Raden Wijaya facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Raden Wijaya |
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| Nararya Sanggramawijaya Sri Maharaja Kertarajasa Jayawardhana | |||||||||
| 1st Great King of Majapahit | |||||||||
| Reign | 1293–1309 | ||||||||
| Successor | Jayanegara | ||||||||
| Died | 1309 Kingdom of Majapahit |
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| Burial | Simping Temple, Blitar Regency | ||||||||
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| Dynasty | Rajasa dynasty | ||||||||
| Father | Dyah Lembu Tal | ||||||||
| Religion | Hinduism | ||||||||
Raden Wijaya (also known as Nararya Sangramawijaya or by his royal name Kertarajasa Jayawardhana) was a Javanese emperor. He was the person who started and became the first monarch of the powerful Majapahit Empire. His story, including how he founded Majapahit, is written in old records like the Pararaton and Negarakertagama. His time as ruler is famous for his victory against the large army and navy of the Mongols, sent by Kublai Khan from the Yuan dynasty.
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How Majapahit Began
In 1289, the Mongol leader Kublai Khan sent a message to the Kingdom of Singhasari, demanding that they pay tribute. However, the King of Singhasari, Kertanagara, refused and even insulted the messenger. Soon after, in 1292, a rebellion started against Singhasari in a place called Gelang-Gelang (now Madiun), led by Jayakatwang. King Kertanagara was killed while trying to stop this rebellion.
Raden Wijaya, who was Kertanagara's son-in-law, had to escape to Sumenep, Madura. There, he met with the local governor, Arya Wiraraja. Together, they made a plan to create a new kingdom. Arya Wiraraja promised to help Raden Wijaya defeat Jayakatwang's Kediri kingdom. In return, Raden Wijaya promised to share power in Java with Arya Wiraraja once they won.
In 1293, the Mongol army arrived in Java. They came to punish Kertanagara for insulting Kublai Khan's messenger. Raden Wijaya, as Kertanagara's heir, pretended to surrender to the Mongols. He asked them for help to defeat Jayakatwang first. So, the Mongol and Raden Wijaya's troops joined forces and attacked the capital city of Kediri. The Kediri Kingdom quickly fell.
After this victory, Raden Wijaya, following Arya Wiraraja's smart advice, turned his army against the Mongols. The Mongols were celebrating their win and were not ready for a new fight. Raden Wijaya's clever tactics, guided by Wiraraja, led to a big victory against the Mongol army. This important win allowed Raden Wijaya to take power. He chose a place called Tarik (now Trowulan, Mojokerto) as his center of power. This place later became the Majapahit Kingdom. The name "Majapahit" came from the "maja" (or "mojo") fruits that grew in the Tarik forest, which tasted bitter. Raden Wijaya became the first king of Majapahit, which became an independent kingdom in 1293. Arya Wiraraja was given an important role as a warlord, called Rakryan Mantri Arya Wiraraja Makapramuka.
Some of Raden Wijaya's officers, like Arya Wiraraja's son Ranggalawe, Lembu Sora, and Nambi, later rebelled against him. These rebellions happened even though they had been given important positions. The first rebellion was by Ranggalawe in 1295, but he was defeated and died. Lembu Sora's rebellion happened in 1301, and he also died in battle. Nambi's rebellion took place later, during the rule of King Jayanegara, and was stopped in 1316.
King Raden Wijaya's Family Life
Raden Wijaya had several wives. Before the Singhasari kingdom fell, he was married to Gayatri Rajapatni, who was the daughter of King Kertanegara of Singhasari. After he founded the new Majapahit kingdom, he married all four of Kertanegara's daughters.
These sisters were Parameswari Tribhuwana (the oldest), Prajnaparamitha, Narendra Duhita, and Gayatri Rajapatni (the youngest). Raden Wijaya married all of them to make sure his claim to the throne was strong and to prevent any arguments over who should inherit Kertanegara's legacy. He also married Indreswari, who was also known as Dara Petak. She was a princess from the Malayu Dharmasraya Kingdom in Sumatra.
Wives and Children
Main Queen
- Rajapatni Sri Rajendra Dyah Dewī Gayatri
She was the youngest daughter of King Kertanegara of Singhasari.
Queen
- Sri Parameswari Dyah Dewī Tribhuwaneswari
She was the oldest daughter of King Kertanegara of Singhasari.
Other Wives
- Sri Mahadewī Dyah Dewī Narendraduhita
She was also a daughter of King Kertanegara of Singhasari. - Sri Jayendra Dyah Dewī Prajña Paramita
Another daughter of King Kertanegara of Singhasari. - Sri Indreswari
She was born as Dara Petak, a princess from the Dharmasraya Kingdom.
Children
- Tribhuwana, who became the 3rd Queen of Majapahit
Her birth name was Dyah Tya, and she was the daughter of Gayatri. - Jayanagara, who became the 2nd King of Majapahit
He was the son of Dara Petak. - Rajadewi Maharajasa, who became the 2nd Princess of Daha
Her birth name was Dyah Wiyat, and she was also the daughter of Gayatri.
Raden Wijaya's Rule
Raden Wijaya was known as a strong and skilled ruler. He gave special status to Madura and an area around Lumajang and the Blambangan Peninsula to Arya Wiraraja, who had helped him greatly. Arya Wiraraja's son, Nambi, was made Prime Minister. Raden Wijaya also created a special group of seven bodyguards for himself, including Ra Kuti, Ra Semi, and Ra Tanca.
Who Came Next
Raden Wijaya had a son named Dyah Jayanegara with his wife Indreswari. With his wife Gayatri Rajapatni, he had two daughters, Tribhuwana Wijayatunggadewi and Rajadewi. His other wives did not have children.
After Raden Wijaya passed away, his son, Jayanegara, became the next king.
His Death
King Wijaya died in 1309. He was buried at the Simping Temple as "Harihara." Harihara is a special god in Hinduism, combining the forms of Vishnu and Shiva.
