Dharmawangsa

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Dharmawangsa was the last raja of the Kingdom of Medang from 985-1006 BCE. He succeeded Sri Makutawangsawardhana. Dharmawangsa was the patron of the translator of the Mahabarata text into Old Javanese. It was during this period that the Caritha Parahyangan was written in Sundanese, which tells the history of the rajas of Mataram

Dharmawangsa conquered several areas, including Bali, and established a colony in West Kalimantan. Dharmawangsa's sister, Mahendradatta, married Udayana, Raja of the Warmadewa Dynasty in Bali, and had a son, Airlangga.

In the year 990, Dharmawangsa invaded the Sriwijaya Kingdom and attempted unsuccessfully to capture Palembang. Dharmawangsa's invasion caused the raja of Sriwijaya, Chulamaniwarmadewa to request protection from China. In 1006, Sriwijaya repelled the invaders and then attacked and destroyed the Watugaluh Palace. Dharmawangsa was killed, and there were further unrest and violence for several years following.

Airlangga, son of Mahendradatta and Udayana, was aged only 16 at the time. However, he escaped the invaders and went on to become founder of the Kahuripan Kingdom, successor of the first Kingdom of Mataram and Medang.

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