Girindrawardhana Explained

Type:Prabhu
Dyah Ranawijaya
Girindrawardhana
Reign:1474–1498
Predecessor1:Kertabhumi
Successor1:Udara
Father:Singhavikramavardhana
Birth Place:Trowulan, Java
Death Date:1498
Death Place:Daha, Java
Religion:Buddhism

Prabhu Natha Girindrawardhana Dyah Ranawijaya (born Ranawijaya) was the ruler of the Majapahit Empire between 1474 and 1498. He is referred in a Jiyu inscription as Indonesian: Sri Wilwatikta Jenggala Kediri, which means ruler of Majapahit, Janggala and Kediri, and as Pa Bu Ta La in Chinese literature.[1]

Background

Ranawijaya was born in Trowulan (also called Wilwatikta) to King Singhawikramawardhana during a time of upheaval and decline across the Empire. In 1468 Prince Kertabhumi rebelled against King Singhawikramawardhana and captured Trowulan. The king moved to Daha, the former capital of Kadiri, where he died. Thus when Ranawijaya ascended the throne in 1474, the empire was divided.[2]

Early rule

For the first four years, Ranawijaya ruled from Daha in a climate of increasing conflict between Daha and Trowulan. This culminated in Perang Sudarma Wisuta, meaning the war between father and son, in 1478.

In 1478, Ranawijaya's army under Udara attacked the defences at Trowulan. Raden Patah of Demak sent reinforcements under Sunan Ngudung. According to Babad Tanah Jawi, Raden Patah was the son of Kertabhumi and a Chinese concubine.[3] Sunan Ngudung died in the battle and was replaced by Sunan Kudus, but the army managed to turn back Ranawijaya's forces. However, they did not stop Udara's troops storming the palace and killing Kertabhumi.[4]

Later rule

With the death of Kertabhumi, Ranawijaya was now the undisputed ruler of Majapahit.[5] He styled himself Girindrawardhana, the latter to show continuity with his predecessors back to Kritavijaya in 1447. In the Trailokyapuri Jiwu and Petak inscriptions, Girindrawardhana claims that he reunited Majapahit as one kingdom.[6] In the Jiyu inscription, he is referred to as Indonesian: Sri Wilwatikta Jenggala Kediri, which means ruler of Majapahit, Janggala and Kediri in 1486. However, his power was substantially smaller than his predecessors. Raden Patah named himself the Sultan of Demak and ceased paying homage to the Brawijaya. From that time, the Demak Sultanate rose to become the dominant force in Java.[7]

Demak continued to fight Girindrawardhana. As they claimed descent from Kertabumi, Raden Patah and his successor Pati Unus fought Girindrawardhana in retribution for his death.

Notes and References

  1. Book: Muljana, Slamet. Runtuhnya Kerajaan Hindu-Jawa dan Timbulnya Negara-Negara Islam di Nusantara. Jakarta. PT LKiS Pelangi Aksara. 2005. id. 68.
  2. Book: Prawirayuda, Pandji R.. Babad Majapahit dan Para Wali (Volume 3). id. Departemen Pendidikan dan Kebudayaan, Proyek Penerbitan Buku Sastra Indonesia dan Daerah. Jakarta. 1989.
  3. Book: Olthof, W.L.. Babad Tanah Jawi, Mulai dari Nabi Adam Sampai Tahun 1647. id. Yogyakarta. Narasi. 2007.
  4. Book: Djafar, Hasan. Girīndrawarddhana: Beberapa Masalah Majapahit Akhir. Jakarta. Yayasan Dana Pendidikan Buddhis Nalanda. 1978. id. 50.
  5. Book: H.J.. de Graaf. T.H.. Pigeaud. Kerajaan Islam Pertama di Jawa. id. Jakarta. Pustaka Utama Grafiti. 2001.
  6. Book: Poesponegoro. Marwati Djoened. Notosusanto. Nugroho. Sejarah Nasional Indonesia Jilid II. id. Jakarta. Balai Pustaka. 1990. 448–451.
  7. Book: Ricklefs, Merle Calvin. A History of Modern Indonesia Since c. 1300 (2nd edition). Stanford. Stanford University Press. 1993.