REVIEW OF INTERNATIONAL GEOGRAPHICAL EDUCATION ISSN: 2146-0353 ● © RIGEO ● 11(2), SPRING, 2021 www.rigeo.org Research Article Stream Politics in the Transfer of Power from Demak to Pajang Imam Sukardi1 Anang Harris Himawan2 Faculty of Ushuluddin, Universitas Islam Negeri (UIN) Department of History Education, Faculty of Surakarta, Indonesia. Education and Teacher Training, Sebelas Maret [email protected] University. [email protected] Abstract The current historical theme concerning the transfer of power from Demak to Pajang was chosen because it has remained a discourse among scholars, particularly of history, to this day. Historians have opposing views regarding the background of the establishment of the Sultanate of Pajang. First, the founding of Pajang in the 16th century was, consequently, due to the Sultanate of Demak’s inability to prevent the fall of Melaka and Maluku, serving as wealth “repository” areas for Java (Demak), into the hands of the Portuguese, which resulted in a political and economic crisis in Demak, thus forcing the coastal political power house to relocate further inland to Pajang. Second, the founding of Pajang was the result of an internal political conflict within the Demak Sultanate reaching its peak, and it had transpired since the death of the First Sultan of Demak, Raden Patah. Third, the founding of Pajang signified the return of Majapahit Empire’s “throne” to its rightful heir, namely the descendants of Andayaningrat, Brawijaya’s son-in-law from the empress Dyah Annarawati. Fourth, the founding of Pajang was the culmination of a political struggle between two major religious streams championed by their respective Wali (saint of Islam in the archipelago), wherein the Walis of the coast, who adhered to genuine Islamic teachings (conservative, puritan, muti’ah) and represented by Sunan Kudus, faced the Walis of the inland (moderate, aba’ah) who were represented by Sunan Kalijaga. Keywords Stream politics, transfer of power, Demak, Pajang, Indonesia To cite this article: Sukardi I, and Himawan A, H. (2021). Stream Politics in the Transfer of Power from Demak to Pajang. Review of International Geographical Education (RIGEO), 11(2), 764-777. Doi: 10.33403/rigeo. 800472 Submitted: 20-01-2021 ● Revised: 15-02-2021 ● Accepted: 25-03-2021 © RIGEO ● Review of International Geographical Education 11(2), SPRING, 2021 Introduction From Mahapralaya Majapahit to Demak Pajang was not a region that had just become known at the end of the 16th century. The region had already been widely recognized since the time of Majapahit Empire’s glory, particularly during the reign of Hayam Wuruk. Pajang was included as Majapahit’s “crown land” during the era of Hayam Wuruk. At the time, Bhre Pajang or Rajasaduhiteswari Dyah Nartaja, who was none other than Hayam Wuruk’s younger sibling, ruled over Pajang. As written in Negarakertagama, “Rin saka ksati Suryya san prabhu mahas ri pajan inirin in sanagara.”1 This indicates that Hayam Wuruk had conducted a state visit to Pajang in Aksatisuryya saka year 1275 saka or 1354 CE. Was Pajang a truly significant place for Majapahit, so much so that even Hayam Wuruk himself made a special visit there? According to De Graaf and Peageaut, Pajang was not of much importance, despite its status as Majapahit’s “crown land” in the 14th century.2 Pajang’s presence was considered of significance when placed in the context of Majapahit rule and associated with the figure of Jaka Sengara or Andayaningrat, who married Dyah Ratna Pembayun, the daughter of Brawijaya V, and was promoted as the Duke (Adipati) of Pengging. In the historical chronicles of Java, it is told that Andayaningrat died in the hands of Sunan Ngudung during Demak’s invasion of Majapahit which was centered in Daha in 1517. Thereafter, Andayaningrat had been replaced by his son Ki Ageng Pengging. Then, during the period of Sultan Trenggono, Ki Ageng Pengging was killed in the hands of Sunan Kudus when Demak invaded Pengging. Pajang was not established unexpectedly. The establishment of Pajang correlated with a series of political events that transpired in Java, particularly the political turbulence following the death of Trenggono in Pasuruan when he set out on an expedition to conquer the eastern part of Java in 1527 CE. Although, historically speaking, it started from the political upheaval in Demak, the occurrence was inseparable from the existing political rivalry among the descendants of Brawijaya V, who were born from his three wives, namely Dyah Annarawati or Dewi Dwarawati as the empress, along with Wandansari and Siu Ban Chi who were both concubine to the Majapahit king. As commonly known, these three women gave birth to a generation of heirs to the throne of Majapahit Empire following its downfall and the death of Brawijaya in Daha’s invasion of Trowulan by Dyah Ranawijaya in 1478 CE. Brawijaya V and Wandansari the concubine conceived a son named Bondan Kejawen, who then had Getas Pendowo, who bore Ki Ageng Selo, who had Ki Ageng Henis, who bore Ki Ageng Pemanahan who was the forefather of the early generation of Mataram Sultanate (Mataram-Islam). Meanwhile from the other concubine, namely Siu Ban Chi from China, they conceived Jin Bun or Raden Bagus Kasan or Hasan or better known as Raden Patah, who was the founder of Demak Sultanate with the title of Sultan Syah Alam Akbar al-Fatah. Whereas from the Empress, Dyah Annarawati or Dewi Dwarawati from Champa, they conceived Dyah Retno Pembayun who was then married to Andayaningrat, the Adipati of Pengging and one of Majapahit’s warlords. The marriage between Brawijaya V and a Chinese princess was an inseparable part of the bilateral relations between Java and China, which had been closely fostered since the time of Wikramawardhana or Hyang Wisesa or the 4th Emperor of Majapahit. It is known that Wikramawardhana also had a wife of Chinese descent who gave birth to Arya Damar, who was then inaugurated as Adipati of Kukang (present day Palembang). Marital relations among kingdoms and empires throughout history were a common phenomenon and considered a part of fostering international alliances. Such marital affairs had been customary even before the founding of Majapahit.3 Although there has not been any definite source found 1Damaika, Mpu Prapanca: Kakawin Negarakertagama, pupuh 17, (Jogjakarta, Narasi 2008), pp. 68-69. See also: I Ketut Riana, Kakawin Desa Warnnana Utawi Nagara Krtagama, (Jakarta: Gramedia Pustaka utama, 2009), p. 65. 2HJ. de Graaf dan Pegeaud, Kerajaan Islam Pertama di Jawa, (Jakarta: Pustaka Grafiti Press, 2001), p. 232. 3 Bilateral relations among monarchies through marriages had been practiced at time of Singasari when establishing diplomatic relations with other monarchs throughout the archipelago and foreign monarchs. Some examples are the diplomatic relation established via marital bond between Singasari and Melayu, wherein two princesses of Melayu, Dara Petak and Dara Jingga, 765 © RIGEO ● Review of International Geographical Education 11(2), SPRING, 2021 stating that Demak’s upheaval was associated with the struggle for influence or power among the descendants of Majapahit, the supposition indicating such possibility remains. In the historical narrative, Demak was a maritime-based political power in Jawa, bearing in mind that it was located near the northern coast of Java. Although Demak, at the time, was also known as a rice- producing agricultural area of considerable prominence in trade, that was merely considered a means for trading commodity, rice was not regarded as a major commodity with the power of supporting the kingdom’s economy. Situated at the mouth of Muria Strait, Demak had for the most part relied on the proceeds obtained from trade levies, keeping in mind that it is strategically positioned as a two-way transit area from both the east and west of Java. Demak’s focus on maritime economic activities to support the sultanate’s economy was key in reinforcing Demak as one of the highly considerable economic power houses of coastal Java, not only regionally but internationally. Nearly all economic activities and regulations were centered on the coasts. Meanwhile, the inlands were merely considered supporting areas for the sultanate. Demak’s policy had an impact on other activities, namely the sultanate’s expansion politics and socio- religious activities of which one of them included the spread of Islam following the waning of Hinduism-Buddhism influences after the fall of Majapahit. It seems that Demak had followed the political style of the preceding reign, namely Majapahit. Although Majapahit was situated in a distant inland area, its success in dominating the waters of Java had led to the coastal areas serving as a key source of foreign exchange for the empire. As a consequence, the inland areas were very difficult to conquer during Majapahit’s glorious reign, with the exception of Daha as it was situated along the bank of Brantas river, which emptied its waters into the estuary in the northern coast of Java. It is, thus, unsurprising that throughout its reign, ripples of opposition against Majapahit’s policies originated from inland areas that still had some remaining loyal retainers of Singasari that were both politically and economically neglected, such as Tumapel. The death of Arya Suganda, the sibling of Arya Teja, is an irrefutable historical evidence, indicating the political consequence of prioritizing coastal areas over inland areas. It can almost be asserted that the empire’s economic policies were more centered on and advantageous to coastal areas, whereas the inlands were given less opportunities to contribute in the empire’s economic regulation in the area. Demak also went through a similar experience as its predecessor did. Due to the implementation of an inequitable policy between the coastal and inland areas, the inlands were utilized by opposition groups instead, particularly remnants of Majapahit forces that were supported by the influence of other Brawijaya descendants.