As we know that in the past, Indonesia contained of many kingdoms. Those Kingdoms in Indonesia were Kutai, Taruma Negara, Kalingga, Mataram Hindhu, Medang, Kahuripan, Kediri, Singasari, Majapahit, Pajajaran, Demak, Pajang, Mataram, and Banten. And from all of those Kingdoms, that is Majapahit which is the biggest Kingdom in Indonesia. Majapahit Kingdom existed at 1290 – 1500 and located at Trowulan Mojokerto. Realizing that I live nearby the former site of Majapahit, it will be very interesting if we know deeper about Majapahit.
The existing of Majapahit began when Singhasari Kingdom was shettered by Kediri, Kertanegara (The King of Singhasari) was murdered by Jayakatwang from Kediri. The biggest mistake of Jayakatwang was not to kill Raden Wijaya (son in law of Kertanegara). Moreover, He gives a land called Tarik for Raden Wijaya. Sooner, Tarik was built and called Majapahit. This name was taken from maja fruit which tasted bitter (pahit-Indonesia). After that, Raden Wijaya tried to get support from Mongol to take vengeance to Jayakatwang. Jayakatwang was murdered by Raden Wijaya. Later, Raden Wijaya was appointed as a King of Mojopahit which called Kertarajasa Jayawardhana.
The statue in the left side is Kertarajasa Jayawardhana which was believed as the reflection of Siwa and Wisnu. In the beginning of Kertarajasa Jayawardhana’s rule, Majapahit faced many revolts, such as the revolt of Ranggalawe, Sora, Nambi, and Kuti. But it could solve well when Hallayudha was murdered. Sooner, Raden Wijaya or Kertarajasa Jayawardhana died on 1309.
The rule of Majapahit was continued by Jayanegara, the son of Raden Wijaya. But he was an amoral king. Later he murdered by his physician, Tanca. After Jayanegara died, the rule of Majapahit was taken by Tribhuana Tunggadewi. Under Tribhuana’s rule, Majapahit become bigger. Tribhuana’s rule then continued by Hayam Wuruk, her son.
Majapahit experienced its ‘golden age’ under its last great ruler Hayam Wuruk (1350–1389) with his chief minister, Gajah Mada whose reign is extolled in an epic poem, Nagarakertagama (1365). This poem claimed an empire for Majapahit covering much of peninsular Malaya, Sumatra, Borneo, Sulawesi (Celebes), Bali, and other islands, though its control in the more far-flung areas must have been weak.
After reached its ‘golden age’ in the 14th century, the authority of Majapahit becomes weaker. Moreover in the 1405-1406 there was a battle called Perang Paregreg between Wirabhumi and Wikramawardhana which were brothers. In addition, there was influence of Islam which replaced Hindhu. And the last remnants of Majapahit's authority had been extinguished and many of its royal family had fled to Bali.
That's a little about Majapahit.
After this let's just have a trip with me around archeological sites of Majapahit in Trowulan Mojokerto in the next post.
see ya!
