Mataram Sultanate
Indonesia, 1586–1755. Draft, not yet reviewed
The Sultanate of Mataram was an early modern state based on the island of Java that lasted from the late 16th century to the 18th century. Mataram reached its peak of power during the reign of Sultan Agung Anyokrokusumo. The kingdom gradually lost political and economic power to the Dutch East India Company. The realm was finally divided into the Sultanate of Yogyakarta and the Surakarta Sunanate.
Seat of power: Kartasura
Rulers
Senapati of Mataram
Head of state, 1586–1601
Panembahan Senapati was the founder of the Mataram Sultanate. As Sutawijaya, he led Mataram's growth through military campaigns against Pajang and Demak.
Portrait of Senapati of Mataram: Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, file
Sultan Agung of Mataram
Head of state, 1635–1645
He was a skilled soldier who conquered neighbouring states and expanded and consolidated his kingdom to its greatest territorial and military power. He is remembered as a fighter against the incursions of the Dutch East India Company.
Portrait of Sultan Agung of Mataram: Basuki Bawono, CC BY-SA 3.0, file
Amangkurat I of Mataram
Head of state, 1646–1677
Historians know him for purging nobles and massacring thousands of ulema to centralize power. He experienced many rebellions during his reign.
Portrait of Amangkurat I of Mataram: putudananjaya, of Indonesia's Ministry of Education and Culture, Public domain, file
Amangkurat II of Mataram
Head of state, 1677–1703
He was the first Javanese monarch to wear a European-style uniform. Amangkurat II requested military assistance from the Dutch East India Company, which went to war to restore him.
Portrait of Amangkurat II of Mataram: Tirto (maker, from Gresik), CC BY-SA 3.0, file
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Amangkurat III of Mataram
Head of state, 1703–1704
Amangkurat III was a short-lived ruler of the Sultanate of Mataram. The Dutch managed to install Prince Puger as Pakubuwono I, and Amangkurat was deposed and exiled to Ceylon.
Portrait of Amangkurat III of Mataram: Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, file
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Pakubuwono I
Head of state, 1704–1719
Most Javanese chronicles depict him as a great wise ruler. He created a new name for his line, the title Pakubuwono, which became the standard name for the rulers of Surakarta.
Portrait of Pakubuwono I: Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, file
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Amangkurat IV of Mataram
Head of state, 1719–1726
He did not take the title Pakubuwana but styled himself Amangkurat IV, reclaiming the title used by his cousin Amangkurat III, and his leadership was quickly challenged by a succession crisis.
Culture
- Kotagede is well known internationally for its silver crafting.
- Along with Aceh and Makassar, Mataram has been referred to as one of Southeast Asia's major gunpowder empires.
- Descendants of the Mataram dynasty remain culturally and politically influential to the modern era. The Sultanate of Yogyakarta remains the only monarchy officially recognized by the Indonesian government.
Picture
Kotagede, now a historic neighborhood in Yogyakarta, contains the remains of the first capital of the Mataram Sultanate.
Image: Gunawan Kartapranata, CC BY-SA 3.0, file
Sources
Text adapted from the Wikipedia articles listed as sources, CC BY-SA 4.0.