Majapahit

Majapahit (Javanese: ꦤꦒꦫꦶꦏꦫꦗꦤ꧀ꦩꦗꦥꦲꦶꦠ꧀) also known as the Empire of Majapahit is an ancient empire located in Southeast Asia. It takes over a large part of Southeast Asia controlling over the island of Java, South of Borneo and Sumatra and an island chain to the island of Timour. Majapahit is an ancient kingdom starting all the way in 1239 AD and it is extrordinary that Majapahit survived such a long time without a change in the regime. The country is still an absolute monarchy with Pakubuwono as the Emperor. The country borders British Borneo and Lanfang Republic in Kalimantan and Portuguese Timor in the south by sea. The United Kingdoms and Portugal also have trading posts in Majapahit.

Early History
In 1275, the Pamalayu military campaign was ordered and sent by Javanese King Kertanegara of Singhasari, the predecessor of Raden Wijaya and Majapahit, to conquer the Sumatran Melayu Kingdom and establish political and trade dominance through the Sumatran and Melayu states and the Strait of Malacca. The Hindu religion was also sponsored throughout this expedition. King Kertanegara also wished to form a political alliance between Singhasari and Sumatran states, and for this the expedition brought two Sumatran princesses back.

Mongol Invasion
From 1292 to 1293 The Majapahit state can see their origins with the Yuan Dynasty, the most formidable of the Mongol Khanates, invasion of Java. Raden Wijaya, the future King Kertarajasa Jayawardhana, initially 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 were forced to retreat and Raden Wijaya established the Majapahit kingdom, taking the title Kritarajasa Jayavardhana, on 10 November 1293. The Pamalayu expedition came back, declared loyalty to the Majapahit and King Kritarajasa Jayavardhana (Raden Wijaya), and provided him with Princess Dara Petak, Indreswari when they got married. Due to this, many minor rebellions against the King followed but put down by 1302.

King Jayanegara
In 1309, King Kritarajasa Jayavardhana (Raden Wijaya) dies. Subsequently, Jayanegara, or Sri Maharaja Wiralandagopala Sri Sundarapandya Dewa Adhiswara, son of the dead King, and his Sumatran spouse, succeeds his father as King of Majapahit. Due to the rise of the new king, several major rebellions followed against him but were crushed by 1319. In 1321, the Odoric of Pordenone visits Java, and the Kingdom, and is immensely impressed by the country. However, he was shortlived. In 1328, King Jayanegara is assassinated by a surgeon; his half-siser Tribhuwana Wijayatunggadewi, known later as Queen regent Tribhuwannottunggadewi Jayawishnuwardhani, becomes the regent Queen to her mother, who had become a monk and couldn’t participate in monarchy duties actively.

Queen Tribhuwana
Queen Tribhuwana appointed Gajah Mada as the mahapatih or Prime Minister of Majapahit, where he declared the Palapa oath, stating his goals to expand Majapahit into an Empire covering the entire Archipelago. "“Gajah Mada, the prime minister, said he will not taste any spice. Said Gajah Mada : If Nusantara (Nusantara= Nusa antara= external territories) are lost, I will not taste 'palapa' ('fruits and/or spices'). I will not if the domain of Gurun, domain of Seram, domain of Tanjungpura, domain of Haru, Pahang, Dompo, domain of Bali, Sunda, Palembang, Tumasik (Singapore), in which case I will never taste any spice.”"

Rapid Expansion
From 1342 to 1343, Majapahit troops led by Gajah Mada assisted by his general Arya Damar, the regent of Palembang, landed in Bali. After seven months of battles, Majapahit forces defeated the Balinese king in Bedulu (Bedahulu), annexing the Island. The local princely family would be murdered and the Javinisation of Bali would begin, which would be increased during the reign of King Hayam Wuruk. This exemplifies Gajah Mada’s expanist policies. In 1343, The Lombok Mirah is forced into suzerainty, and the Susak ‘princes’ of Lombok are forced into many agreements. From 1344 to 1348. One by one Gajah Mada captured kingdoms and cities, states and provinces, all for the glory of his people. These included the Buddhist kingdom of Sriwijaya in Palembang and small kingdoms in West Sumatra, where Gajah Mada installed a Majapahit prince, Adityawarman, as a vassal ruler. Adityawarman became the King of Pagaruyung and began the Minangkabau dynasty, and further expansions in Binton and the Malayu Kingdom were done. In 1349, Samudra-Pasai, under Sultan Zainal Abidin I, is looted and raided by Majapahit and subsequently becomes a tributary, another one of Gajah Mada’s expansionist policies.

In 1350, the death of Queen regent Tribhuwannottunggadewi Jayawishnuwardhani’s mother would see the ascension of Tribhuwannottunggadewi’s son, Hayam Wuruk, as King Sri Rajasanagara Jayawishnuwardhana. King Hayam Wuruk, under the influence of Gajah Mada, demands the submission of the tiny Kingdom of Singapura to become a tribute to the great Kingdom of Majapahit. Sri Wikrama Wira of Singapura denies this, threatens King Hayam Wuruk, and Majapahit sends a naval force to invade the island kingdom under Damang Wiraja. No side could take power over the other, and the Majapahit force decided to return to Java. The King of the Majapahit believes this is a win, and the Kingdom of Singapura is under him, though in reality it is not. From 1351 to 1355, Gajah Mada leads his Northern expansions, conquering settlements and small states in Kalimantan.

From 1352 to 1365 Gajah Mada starts the Majapahit military campaign of the Eastern Islands, again exemplifying his expansionist policy under the Palapa Oath. Even after his death, the Majaphit would establish their presence and authority over Logajah, Gurun, Seram, Hutankadali, Sasak, Buton, Banggai, Kunir, Galiyan, Salayar, Sumba, Muar (Saparua), Solor, Bima, Wandan (Banda), Ambon, Timor, and Dompo.

In 1356, After suppressing a rebellion in Samudra-Pasai, Sultan Zainal Abidin I, the ruler of Samudra-Pasai whose power was effectively diminished after the invasion of the Majapahit, orders the assasination of Gajah Mada. Gajah Mada is subsequently killed by an unknown follower of Islam, who in his attack supposedly says “Kerana Allah tidak pernah mungkir janji” (For allah never fails his promise). King Hayam Wuruk declares an end of Islamic presence in the Majapahit Empire and Gajah Mads becomes a martyr to Majapahit and Hinduism, following this Hayam Wuruk declares the same Palapa Oath as Gajah Mada did and adds “Islam shall not touch the lands of the Majapahit Kingdom”. The Majapahit deposed Sultan Zainal Abidin I, established a puppet Hindu princely family, and begin javainisation of its lands and people.

Alliance with the Sundrans
In 1357, although the Sundra Kingdom had been one of the last independent Kingdoms in proximity to the Majapahit Kingdom, they have had close relations and ties, which caused great cooperation between one another. To establish an alliance with the Sundra Kingdom, King Hayam Wuruk proposes a marriage between himself and Citra Rashmi (Pitaloka), a princess of the Sunda Kingdom. King Prabu Maharaja Linggabuana Wisesa and his royal family, along with hundreds of ships, would sail to Eastern Java, home to Majapahit’s capital, for the wedding. At Bubat square the royal marriage would come to union, Princess Citra Rashmi would become the Queen Consort of Majapahit and the Sunda and Majapahit Kingdoms would be closer than ever. Talks of an alliance would begin. In 1358, the “Treaty of Alliance in Java” would be signed and ratified by both states, in this alliance both Kingdoms promise to support one another in defense, recognition of territorial boundaries, and most important both Kingdoms agree to end the spread and influence of Islam in Java and continue the existence and spread, internationally, of Hinduism. This alliance begins an age of oppression of Islam on the Island of Java. The Islamic clause was caused by Gajah Mada’s death by an Islamist, who had considerble influence over the King.

In 1365, the Nagarakretagama is written as a description of the Majapahit realm and affirms the importance of Hindu–Buddhism in the Majapahit empire by describing temples and palaces and several ceremonial observances. The Nagarakretagama notes the Western, Northern, and Eastern expansions and the conquests of the Majapahit Kingdom.

Palembang
In 1370, A Malay ruler of Palembang sent an envoy to the court of the first emperor of the newly established Ming dynasty, the Hongwu Emperor. The Malayan King invited China to resume the tributary system, just like Srivijaya did several centuries earlier, hoping to protect itself from the ever growing Majapahit Kingdom. King Hayam Wuruk learned of this, and in response convinced the Emperor that Palembang was already a tribute of Majapahit, which worked. This began the relations between the Ming and the Majapahit, and for many years the Majapahit Kingdom sent embassies to the Ming Empire. Under the reign of King Hayam Wuruk, Majapahit maintained friendly relations with the Siamese Ayutthaya Kingdom, the Siamese satellite Nakhon Si Thammarat Kingdom, the Martaban Kingdom, Rajapura (Kamboja) Kingdom, Singhanagri, Champa, Cambodia, and Dai Viet. In 1377, Majapahit sent a punitive naval attack against a rebellion in Palembang, contributing to the end of Srivijayan successor kingdom, and further Majapahit dominance over Sumatra. Srivijayan/Palembang princes and nobles began to flee to the Kingdom of Singapura and the Malaya peninsula. Rebellions against the Javanese rule ensued and attempts were made by the fleeing Malay princes to revive the empire, which left the area of southern Sumatra in chaos and desolation.

King Ken Angrok II
In 1389, King Hayam Wuruk dies, and his son Ken Angrok II - by his union with Sundanese Princess Citra Rashmi - would be crowned King of Majapahit, with the more formal name of Ranggah Rajasa.

Conquest of Singapura
In 1398, The Kingdom of Singapura, which had been experiencing growing wealth and influence, had once again caught the attention of Majapahit, this time under a new King. Wishing to show the nobility that he is as great as his father, he launched an attack on the Kingdom of Singapura. Hundreds of military vessels and no fewer than 200,000 invaded the Island, and after a couple battles outside of fortress walls, the Majapahit had successfully forced the Singaporians inside the fortress. After about a month, the fortress had been depleted of its food and people began to starve, and this followed by the fall of the fortress and slaughter of the people in the fortress. However, the ruling King (Parameswara) and his family fled the fortress and went to the Malaya archipelago.

Founding of Malacca
In 1400 The Kingdom or City of Malacca was founded by Buddhists from the north, Hindus from Palembang and Muslims from Pasai fleeing persecution and oppression by the Majapahit Kingdom, which had brutally conquered Sumatra and Malaya. It was, for all intents and purposes, independent from Majapahit and was ruled by Parameswara, who fled there after the sack of Singapura.

Sumatran Rebellion and Wars
Sultan Zainal Abidin I had been the Sultan of Sumadra-Pasai since 1349, when his Sultanate was looted and forced into a tributary by the Majapahit under its expansionist policy. The Sultan had initiated a rebellion against the Majapahit, which had ultimately caused the assaination of Gaja Mada, and the declaration against Islam by the rulers of Majapahit. He was forced to flee, yet held immense influence over Pasai. He returned in 1405 with his family, gained support of the Islamic elites, and overthrew the puppet Hindu government which had led Pasai since the 1356 rebellion. Taking the capital and destroying the small Majapahit garrison, he effectively took control of the lands. In 1406, the Majapahit sent an envoy of hundreds of ships to take back Pasai. Arabian and Indian Islamic merchants and traders declared support for Pasai, with many contributing their ships and crew to the war effort. Soon as Majapahit vessels arrived, an Islamic rebellion began in Sumatra, which then caused a butterfly effect across all of the Majapahit lands.

The Aru Kingdom, which had been a tribute to the Majapahit, declared an end to the tributary and full sovereignty and independence. The Kingdom of Lambri did this as well, declaring an end to Majapahit control and full sovereignty. The Sultanate (Kingdom) of Pedir would be declared a state as well as the Sultanate (Kingdom) of Nakur. Following this, all states signed a temporary alliance called the “Pact of Sumatra” to assist one another in keeping their independence.

After years of on and off battles, those of the sea and land, the Majapahit Kingdom were forced to accept their independence; however, the Kings of the Majapahit would continue to cite the Papala oath. In these years, the King of Malacca would convert to Islam and declare the Sultanate of Malacca.

Additionally, the Majapahit were at war with the Kingdom of Pagaruyung from 1405 to 1415, which had previously been under the rule of a Majapahit puppet King but failed to pay tribute and went against Majapahit foreign policy and diplomacy, especially with their acts of aggression towards the Sundra- who also declared on the Pagaruyung. The war with Pagaruyung, however, was harsh and because of the Northern Sumatra rebellion, it was even more difficult. Because southern Sumatra had been covered with rebellions it had ruined the lands. Pagaruyung had been asked to join the “Pact of Sumatra” with the Northern rebellion, but denied. In the end, the Pagaruyung Kingdom had defeated the Majapahit vassals Rokan, Kampar, Siak, and Pekantua in 1411. The Majapahit, though with their puppets in Jambi and Kentang, were forced to sign peace with the Pagaruyung. The defeat of the Majapahit can be contributed to the spread of Islam, and the rebellions that came with it, causing Majapahit controlled Sumatra to spring up into rebellion and vast resources poured into putting them down. The Majapahit were unable to recover Rokan, Kampar, Siak, and Pekantua, and their control over Sumatra again depleted.

By 1409, the Sultanate of Malacca saw the decrease in power of the Majapahit over Northern Sumatra and therefore the Strait of Malacca. So, in an effort to control the Strait of Malacca, Sultan Parameswara invaded the Majapahit in Malaya. The Sultanate of Malacca strengthened its maritime navy and military because of its close ally the Chinese, which had become a close friend to the Emperor of Chinese and accounted as equal to the Chinese state. Because of this, when Malacca invaded the colony of Muar, colony of Johor, and southern Chermin Empire (a tributary of the Majapahit), they saw great success and most importantly, his homeland of Singapura. The Majapahit, who were also occupied in the North Sumatra Rebellion and the Pagaruyung War, could not actively wage war on the Malacca Sultanate. In addition to this, the Malaya Kingdoms which had pledged tribute to the Majapahit had been influenced by the Chinese and the Siamese Empires, with the Pahang even sending additional tribute to the Chinese. Sometimes around this time, the Sultanate of Brunei is declared and it gains independence from the Majapahit.

After the end of the Malacca War in 1416, North Sumatra Rebellion, and the Pagaruyung War, all which suffered defeats, the King of Majapahit becomes bitter towards Islam even more. He issues the Majapahit Declaration, which states:  "The practive of Islam must come to an end, meaning the Majapahit Kingdom would ban Islam in all its realm. Subsequently, all places of worship, Mosques, and religious relics are to be destroyed. All trade with Islamic powers and Islamic merchants is prohibited, and if caught trading with said outlaws, death will be upon you. Finally, the Majapahit Kingdom would commence a practice of converting Islamic followers to the Majapahit religion (Hindu-Buddhism) and if the followers of Islam fail to convert, they would be killed.""In the Island of Java, where the Majapahit Emperor had direct control and authority over, Muslims are rounded up. These include traders, merchants, children, women, and all of the sort. They are given an ultimatum, convert to Hundu-Buddhism, the religion of the Majapahit, or die. Many convert and abandon Islam, but most do not and are killed publicly and brutually. The Majapahit sent this decree to all of its tributaries, vassals, satellites, etc."

The Empire
After losing significant territory in Sumatra, Malaysia, and Kalimantan (Borneo) the King of the Majapahit, Ken Angrok II, is felt with embarrassment and shame. His nation lost the trade in the Malacca Strait and North Sumatra. With this, Muslims begin to influence South Sumatra, especially as rebellions continue to ruin the lands. On top of this, tributaries and vassals in Kalimantan begin to end their tributes and cling to up and coming power Brunei. In an attempt of desperate admiration, the King formally declares the Majapahit Empire, with him and his descendants as Emperors in 1417. The Emperor begins organization reforms and establishes a centralized state, ruled from Java. The initial territories, ruled directly by the Emperor, were mainly Java and surrounding island while the vassels are in Kalimantan, Malay Peninsula and Sumatra.

In order to establish full control over these territories proper, the Emperor would support feudal lords in establishing dominance, and after that lord had won he would establish him as a feudal governor. This process was repeated throughout many of the Islands, and the anti-Islamic policy was strictly emplaced, something the Majapahit couldn’t do as easily in its tributaries.

Emperor Ken Angrok III
The first Emperor of the Majapahit, Emperor Ken Angrok II, dies. His son, Ken Angrok III takes over as the second Emperor of the Majapahit Empire in 1438. He continues his fathers policy of establishing control over the Islands it claims as core territories, and takes the Papala Oath just like his predecessors.

Intervention in Sunda
Even though the Kingdom of Sunda signed in the “Treaty of Alliance” that it would implement an anti-Islam policy, it did not. The King and Queen of the Sunda were actually very sympathetic to the Muslims and secretly harbored them in villages and continued to trade with the merchants. King Siliwangi even married a women who supposedly converted to Islam, but this was not such a big deal because she was not the prameswari (queen consort).

However, things took a turn, when the Crown Prince of the Sundra Kingdom, Nyai Cantring Manikmayang, died and the next in line was Prince Walangsungsang, son of the supposed muslim mistress. This caused uproar in the Majapahit Court and the Prime Minister of the Majapahit decided to take action. With the Emperor’s approval, he enacted an intervention in the Sunda Kingdom in 1477.

Hundreds of war ships and tens of thousands of soldiers invaded the Sunda Kingdom from all sides, land and water. The Sunda Kingdom, which had been in deep decline especially with the signing of the Treaty of Alliance, meaning they did not need a strong navy or army to protect themselves, fell quickly. The capital, Pakuan Pajajaran, was surrounded for a month and the fortified city was forced to surrender. A peace agreement was then signed, and stated in the agreement the Prince and his family would leave Sunda, and the first son of Emperor Ken Angrok III would become the King of Sunda.

In 1448, King Ken Angrok of the Sunda establishes his reign and power in West Java and Emperor Ken Angrok III of the Majapahit declares his son, the King of Sunda, as the next heir of the Majapahit. Therefore, when Emperor Ken Angrok III dies, King Ken Angrok of Sunda would become the third Emperor of the Majapahit and Java would be united. The new King of Sunda begins an ant-Islam policy like in the Majapahit and hundreds to thousands of Muslims are forced to flee, many following the deposed King of Sunda, Prince Walangsungsang, who had converted to Islam offically.

Second Malacca War
From 1454 to 1458, The Malacca Sultanate invades the Majapahit tributes Pahang and Chermin. Hoping to reconquer Malacca, the Majapahit declared war on the Malacca Sultanate. However, because the Majapahit had ended all trade with Arab and Islamic traders, it was unable to gain access to new weapons and ships from Muslim traders from China, Gujarat, Arabia and also from Islamic kingdoms in the region, such as Samudra Pasai, Malacca and Bani (Muslim) Champa. This caused the Majapahit to seriously fall behind other regional powers in the Islands. Ultimately, the Majapahit were unable to secure their tributes and were defeated by the Malaccans. The Majapahit were forced out of the entire Malaya Peninsula, and their trading Islands near the west Coast of Sumatra and Natuna. Due to the lack of modern technologies that Malacca had, the Majapahit are forced to reopen trade with the Arabs and other Islamic followers. The Majapahit, however, continue to have a strict anti-Islamic policy.

Arrival of Europeans
In 1511 the Portuguese conquer Malacca, earning the respect and praise of the Majapahit. The Majapahit seeing potential in using the Portuguese against Muslim influence in the area, started to get close to the Portugese, opening up trade and even allowing them to settle a few ports in exchange for protection in 1511. The Portuguese seeing the economic potential in this, as well as the potential to spread Christianity to Indonesia while fighting Islam, and having access to Majapahit Nutmeg, grew close to the Majapahit. The Majapahit at this time also learned new western things such as building larger boats, of which they were masters of sailing, and of gunpowder, of which no one else in Indonesia had.

The Dutch also began trading with the Bandanese in 1602, who at the time were a Majapahit tributary state. In 1609, the Bandanese slaughter Dutch of their island, after hearing of a plan for them to build a fort. Conflict arises between the Dutch and English over the Nutmeg islands. In 1621, the Dutch seize the island, officially taking it over and out of the Majapahits sphere. This greatly angers the Majapahit, as well as the portugese, and establishes a turning point for the region. The Dutch keep attempting to settle in Majapahit lands, but the Majapahit thanks in part to Portuguese weaponry are able to hold their own. The Dutch however do manage to assert their control over most of the Ambon islands. It is during this time that the Majapahit begin to build an official national identity.

In 1641, the Dutch and Aceh who had been attempting to rid the region of Malacca of the Portuguese for some time now, join forces in an attempt to push the Portuguese out. However combined Majapahit-Portuguese forces are able to hold their ground, and drive the Dutch out. This Majapahit naval victory is a defining moment of unity, and establishes them as an actual power in the region, with a navy capable of rivaling that of European colonialists.

Modern Majapahit
From here on out, the British seeing the potential the Majapahit had begun working with them alongside the Portuguese. The Dutch continued their expansion into areas not controlled by the Majapahit, such as Sulawesi, Borneo and Sumatra. However thanks to the Majapahit, the Portuguese and especially the British are able to profit further off of Indonesia, and Majapahit stands in the way of any Dutch monopoly over the Indonesian islands. The Majapahit remain masters of the Indonesian seas until about the 1850s, when steam powered vessels become more and more common, and the Majapahit begins to fall behind. Today they remain independent, yet their economy is practically owned by both the British and Portugese. They have however, successfully stopped Islam from spreading to their lands, and have maintained their traditions.