Pakubuwono VI
| Pakubuwono VI | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Susuhunan of Surakarta | |||||
| Reign | 1823–1830 | ||||
| Predecessor | Pakubuwana V | ||||
| Successor | Pakubuwana VII | ||||
| Born | Bendara Raden Mas Sapardan 26 April 1807 Surakarta, Surakarta Sunanate | ||||
| Died | 2 June 1849 (aged 42) Ambon, Moluccas | ||||
| Burial | Kapingsangan Tomb, Imogiri Royal Cemetery, Imogiri, Yogyakarta Sultanate | ||||
| Spouses |
| ||||
| Issue | Pakubuwana IX | ||||
| |||||
| House | Mataram | ||||
| Father | Pakubuwana V | ||||
| Mother | Kanjeng Raden Ayu Sasrakusuma | ||||
Pakubuwono VI (26 April 1807, in Surakarta, Central Java – 2 June 1849, in Ambon, Moluccas) (also transliterated Pakubuwana VI) was the fifth Susuhunan (ruler) of Surakarta from 1823 to 1830 when he was deposed by the Dutch and exiled.
Biography
Born as Raden Mas Sapardan on 26 April 1807, he was the son of Pakubuwana V and his wife, KRAy. Sasrakusuma. Through his mother's lineage, he was a descendant of Ki Juru Martani, the first patih (prime minister) in the history of the Mataram Sultanate.
Raden Mas Sapardan ascended the throne as Pakubuwana VI on 15 September 1823, ten days after the death of his father, at the age of 16.[1]
Relationship with Diponegoro
Pakubuwana VI was a supporter of Prince Diponegoro, who led a rebellion against the Yogyakarta Sultanate and the Dutch East Indies government starting in 1825. However, as a monarch bound by treaties with the Dutch, Pakubuwana VI attempted to conceal this alliance.
To prevent their meetings from being detected by the Dutch, the two leaders employed various stratagems. One such tactic was the mimis kencana strategy, where they feigned mutual hostility and engaged in staged combat to mislead Dutch intelligence. Another was the candradimuka strategy—named after a location in Gatotkaca wayang mythology—which served as a cover for secret meetings to discuss military maneuvers against the colonial forces.[2]
Prince Diponegoro reportedly infiltrated the Surakarta Palace on several occasions to deliberate with Pakubuwana VI regarding the political stances of the Mangkunegaran and Madura. Upon the arrival of Dutch officials, they would stage a conflict, concluding with Diponegoro "fleeing" the palace premises.[1]
Throughout the Java War, Pakubuwana VI maintained a double game. While providing clandestine aid and support to the rebels, he also dispatched troops to ostensibly assist the Dutch. The renowned poet Ranggawarsita claimed that, in his youth, he had been a member of these "theatrical" military units.
Arrest by the Dutch
The Dutch forces eventually captured Prince Diponegoro on 28 March 1830. Following this, they turned their attention toward Pakubuwana VI. Dutch suspicion had been fueled by his persistent refusal to cede several Surakarta territories to the colonial government.
In an attempt to secure evidence against the monarch, the Dutch arrested the court scribe, Mas Pajangswara (the father of Ranggawarsita). As a member of the anti-Dutch Yasadipura family, Pajangswara refused to disclose the secret correspondence between Pakubuwana VI and Prince Diponegoro. He subsequently died under brutal torture, and his body was reportedly cast into the sea by the Dutch authorities.[1]
On 8 June 1830, Pakubuwana VI was arrested in Mancingan by the Resident of Yogyakarta, Van Nes, and Lieutenant Colonel B. Sollewijn. Fearing that his presence would incite further rebellion, the Dutch decided to exile him from Java. He was deported to Ambon on 8 July 1830.[2]
The Dutch misinformation campaign regarding these events later strained the relationship between Pakubuwana VI's son, Pakubuwana IX, and Pajangswara's son, Ranggawarsita. At the time of his father's exile, Pakubuwana IX was still in the womb. The throne of Surakarta subsequently passed to Pakubuwana VI's uncle, who reigned as Pakubuwana VII.[2]
Mystery of death
Pakubuwana VI died in Ambon on 2 June 1849. According to official Dutch reports, his death was the result of an accident during a sea excursion.
In 1957, his remains were relocated from Ambon to the Imogiri royal graveyard, the ancestral burial complex for the monarchs of Mataram. During the exhumation of his grave, evidence emerged indicating a hole in Pakubuwana VI's skull, specifically in the forehead. According to an analysis by General GPH Jatikusumo (a son of Pakubuwana X), the hole was consistent with the caliber of a Baker rifle bullet.
Based on the positioning of the wound, it is widely concluded that Pakubuwana VI did not die by suicide or an accidental mishap at sea. It is strongly suspected that the anti-colonial ruler was assassinated by a gunshot to the head.
References
- ^ a b c Iswara N Raditya (2017). "Peran Ganda Raja Surakarta Berujung Petaka". Tirto.id. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
- ^ a b c Sukrismiyati (2015). "Strategi Politik Pakubuwana VI Melawan Kolonial Belanda Tahun 1823 – 1830". Candi. 12 (2). Program Studi Pendidikan Sejarah, Universitas Sebelas Maret: 142–146. ISSN 2086-2717.
Bibliography
- Miksic, John N., ed. (2006). Karaton Surakarta. A look into the court of Surakarta Hadiningrat, central Java. Singapore: Marshall Cavendish Editions. ISBN 981-261-226-2. – Originally published as By the will of His Serene Highness Paku Buwono XII. Surakarta: Yayasan Pawiyatan Kabudayan Karaton Surakarta. 2004.