Pakubuwono I of Mataram

Born as Raden Mas Darajat, he was the son of Amangkurat I, the last Mataram ruler based in Plered, from his second queen consort, Ratu Wetan. Ratu Wetan originated from Kajoran family, descended from Sultans of Pajang.

RM. Darajat was once appointed as a crown prince (Javanese: adipati anom) when a conflict between his father and Raden Mas Rahmat (later Amangkurat II of Mataram) occurred. RM. Rahmat was Prince Puger's half-brother, born from Ratu Kulon (the first queen consort of Amangkurat I). Amangkurat I relinquished crown prince title from RM. Rahmat and ceded it to RM. Darajat. But, when Kajoran family was proven to support Trunajaya rebellion in 1674, Amangkurat I was forced to draw the title from RM. Darajat.

The peak of Trunajaya rebellion took place in 1677. This Madurese prince made a great invasion to Plered, capital of Mataram. Amangkurat I escaped to the west and assigned RM. Rahmat to defend the palace. But, RM. Rahmat refused and chose to evacuate as well. Prince Puger appeared to replace his half-brother to prove to his father that not all of Kajoran family members were involved in Trunajaya rebellion.

When Trunajaya troops came to Plered Palace, Amangkurat I had evacuated. Prince Puger stood against them. But, the enemy's strength was too great, so he was forced to escaped to Jenar village (now in Purwodadi, Purworejo). Prince Puger built a new palace namely Purwakanda there, and appointed himself as a king styled Susuhunan Ingalaga.

Trunajaya plundered Mataram heirlooms. He subsequently moved to his post in Kediri. Meanwhile, Sunan Ingalaga came back to Plered to destroy the remaining Trunajaya's followers placed there. Sunan Ingalaga then appointed himself as a new Mataram ruler.

In the meantime, Amangkurat I had died while escaping to Tegal. RM. Rahmat was appointed as a new ruler of Mataram, styled Amangkurat II. As his father's will, Amangkurat II requested Dutch East India Company for help. Trunajaya rebellion was eventually suppressed in the end of 1679.

Amangkurat II was a king without palace because Plered had been occupied by Sunan Ingalaga, his own half-brother. He built new palace in Wanakerta forest, later renamed to Kartasura, in September 1680. Amangkurat II then summoned Sunan Ingalaga to join with him, but Sunan Ingalaga turned it down.

The refusal caused a civil war. Eventually, on 28 November 1681 Sunan Ingalaga surrendered to Jacob Couper, a Dutch officer who helped Amangkurat II. Sunan Ingalaga himself was titled Prince Puger again and recognized his half-brother's rule Amangkurat II.

The defeat of Prince Puger marked the end of Mataram Sultanate which became vassal of Sunanate of Surakarta. Despite of that, Javanese chronicles still praise Prince Puger's existence as an ordinary man in Kartasura. The king was indeed Amangkurat II, but the government of sunanate was controlled by Prince Puger. It is understandable because the Javanese chronicles were written in the era of Prince Puger-descended rulers.

Amangkurat II was successfully ascended to throne because of Dutch assistance, but accompanied by treaty that worsened Kartasura-based Mataram Sultanate. When the situation was conducive, the anti-Dutch Patih Nerangkusuma persuaded him to betray the treaty.

In 1685, Amangkurat II protected Dutch fugitive namely Untung Suropati. Captain François Tack arrived in Kartasura to arrest him. Amangkurat II pretended to help Dutch East India Company. But, he secretly tasked Prince Puger to be disguised as Untung Suropati's follower.

In a bitter fight taken place around Kartasura Palace in February 1686, the 75-man Dutch troops are killed by Untung Surapati's troops, including Captain Tack who was unable to go down from his horse.

Amangkurat II died in 1703, and succeeded by his son Amangkurat III, a king disliked by many people due to his bad attitude, so there were many supports for Prince Puger came. The relation between uncle and nephew strained. Amangkurat III's hostility toward his half-uncle severed when Raden Suryokusumo, son of Prince Puger, rebelled.

The hostility culminated in May 1704, when Amangkurat III sent troops to exterminate Prince Puger's family. But, he and his followers successfully escaped. The one tasked to chase was Duke Jangrana II, Regent of Surabaya. But Duke Jangrana II secretly supported Prince Puger, so his pursuing was no more than a drama.

Rangga Yudanegara, Regent of Semarang, acted as a mediator of Prince Puger in requesting Dutch East India Company for help. Yudanegara's diplomacy skill successfully made Dutch East India Company forgiving Captain Tack's death. They were prepared to help Prince Puger's struggle with some conditions beneficial to them.

The content of Semarang Treaty which had to be signed by Prince Puger is, among others, the transfer of Eastern Madura to Dutch East India Company.

On 6 July 1704, Prince Puger was appointed as a ruler styled Susuhunan Paku Buwana Senapati Ingalaga Ngabdurahman Sayidin Panatagama Khalifatulah Tanah Jawa, commonly abbreviated as Pakubuwana or Pakubuwono I.

One year later, Pakubuwono I, guarded by joint Dutch, Semarang, Western Madura, and Surabaya troops, moved to invade Kartasura. Kartasura troops assigned to ambush them were led by Arya Mataram, Pakubuwono I's own younger brother. Arya Mataram successfully persuaded Amangkurat III to evacuate to the east, when he himself joined with Pakubuwono I.

The throne of Kartasura thus fell to Pakubuwono I's hand, exactly on 17 September 1705.

The rule of Pakubuwono I was brought up to a new treaty with Dutch East India Company as replacement ever signed by Amangkurat II. The old treaty stipulated that Kartasura was obliged to pay Trunajaya war cost in the amount of 4.5 million guilder, and the new one stipulated that Kartasura was obliged to send 13,000 ton rice per year for 25 years.

In 1706, joined Kartasura and Dutch troops run after Amangkurat III who sought for protection in Pasuruan. In a battle in Bangil, Untung Suropati, the then Regent of Pasuruan, was killed in action. Amangkurat III himself surrendered in Surabaya in 1708, and later exiled to Dutch Ceylon (now Sri Lanka).

One year later, Pakubuwono II was forced to sentence Duke Jangrana II of Surabaya, who previously helped him to ascend the throne, to death, on the ground that Dutch East India Company found proofs that Duke Jangrana II committed treason in First Javanese War of Succession in 1706.

Jangrana II was succeeded by his brother, Jayapuspita, as Regent of Surabaya. In 1714, Jayapuspita refused to appear before Pakubuwono I and prepared for rebellion. 3 years later, joined Kartasura and Dutch troops invaded Surabaya. According to Babad Tanah Jawi, this newly battle is more horrible than in Pasuruan. Jayapuspita was eventually defeated and retreated to Japan (now Mojokerto) in 1718.

Sunan Pakubuwono I died in 1719, and was succeeded by his son, Amangkurat IV, whose reign was marked by Second Javanese War of Succession.

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• Brief biography of Pakubuwana I (in Indonesian)