Pakubuwono III

Pakubuwono III (also transliterated Pakubuwana III) (1732–1788) was the second Susuhunan of Surakarta). Also known as Sinuhun Paliyan Negari, He was proclaimed by the Dutch as successor to his father in 1749 in accordance to his father's will, but with the ongoing Mataram's War of Succession, only when the Mataram Sultanate was officially divided through the Treaty of Giyanti into the Surakarta Sunanate and Yogyakarta Sultanate in 1755, was he officially proclaimed as the Susuhanan of Surakarta.^[1]

Pakubuwana III was born Raden Mas Suryadi, the son of Pakubuwana II and his queen consort, GKR Hemas. His mother was the daughter of Prince Purbaya of Lamongan, who was himself a son of Pakubuwana I.

Pakubuwana III ascended the throne on 15 December 1749, succeeding his father, who was critically ill at the time. His appointment followed a controversial deathbed mandate from Pakubuwana II, which granted the Dutch East India Company (VOC) the authority to determine the royal succession. Consequently, he was formally installed as monarch by the VOC Governor, Baron von Hohendorff.

Upon his accession, Pakubuwana III inherited a fractured kingdom embroiled in a rebellion led by his uncle, Prince Mangkubumi, which had persisted since 1746. On 12 December 1749, the rebels had already proclaimed Mangkubumi as the rival "Pakubuwana III" at their stronghold, appointing Pangeran Sambernyawa as his grand vizier (patih).

By 1752, a rift developed between Prince Mangkubumi and Pangeran Sambernyawa. The Dutch East India Company (VOC) exploited this division by offering a separate peace to Mangkubumi.

Negotiations culminated in the Treaty of Giyanti on 13 February 1755. Under this landmark agreement, Mangkubumi was recognized as a sovereign ruler over half of Pakubuwana III's territories. Although Mangkubumi had previously claimed the title of Susuhunan, the treaty forbade him from using it. Following a memorandum of understanding on 23 September 1754, he officially adopted the title of Sultan with the regnal name Hamengkubuwana I and established the Yogyakarta Sultanate.^[2][3]

Consequently, the Mataram Sultanate was formally divided into two principalities: the Surakarta Sunanate under Pakubuwana III and the Yogyakarta Sultanate under Hamengkubuwana I.

Following the Treaty of Giyanti, Pangeran Sambernyawa felt betrayed by Mangkubumi and continued his resistance against both Pakubuwana III and Hamengkubuwana I. However, as his forces weakened, he agreed to negotiate with the VOC starting in 1756.

In March 1757, Sambernyawa declared his loyalty to the VOC, Surakarta, and Yogyakarta through the Treaty of Salatiga. He assumed the title of Mangkunegara I and was granted a portion of territory by Pakubuwana III, establishing the autonomous Mangkunegaran Regency (Kadipaten Mangkunagaran).

The political weaknesses of Pakubuwana III caused tensions to rise across the island of Java. Rebel factions emerged, seeking to exert control over his administration. This volatile atmosphere persisted until his death on September 26, 1788.

Pakubuwana III was succeeded by his son, who reigned as Pakubuwana IV. The successor was regarded as a more capable and assertive ruler, particularly in his political decision-making.

• Miksic, John N. (general ed.), et al. (2006) Karaton Surakarta. A look into the court of Surakarta Hadiningrat, central Java (First published: 'By the will of His Serene Highness Paku Buwono XII'. Surakarta: Yayasan Pawiyatan Kabudayan Karaton Surakarta, 2004) Marshall Cavendish Editions Singapore ISBN 981-261-226-2