Kertanagara

Kertanagara was the most powerful ruler of the Singhasari kingdom in Java. He reigned from 1268 until his death in 1292. He was the fifth king of this dynasty. His father was King Wisnuwardhana, who ruled from 1248 to 1268. Kertanagara actually began holding power in 1254. He became the official king after his father died. He was a deeply spiritual leader. He followed a mystical religious practice called Tantric syncretism. This was a blend of Hinduism and Buddhism. Because of this, he presented himself as a divine god-king. He was an incarnation of both Shiva and Buddha.

During his reign, Singhasari reached its highest level of power. Kertanagara was the first Javanese ruler with territorial ambitions beyond Java. He wanted to expand his influence across the Indonesian archipelago. He successfully brought Bali under his control as a vassal in 1284. He also formed an alliance with the state of Champa. Kertanagara worked to control the lucrative spice trade in the Maluku Islands. He launched the Pamalayu expedition to Sumatra. This mission helped him gain control of the Melayu Kingdom. He also gained influence over the Sunda Kingdom and the Strait of Malacca. Other areas like Madura Island and Borneo also submitted to him.

Kertanagara faced a major conflict with the Mongol Yuan dynasty. The Mongols had conquered Song China and wanted to extend their power. In 1289, Kublai Khan sent ambassadors to Java. They demanded that Kertanagara pay tribute and submit to the Yuan dynasty. Kertanagara was very offended by this request. He arrested the envoys and punished them. He branded their faces and cut off their ears. He sent them back to China with disfigured faces. This action caused Kublai Khan to order a massive naval expedition. The Mongols planned to punish Kertanagara in 1292.

To prepare for the Mongols, Kertanagara tried to strengthen his position. Around 1290, he sent his forces on the Pamalayu expedition. This was meant to secure Sumatra and Jambi. Jambi was a successor state to Srivijaya. It was also one of the first places in Indonesia where Islam had a presence. Jambi had friendly ties with Yuan China. Kertanagara hoped to build a strong regional power. He wanted to create a bulwark against Mongol expansion. He sought to unite maritime kingdoms to resist the Yuan dynasty.

While the Mongol fleet was approaching, a rebellion broke out in Java. Jayakatwang was a prince from the Kediri Kingdom. He was one of the most powerful vassals of Singhasari. He saw an opportunity to seize power. Most of the Singhasari army was away on overseas campaigns. This left the capital, Kutaraja, very weak. Jayakatwang used a diversionary attack in northern East Java. This drew the remaining troops away from the capital. He then attacked Kutaraja from the mountainous southern region. Kertanagara was killed in his palace in 1292. Jayakatwang then declared himself the king of a restored Kediri Kingdom.

Kertanagara's death led to the rise of the Majapahit empire. His son-in-law, Raden Wijaya, was one of the few relatives to survive. Wijaya fled to Madura Island for safety. He eventually settled in the lower Brantas delta. He used the arriving Mongol troops to help him overthrow Jayakatwang. Later, Wijaya betrayed the Mongols and drove them from Java. He established the Majapahit empire, which became very mighty. Kertanagara became an ancestor of the Majapahit Rajasa dynasty. His daughter, Gayatri Rajapatni, married Raden Wijaya. Through her, Kertanagara's lineage continued through many famous queens and kings.

Kertanagara's political ideas had a lasting impact on Southeast Asia. He was the first to use the concept of Nusantara. This term refers to a unified region of islands. In 1255, he used this idea in the Mula Malurung inscription. In 1275, he used the term Cakravala Mandala Dvipantara. This phrase described a united Southeast Asian archipelago. The word Dvipantara is Sanskrit for "islands in between." This is a synonym for Nusantara. Many years later, the leader Gajah Mada honored Kertanagara. In 1351, Gajah Mada issued an inscription about a temple for him. This temple was likely a Shivaist-Buddhist site. Gajah Mada used Kertanagara's ideas as inspiration to unify the region.