Dharmawangsa facts for kids

Dharmawangsa, whose full royal name was Sri Maharaja Isyana Dharmawangsa Teguh Anantawikramottunggadewa, was a powerful king from the Isyana dynasty. He was the last Hindu ruler of the Mataram Kingdom in Java. He ruled from 990 to 1016 CE. After his death, he was given the special name Wijayamreta Wardhana. This name means "powerful in glorious death," because he fought bravely until the very end.

King Dharmawangsa's Rule

Dharmawangsa became king after Sri Makutawangsa Wardhana. He was either the son or son-in-law of the previous king. He was also the grandson of a famous figure named Mpu Sindok.

King Dharmawangsa was very interested in knowledge. He supported the translation of the ancient Indian story, the Mahabharata, into Old Javanese. This helped spread important stories and ideas in his kingdom.

Expanding the Kingdom

Dharmawangsa worked to make his kingdom bigger. He took control of several areas, including the island of Bali. He also set up a new settlement in West Kalimantan.

His sister, Princess Mahendradatta, married Udayana. Udayana was the king of the Warmadewa Dynasty in Bali. They had a son named Airlangga.

In the year 990, Dharmawangsa sent his navy to attack Sriwijaya. Sriwijaya was a powerful kingdom in Sumatra. He tried to capture their capital, Palembang. However, Sriwijaya fought back and stopped the invasion.

The End of Dharmawangsa's Reign

In 1016, Sriwijaya launched a surprise attack on Mataram. They got help from a local ruler named Haji Wurawari of Lwaram. The attackers destroyed the Watugaluh Palace in Java.

This sudden attack happened during the wedding ceremony of Dharmawangsa's daughter. The royal court was not ready for a fight. King Dharmawangsa bravely defended his palace and his family. He fought until his death. Because of his courage, he was honored with the name Wijayamreta Wardhana. This means "powerful king in glorious death."

The Fall of Mataram

This terrible event was known as the pralaya in Javanese history. It means "the debacle" or "the great disaster." With King Dharmawangsa's death and the capital's destruction, the Mataram kingdom fell apart. The kingdom faced military pressure from Sriwijaya. There was also a lot of unrest and violence for several years after the kingdom ended.

Dharmawangsa's nephew, Airlangga, was only 16 years old at the time. Airlangga was the son of Mahendradatta and Udayana. He managed to escape the attack. Later, he became the founder of the Kahuripan Kingdom. This new kingdom was a successor to the old Mataram Kingdom.