Kraton (Indonesia) Explained

Kraton or keraton (Javanese: ꦏꦿꦠꦺꦴꦤ꧀ or ꦏꦼꦫꦠꦺꦴꦤ꧀) is a type of royal palace in Java, Indonesia. Its name is derived from the Javanese ka-ratu-an, meaning residence of the ratu, the traditional honorific title for a monarch. In Java, the palace of a prince is called pura or dalem, while the general word for palace is istana, which is identical to Malay.

Specific palaces

Kraton that function as the residence of a royal family include:

Yogyakarta (Jogja) region:

• Kraton Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat (Palace of Sultan Hamengkubuwono).
• Pura Pakualaman (Palace of Adipati Pakualam).

Surakarta (Solo) region:

• Kraton Surakarta Hadiningrat (Palace of Susuhunan Pakubuwono).
• Pura Mangkunegaran (Palace of Adipati Mangkunegara).

Cirebon area:

• Kraton Kasepuhan (Palace of Sultan Sepuh).
• Kraton Kanoman (Palace of Sultan Anom).
• Kraton Kacirebonan (Palace of Sultan Cirebon).
• Kraton Kaprabonan (id) (Palace of Sultan Prabon).

Historical palaces

The locations of the former kraton have been determined by historical records or archaeological efforts. Former kraton include:

• Kraton Ratu Boko^[1] in the east of Yogyakarta, in the Prambanan area. The structure dates from the 9th century and is thought to belong to the Sailendra or Mataram Kingdom. However, local inhabitants named this site after King Boko, the legendary king in Loro Jongrang folklore.^[2]
• Kraton of Majapahit in Trowulan, Mojokerto, the capital of the former Majapahit. Sites such as Pendopo Agung Majapahit are thought to be remnants of the Kraton of Majapahit.^[3]

In the Banten region, there are remnants of the Sultanate of Banten's palaces:

• Kraton Surosowan, Banten, the former royal palace of the Sultanate of Banten.^[4]
• Kraton Kaibon, the former palace of Queen Mother.^[5]

In Surakarta and Yogyakarta regions, there are remnants of the Sultanate of Mataram palaces:

• Kota Gede remains of a palace from the 16th century.
• Karta and Plered remains of palaces from the 17th century.
• Kraton Kartasura on the outskirts of Surakarta remains of palace and city wall, also dated from the 17th century.

Metonymic use

The term kraton 'palace' is also used as a way to refer to the court which it houses.

This is especially the case for native Indonesian states where the succession is disputed, giving issue to two or more branches of the dynasty, or even rivaling dynasties, each setting up an alternative court while competing for the same state, but generally only controlling part of it.

An example is the West-Javan state of Cirebon, which was founded in 1478 and since 1662 was ruled from three Kraton (palaces):^[6]

• Kraton Kasepuhan, using as the ruler's style Sultan
• Kraton Kanoman, style Sultan
• Kraton Kacirebonan, style Sultan

See also

• List of palaces
• Istana
• Cirebon
• Yogyakarta
• Surakarta
• Crown jewels for current palaces outside of Java but in Indonesia
• List of Indonesian monarchies
• Palaces

References

• Miksic, John N. (general ed.), et al. (2006) Karaton Surakarta. A look into the court of Surakarta Hadiningrat, central Java (First published: 'By the will of His Serene Highness Paku Buwono XII'. Surakarta: Yayasan Pawiyatan Kabudayan Karaton Surakarta, 2004) Marshall Cavendish Editions Singapore

External links

• WorldSatesmen - Indonesia - Princely States

Notes and References

1. http://www.yogyes.com/en/yogyakarta-tourism-object/candi/ratu-boko/ King Boko Palace
2. http://www.jogjatrip.com/en/173/ratu-boko-temple Ratu Boko Temple
3. see Trowulan#The Majapahit Park and http://theartnewspaper.com/articles/Indonesian-minister-of-culture-s-public-apology-for-destruction-of-archaeological-site/17112
4. Web site: Archived copy . 2010-12-26 . 2011-02-18 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110218055344/http://arkeologi.web.id/articles/arkeologi-klasik/1161-kajian-arkeologi-keraton-surosowan . dead .
5. Web site: Budaya: Istana Kaibon.
6. Web site: Cirebon : Palaces.