Duchy of Surabaya

Duchy of Surabaya
Kadipaten Surabaya
c. 1546–1625
Capital Surabaya
Languages Javanese
Religion Islam
Government Monarchy
Adipati (duke)
 •  ? - 1625 Jayalengkara
Historical era Muslim states in Indonesia
 •  independence from Demak Sultanate c. 1546
 •  conquered by Mataram 1625
Preceded by 		Succeeded by
Demak Sultanate
Mataram Sultanate
Today part of  Indonesia

The Duchy of Surabaya (Indonesian and Javanese: Kadipaten Surabaya) was a Javanese principality which was centered in Surabaya, northeastern coast of Java (in today's East Java, Indonesia) and existed as an independent polity from c. 1546 to 1625. It became independent with the disintegration of the Demak Sultanate, and by the start of the seventeenth century it became the leading power in east Java and the most important port in Java's northeastern coast. Subsequently, it entered into decades of conflict with the Mataram Sultanate, which ended in the victory of Mataram and the fall of Surabaya in 1625.

History

Portuguese writer Tomé Pires mentioned that a Muslim lord was in power in Surabaya in 1513, although he was likely a vassal of the Hindu-Buddhist Majapahit.[1] It was already a major trading port during this time,[2] owing to its location at the River Brantas delta and in the trade route between Malacca and Spice Islands via the Java Sea.[3] During the decline of Majapahit, the lord of Surabaya resisted the rise of the Demak Sultanate, and only submitted to its rule in 1530.[1][4] Surabaya became independent after the death of Sultan Trenggana of Demak in 1546.[5][6] There is a lack of historical record about the duchy in the second half of the sixteenth century.[5] In 1589, Surabaya led other East Javanese principalities in opposing the Pajang Sultanate, Demak's successor state, in Japan (today's Mojokerto), therefore stopping Pajang's eastward expansion.[7] Javanese historians said that a holy man, descendant of Sunan Giri, convinced the opposing sides to return without a battle.[8] Dutch historian H. J. de Graaf wrote that in the second half of sixteenth century, the court of Surabaya became a centre of culture and Islamic Old Javanese literature, as opposed to the "upstart" central Javanese courts such as Pajang and Mataram Sultanates.[1]

In the beginning of the 17th century, it was allied with Pasuruan and expanded its influence throughout eastern Java.[9] It became the most powerful state in east Java, rivalling Mataram Sultanate in central Java.[10] By 1622, it was in control of Gresik and Sedayu in eastern Java.[11] It was also the overlord of Sukadana[11] and Banjarmasin[12] in southern Borneo. More doubtful reports said it might have also extended its influence to Pasuruan and Blambangan (both in the eastern salient of Java), Brantas valley region and Wirasaba.[11] Surabaya formed and led an alliance of eastern Javanese principalities, primarily a response to the growing Mataram power.[12][13] Other than Surabaya and its subordinate areas, the alliance also included Tuban, Malang, Kediri, Lasem, all in eastern Java, as well as Madura off the northern coast.[14]

The Dutch East Indies Company (known by its Dutch acronym, VOC) established a trading post in Gresik, under Surabaya's control in 1602.[15] Dutch writers wrote on Surabaya's expanding influence.[15] In 1620, Dutch writers described Surabaya as a rich and powerful state, and to have a field army of 30,000 men.[11] The city measured 37 kilometres in circumference, surrounded by a canal and protected with cannon.[11]

Conflict with Mataram and decline

As both Mataram and Surabaya expanded their territories and influence, they became to compete for the hegemony in East and Central Java. In 1598 and 1599 Mataram, under the rule of Panembahan Senopati, unsuccessfully attacked Tuban, a member of Surabaya's alliance.[13] In 1610, Mataram began conducting raids on Surabaya itself.[11] In 1613 Mataram raids destroyed Surabaya's rice crops and sacked Gresik.[15][11] Dutch writers reporting from the trading post of Gresik wrote of the frequent Mataram-Surabaya conflicts in the early seventeenth century.[15][11] The Dutch post was closed in 1615 as the conflict intensified.[15][11]

In 1613, Hanyakrakusuma (r. 1613 - 1645, later titled Sultan Agung, "the Great Sultan", and referred to in literature with that title) rose to the throne of Mataram.[16] He began a campaign that would ultimately result in the fall of Surabaya. In 1614, Agung invaded several allies of Surabaya, notably including Wirasaba.[16] Surabaya and its allies then counter-attacked and invaded Mataram, but was defeated in Siwalan, near Pajang, in January 1616.[16][17] Subsequently, Mataram gradually conquered members of Surabaya's alliance, including notably Tuban in 1619.[16]

In 1620, Mataram attacked the city of Surabaya itself. Because of a combination of geographic, logistical and climate factors, Mataram could not assault Surabaya outright,[17] or maintained a continued siege on Surabaya.[18] Instead, Mataram periodically attacked during the dry seasons, laying sieges, destroying crops and and pillaging harvest from areas surrounding Surabaya.[16][18] The final siege took place in 1625.[19] Mataram forces dammed the river Brantas, limiting water supply to the city,[16] and spoiled the remaining water supply using dead animals.[20] With the city starved and riddled with disease, Jayalengkara, the duke of Surabaya decided to surrender.[21][22] He was allowed to stay in Surabaya as Agung's vassal, but the elderly duke died afterward.[21]

Economy

Surabaya's economy was trade-oriented.[23] It was a major trading port by the early sixteenth century.[11] Its ships were seen throughout Nusantara, as far west as Malacca and east as the Spice Islands.[11][23] It owed its importance to its location in the international trade route between Malacca and east as the Spice Islands.[24] In addition, its location at the delta of the Brantas river connected it with the agricultural inland.[12] The upriver communities supplied it with rice, both as food for Surabayans as well as as trade goods for Surabayan merchants.[23] Surabaya also supplied the inland communities with trade goods such as clothing, jewelry and porcelain.[23] Most other port towns in the northeastern coast of Java, such as Demak and Tuban, were allied with Surabaya before they fell under Mataram control.[25] The VOC had a trading post in Gresik, a port town under Surabaya's control, from 1602 to 1615.[15] At this time, the VOC's territorial control in Java was only limited to Batavia (today's Jakarta).

Rulers

The rulers of Surabaya had the rank of adipati,[26] usually translated to English as a duke.[27] The rulers became Muslim from at least 1513, when Surabaya was still subordinate to Majapahit.[1] Dukes of Surabaya claimed to be descendants of Sunan Ampel (1401–1481), one of the nine saints (wali songo) credited with the spread of Islam in Java.[9][1][15] However, de Graaf wrote that there is no evidence for this claim, although he considered it likely that the ruling family were distantly related to Sunan Ampel.[1][15] The last duke of Surabaya was Jayalengkara (r. ?-1625), who at the fall of Surabaya in 1625 was already blind and aged.[28] His son, Pangeran Pekik was forced to live in Mataram after Mataram's victory.[28] He later married Sultan Agung's sister, and according to de Graaf, "did much to civilize the Court" of Mataram.[28]

Reference

Footnotes

Bibliography

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