Singhasari Kingdom

The Singhasari Kingdom, also known as Tumapel, was a significant Hindu-Buddhist kingdom in East Java that flourished between 1222 and 1292. The kingdom, which succeeded the powerful Kediri, played a crucial role in shaping the history and culture of Java. Located in what is now the Singosari district of Malang Regency, the name "Singhasari" itself is derived from Sanskrit, meaning "essence of the lion" or "sleeping lion." Despite lions not being native to Java, their symbolic representation was deeply embedded in Javanese culture, influenced by Hindu-Buddhist traditions.

The story of Singhasari begins with Ken Arok, an orphan with a mysterious lineage, who rose from humble beginnings to become the founder of the kingdom. His life is largely known through the Pararaton, a Javanese chronicle that blends historical facts with myth. Ken Arok served Tunggul Ametung, a regional ruler in Tumapel, before orchestrating a coup to take control. By assassinating Tunggul Ametung, Ken Arok established the Rajasa dynasty, which would later rule both Singhasari and its successor, the Majapahit Empire.

Ken Arok's reign was short-lived, as he was assassinated by Anusapati, the son of Tunggul Ametung, seeking revenge for his father's death. This set off a chain of violent successions within the Rajasa dynasty. Anusapati was later killed by Ken Arok's son, Panji Tohjaya, who himself was overthrown by his nephews Ranga Wuni and Mahisha Champaka. These two brothers ruled together under the titles Vishnuvardhana and Narasimhamurti, continuing the legacy of their grandfather.

The most notable ruler of Singhasari was King Kertanegara, who ascended the throne in 1254. Unlike his predecessors, Kertanegara was more focused on expanding his kingdom's influence beyond Java. In 1275, he launched the Pamalayu expedition, a naval campaign aimed at subduing the remnants of the Srivijaya Empire in Sumatra and securing the strategic Malacca Strait from pirate threats and potential Mongol invasions. Kertanegara's ambitions also extended to Bali, which he successfully integrated into the Singhasari realm in 1284.

Kertanegara's defiance of Kublai Khan, the powerful ruler of the Mongol Yuan dynasty in China, marked the beginning of the end for Singhasari. Between 1280 and 1289, Kublai Khan sent multiple envoys demanding tribute from Singhasari, all of which were rejected by Kertanegara. In an act of defiance, Kertanegara humiliated the Mongol envoy by disfiguring him, a move that enraged Kublai Khan. In retaliation, Kublai Khan dispatched a massive naval expedition in 1293 to punish Singhasari. However, by the time the Mongol forces arrived, Singhasari had already fallen, not to the Mongols, but to a rebellion led by Jayakatwang, a vassal king from the Kingdom of Daha (Kediri). Jayakatwang's forces, taking advantage of Kertanegara's preoccupation with his expansive campaigns, successfully captured the Singhasari capital, Kutaraja, and killed the king during a religious ceremony.

After the fall of Singhasari, Kertanegara's son-in-law, Raden Wijaya, fled to Madura, where he sought refuge with Arya Wiraraja, a regent who had initially supported Jayakatwang. With Arya Wiraraja's help, Raden Wijaya feigned submission to Jayakatwang and was allowed to establish a settlement in the Tarik forest. There, he laid the foundation for what would become the Majapahit Empire. When the Mongol forces arrived, Raden Wijaya cleverly allied with them to defeat Jayakatwang. Once Jayakatwang was eliminated, Raden Wijaya turned on the Mongols, driving them out of Java. On November 12, 1293, Raden Wijaya was crowned as Kertajasa Jayawardhana, the first king of the Majapahit Empire, marking the end of Singhasari and the beginning of one of the greatest empires in Southeast Asian history.