The History of Java, v. 1-2

by Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles

Several exploits against alligators are recorded of him; and the opinion that no descendant of the princes of Pájang need fear injury from these animals is so prevalent, that it is not unusual for a Javan of the present day, seeing himself in danger from one of them, to exclaim aloud that he belongs to that family.

Not long after the return of Pánji Mas, the island of Java was again formed into two separate and independent governments, corresponding with the former limits of Majapáhit and Pajajaran. The eastern provinces remained subject to the Sultan of Demák, and the western were ceded in perpetuity to Mulána Ibrahim, with the title of Sultan. To both sultans was reserved the right of dividing their lands on their demise among their children, as they might think proper. The Súnan Káli Jága obtained as an hereditary property, free from all kinds of requisitions, the small district of Adilángu, in the province of Demák, where he was afterwards buried.

From this period until the death of the Sultan of Demák, the eastern provinces enjoyed the most undisturbed tranquillity; but the Sultan of Chéribon found some difficulty in establishing his authority over the western people, and in converting them, particularly those of Bantam, to the Mahomedan faith.

The Sultan of Demák, besides several natural children, had two sons and four daughters. Of these daughters one was married to a Madurese prince, who resided at Lampung; another, Balíga, to a son of the Sultan of Chéribon, who was the chief of Bantám; a third to Ráden Pánji, who after the return of the Sultan from Chéribon was appointed chief of Pájang péng'ging; and the fourth to the son of Pángéran Kedíri, who was chief of Japára.

Pangéran Tranggána, the third Sultan of Demák, died in the year 1461, having previously made a division of his dominions among his children.

His eldest son, Aria Ráng'ga, was appointed Sultan of Prawáta, to which was annexed all the land to the eastward along the Solo river, as far as Surabáya, together with Demák and Semárang. His son-in-law, Pangéran Hadíri, was made Súnan of the Kali Niámat, and possessed all the districts of Japári, Páti, Rémbang, and Jawána. The Adipáti of Pájang Péng'ging (Ráden Pánji) received the title of Brébo Páti of Pajang and of Matárem, with the lands attached to it. His son, Mas Timor, was appointed Adipátí, with the lands of Kedú and Bágalen. His son-in-law, the prince of Madúra, was made chief of Madúra, Suménap, Sedáyu, Grésik, Surabáya, and Pasúruan. His youngest son, Ráden Panángsang, was appointed chief of Jípang.

The Sultan of Chéribon, better known by the name of Súnan Gúnung Játi, died in 1428, at an advanced age, leaving three sons by his wife, the princess of Demák, and one son and a daughter by a concubine. His eldest son, Hásen, succeeded him as Sultan of Chéribon and of the provinces lying between the Chi-tárum river and Túgu, and stretching in a southern direction to the Kéndang hills, so as to include all the Priáng'en districts and lands lying to the east of the Chi-tárum. From this prince are descended the present Sultans of Chéribon. To his second son, Baradin, he left the kingdom of Bantam, which extended westward from the river of Táng'ran, to the south-east part of Sumátra, including all the islands in the straits of Súnda. From him are descended the present kings of Bantam. His third son, named Chenámpui, died when young, and was buried at Mándu in Chéribon. To his natural son, Káli Játan, he assigned the lands lying between the Chitárem and Tang'ran rivers, which had formerly formed part of Chéribon and Bantam. This prince assumed the title of Raja of Jokárta or Jákatra, fixing his capital near the kámpung of that name, where he and his descendants continued to reign, until they were expelled, in the year 1619 of the Christian era, by the Dutch, who established on its ruins the modern Batavia, the capital of their possessions in the East Indies.

The tomb of the Susúnan Gúnung Játi, situated on the mount so called, at a short distance from the present town of Chéribon, is still an object of the highest veneration and respect.

Thus was the ancient empire of Java divided under no less than eight separate and independent governments. Bantam, Jokárta, Chéribon, Prawáta, Kaliniámat, Pajang Kedú, and Madúra; the several chiefs of which, in general, either assumed the title of Kiái Gédé or Sultan, or the more religious distinction of Súnan.

In about a year after the death of the Sultan Tranggána, the country of Pájang rose to considerable importance; its chief, on account of his possessing the regalia of state, being considered as the first in rank of the several princes in the eastern districts. Hatred, envy, and ambition, however, soon inflamed the breasts of the different princes of Java. The most ambitious among them, and the first who disturbed the peace of the country, was the Adipáti of Jípang, Ráden Panángang. The history proceeds thus: