Raden Wijaya

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The statue of Harihara, the god combination of Shiva and Vishnu. It was the mortuary deified portrayal of Kertarajasa. Originally located at Candi Simping, Blitar. (National Museum of Indonesia, Jakarta)

Raden Wijaya (also known as Kertarajasa Jayawardhana) (reigned 1293-1309) was the founder and first raja of the Majapahit kingdom on Java, Indonesia. The story of his founding of Majapahit was written in several records, including Pararaton and Negarakertagama.

[edit] Ancestry

Raden Wijaya was the son of Dyah Lembu Tal, a prince of Singhasari. Dyah Lembu Tal, also known as Dyah Singhamurti, was the great-grandson of Ken Arok note: Granddaughter as Sunda genealogy, king of Singhasari (1222-1227) and Ken Dedes, by their son Mahisa Wonga Teleng, and his son Mahisa Campaka (Nara Singhamurti).

[edit] Before the founding of Majapahit

In 1289, Kublai Khan sent a demand for tribute to the Kingdom of Singhasari, although the demand was refused by Kertanagara and the messenger was humiliated. Shortly after, there was a rebellion against Singhasari in the country of Jayakatwang. Kertanagara was killed in the attempt to put down the rebellion in 1292, and Raden Wijaya fled to Sumenap, Madura, along with the governor of that region, Aria Wiraraja. There, Raden Wijaya made a plan to establish a new kingdom. Wijaya promised that he would divide Java with Ariaraja if Ariaraja could help him overthrow Jayakatwang's Kediri kingdom.

Wiraraja's son Ranggalawe served as one of Wijaya's senapati (warlord) but in later days he would rebel against the new king. Other famous officers were Lembu Sora and Nambi, both also rebelled against Wijaya respectively after the founding of Majapahit kingdom.

[edit] Foundation of the Majapahit kingdom

In November 1292, a Mongol force landed in Tuban, East Java, with the aim of revenge for Kertanagara's humiliation of the Mongol messenger. However, Kertanegara was already dead. Raden Wijaya made an alliance with the Mongols with the aim of attacking Singhasari, which by this time had fallen under the power of Jayakatwang. Jayakatwang was defeated and destroyed in 1293, at which point Raden Wijaya attacked the Mongol force. The Mongols, already weakened by tropical diseases, the climate, and imperial overreach, were forced to Java.^[1] Raden Wijaya then established the Majapahit kingdom, taking the title Kertarajasa Jayawardhana, and establishing his palace in the area of Trowulan, which is now in Kabupaten Mojokerto, East Java.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Rule of Majapahit

Raden Wijaya was known as a firm and capable ruler. Aria Wiraraja who had been so useful during the period of the establishment of the kingdom, was given Madura, which was granted a special status. He was also given an autonomous region around Lumajang and the Blambangan Peninsula, and his son, Nambi, was appointed Prime Minister.

Raden Wijaya was succeeded by his son, Jayanagara.

[edit] References

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[edit] See also

• Parameswara, the founder of Malacca Sultanate, a descendant of Raden Wijaya.