he succeeded in reclaiming his father in law's throne, his power would be divided into two, namely for himself and for Wiraraja. In 1293 the
Mongol army came to punish Kertanagara who dared to harm Kublai Khan's envoy in 1289. Raden Wijaya as Kertanagara's heir was ready to hand over himself as long as he is first helped to liberate himself from Jayakatwang. So the Mongol and Majapahit troops joined forces to invade the capital city of Kadiri. At that time, the Kingdom of Kediri collapsed. Next, Raden Wijaya based on Wiraraja's input attacked the Mongol army who were experiencing the euphoria of victory against the Kediri Kingdom. Inevitably, Wiraraja with his various tactics brought victory to Raden Wijaya to defeat the Mongol army. This was the starting point for Raden Wijaya to come to power and make Tarik (
Trowulan,
Mojokerto) the center of power which later became the Majapahit Kingdom. The term Majapahit emerged because in the Tarik forest area there are many maja ''(mojo)'' fruits which taste bitter. Raden Wijaya became the first king of Majapahit which became independent in 1293. Arya Wiraraja was appointed as the ''pasangguhan/ senapati'' (warlord) of Majapahit with the title ''Rakryan Mantri Arya Wiraraja Makapramuka''.
Arya Wiraraja's son
Ranggalawe served as one of Wijaya's ''adipati''/
duke
Duke is a male title either of a monarch ruling over a duchy, or of a member of Royal family, royalty, or nobility. As rulers, dukes are ranked below emperors, kings, grand princes, grand dukes, and above sovereign princes. As royalty or nobi ...
but in later days he would rebel against the new king. Other famous officers were Lembu Sora and Nambi, both also rebelled against Wijaya respectively after the founding of
Majapahit kingdom.The trigger for rebellion is that even though those who rebel have been given positions, they still feel dissatisfied.
Ranggalawe rebellion was the first recorded in 1295. Ranggalawe lost in his battle against the Majapahit Kingdom and died at the hands of Mahisa Anabrang while fighting at the Tambak Beras river. Lembu Sora rebellion occurred in 1301. War between the Majapahit army and Lembu Sora's followers could not be avoided. Lembu Sora and his followers Juru Demung and Gajah Biru died in this battle. Nambi rebellion occurred during the reign of King
Jayanegara, it is stated that during the reign of Jayanegara, Nambi rebellion occurred. Then Nambi rebellion was suppressed in 1316.
Reign (1293–1309)
Founding of Majapahit
In November 1292, a
Mongol force landed in Tuban,
East Java
East Java (, , ) is a Provinces of Indonesia, province of Indonesia located in the easternmost third of Java island. It has a land border only with the province of Central Java to the west; the Java Sea and the Indian Ocean border its northern ...
, with the aim of revenge for
Kertanagara's humiliation of the Mongol messenger. However, Kertanegara was already dead. Raden Wijaya initially made an alliance with the Mongols with the aim of attacking Kediri, which had become the strongest country in Java. Jayakatwang was defeated and destroyed in 1293, at which point Raden Wijaya turned and attacked the Mongol force. The Mongols, already weakened by
tropical diseases, the climate, and
imperial overreach, were forced to flee Java. Raden Vijaya then established the Majapahit kingdom, taking the title Kritarajasa Jayavardhana.
Political and administrative policies
Raden Wijaya was known as a firm and capable ruler. Aria Wiraraja who had been so useful during the period of the establishment of the kingdom, was given
Madura
is an list of islands of Indonesia, Indonesian island off the northeastern coast of Java. The island comprises an area of approximately (administratively including various smaller islands to the east, southeast and north that are administratively ...
, which was granted a special status. He was also given an autonomous region around
Lumajang and the
Blambangan Peninsula, and his son, Nambi, was appointed prime minister. Raden Wijaya also formed a special army guard for the king which consists of 7 people named Ra Kuti, Ra Semi, Ra Tanca, Ra Wedeng, Ra Yuyu, Ra Banyak, and Ra Pangsa.
Heir
From his wife Indreswari, Raden Wijaya had a son, Dyah Jayanegara. From his wife Gayatri Rajapatni, he had two daughters,
Tribhuwana Wijayatunggadewi and Rajadewi. Other wives seemed to be childless, including his first wife, Tribhuwana.
After his death, Raden Wijaya was succeeded by his son,
Jayanegara.
Personal life
According to
George Coedes, prior to the fall of Singhasari, Wijaya was married to
Gayatri Rajapatni, the daughter of Kertanegara, King of Singhasari. However, during the formation of the new kingdom Majapahit, he married the four daughters of Kertanegara.
The siblings were Parameswari Tribhuwana the oldest, Prajnaparamitha, Narendra Duhita, and
Gayatri Rajapatni the youngest. The reasons of Raden Wijaya's practice of siblings
polygamy
Polygamy (from Late Greek , "state of marriage to many spouses") is the practice of marriage, marrying multiple spouses. When a man is married to more than one wife at the same time, it is called polygyny. When a woman is married to more tha ...
was to ensure his claim of legitimacy, also to prevent the contest for Kertanegara's
Singhasari
Singhasari ( or , ), also known as Tumapel, was a Javanese people, Javanese Hindu-Buddist empires, Hindu-Buddhist Monarchy, kingdom located in east Java (island), Java between 1222 and 1292. The kingdom succeeded the Kingdom of Kediri as th ...
legacy. Raden Wijaya also took
Indreswari (also known as
Dara Petak), supposedly a princess of
Malayu Dharmasraya Kingdom brought by
Kebo Anabrang to Majapahit court from Sumatra through Kertanegara's
Pamalayu expedition.
Pararaton
The ''Pararaton'' (''Book of Kings''), also known as the ''Katuturanira Ken Angrok'' (''Story of Ken Angrok''), is a 16th-century Javanese historical chronicle written in Kawi language, Kawi (Old Javanese). The comparatively short text of 32 f ...
mentioned that Kala Gemet was born by Dara Petak, the Dharmasraya princess, while
Nagarakretagama mentioned that he was born by Indreswari, leading to assumption that Indreswari was another name of Dara Petak. King Kertarajasa Jayawardhana has five wives, however in his posthumous portrayal as the god
Harihara in Simping temple, his image was flanked by two female figures, suggested that he has two ''pramesvari'' (queen consort), one is Gayatri, the other is Tribhuwana or probably Dara Petak.
Spouses and Children
Supreme Queen
#
Rajapatni Sri Rajendra Dyah Dewī Gayatrithe youngest daughter of King
Kertanegara of Singhasari
Queen
# Sri Parameswari Dyah Dewī Tribhuwaneswari
the eldest daughter of King Kertanegara of Singhasari
Consorts
# Sri Mahadewī Dyah Dewī Narendraduhita
daughter of King Kertanegara of Singhasari
# Sri Jayendra Dyah Dewī Prajña Paramita
daughter of King Kertanegara of Singhasari
#
Sri Indreswariborn as Dara Petak, daughter of King
Srimat Tribhuwanaraja Mauliawarmadewa of
Dharmasraya
Padang Roco inscription where the name ''Dharmasraya'' was mentioned
Dharmasraya or Dharmmāśraya was the capital of the 11th century Buddhist polity known as Melayu Kingdom, based on the Batanghari river system in modern-day West Sumatra ...
Children
#
Tribhuwana, 3rd Queen of Majapahit
born as Dyah Tya, daughter of Gayatri
#
Jayanagara, 2nd King of Majapahit
son of Dara Petak
# Rajadewi Maharajasa, 2nd Princess of Daha
born as Dyah Wiyat, daughter of Gayatri
Death
According to the ''
Nagarakretagama'', King Wijaya died in 1309. He was buried in the
Simping Temple (
id) as "Harihara",
the combination of
Vishnu
Vishnu (; , , ), also known as Narayana and Hari, is one of the Hindu deities, principal deities of Hinduism. He is the supreme being within Vaishnavism, one of the major traditions within contemporary Hinduism, and the god of preservation ( ...
and
Shiva
Shiva (; , ), also known as Mahadeva (; , , Help:IPA/Sanskrit, ɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐh and Hara, is one of the Hindu deities, principal deities of Hinduism. He is the God in Hinduism, Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions w ...
.
He was succeeded by his son
Jayanegara.
See also
*
Senapati of Mataram, the founder and first king of
Mataram Sultanate was a descendant of Raden Wijaya
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wijaya, Raden
Monarchs of Majapahit
Indonesian Hindu monarchs
Majapahit
13th-century monarchs in Asia
14th-century monarchs in Asia
13th-century Indonesian people
14th-century Indonesian people
1309 deaths
13th-century Hindus
14th-century Hindus