(Author: Drs Ec. Agung Budi R, Chief Editor of INFOKU Tabloid, Processed from various sources)
Soon, on December 11 2023, Blora district will commemorate its 274th anniversary.
The location of Blora Regency, which is located on the border of Central Java and East Java, should be considered very strategic in the future.
According to folklore, Blora comes from the word BELOR which means mud, then developed into mbeloran which is now better known as BLORA.
Etymologically, Blora comes from the words WAI + LORAH. Wai means water, and Lorah means ravine or low land.
In Javanese, the letter W is often replaced or exchanged for the letter B, without causing a change in the meaning of the word.
So over time the word WAILORAH became BAILORAH, from BAILORAH to Balora and the word Balora finally became Blora.
So the name Blora means low watery land, this is very close to the meaning of muddy land.
Also read: Controversy and the meaning of Blora's anniversary
Until now, the date and year of the founding of Blora Regency and who the first Regent was is still a topic of conversation among the public.
There are 2 different versions of the history of Blora, between the version recorded and published so far and the version understood by the descendants of Sunan Pojok in Yogyakarta.
Raden Tumenggung Djaya Dipa or Tumenggung Wilatikto
The peak of Mataram's glory occurred when it was led by Sultan Agung Hanyakrakusuma (1613-1645). He was the first local ruler to conduct war on a large scale and regularly with the Dutch who came through the VOC (Vereenigde Oost Indische Compagnie) trading partnership.
Mataram's power at that time covered almost all of Java, from Pasuruan to Cirebon. Meanwhile the VOC had controlled several areas such as Batavia and Eastern Indonesia.
Blora, which at that time was also part of Mataram, was visited by a Mataram commander named Pangeran Surabahu or what we know as Sunan Pojok (Shaykh Amirullah Abdulrahim).
From a genealogical perspective, Sunan Pojok is still related to Sunan Muria, Sunan Kudus, Sunan Bonang, Sunan Ampel and Dewi.
Candrawati bint Arya Tejo, Regent of Tuban, and a descendant of Sunan Ngudung who came from Jipang Panolan.
Also read: The Mystery of Jaya Dipa, First Regent of Blora (Mataram)?
The task that Sunan Pojok carried out at that time was to face the VOC and several dukes such as Tuban, Pati, Pasuruan, Surabaya who were still hostile to the Sultan of Mataram.
Sunan Pojok succeeded in completing his work with a victory achieved on November 20, 1626, which was recorded in the national archives because it was the only battle that was able to defeat the VOC, as well as defeating all the opposing dukes.
After reporting and returning to the Blora and Tuban areas, Prince Pojok was exhausted and fell ill and was looked after by his son, R. M Sumodito, who also had the same characteristics as his father in always being loyal and obedient to Kanjeng Sultan Agung and Pangeran Mangkubumi Hamengkubuwono I as well as dutiful to parents.
For this reason, Sumodito was appointed as Regent of Blora for the first time with the name or Raden Tumenggung Djoyodipo or also known as Raden Tumenggung Djoyowiryo in accordance with the "lenggahan" (position) he had (Surobohu Abdul Rohim Dynasty).
This was stated by Ir. Kanjeng Raden Tumenggung H. Harjono Nitidipuro, MM. one of the heirs of Sunan Pojok.
He said that his ancestors had graves in Blora, precisely behind the great Baitunnur Blora mosque, which has high historical significance.
Based on this history, Blora is more oriented towards Mataram Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat culture because of its close relationship with the Sultan of Mataram rather than Surakarta Hadiningrat.
Even though during the VOC colonial period, Blora wanted to be directed by the Dutch to approach the Surakarta Hadiningrat orientation.
At that time, the VOC thought that if Blora was controlled by Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat, it would be difficult for the Dutch to control Blora, because of the strong relationship between the descendants of the Demak Sultanate Kingdom and the Mataram Ngayogyakarta Sultanate Kingdom.
According to this information, the first Regent of Blora, RT Djaya Dipo, was not Raden Tumenggung Wilotikto as we often encounter in various statements.
After he died, he was replaced by his son, RT Djaya Dipo (RT Djoyo Wiryo), then by RT Jaya Kusumo . Both of them, after they died, were buried at the Prince's Grave in Pojok Kauman.
Wilatikto, Blora & Surakarta Hadiningrat
Mataram's glory ended when a major rebellion occurred led by Mangku Bumi and Mas Sahid (Prince Sambernyawa).
This rebellion emerged as a form of rejection of the increasingly strong VOC interference in Mataram.
Also read: Why treasures in Blora are sought after, here are the historical facts
Mangku Bumi succeeded in controlling Sukawati, Grobogan, Demak, Blora and Yogyakarta.
Due to his success, Mangkubhumi was appointed king by his people on 1 Sura in the year Alib 1675, or 11 December 1749.
At the same time as Mangku Bumi was appointed king, other officials were also appointed, among them the leader of the Mangkubumen soldiers , Wilatikta, to become Regent of Blora .
The appointment of RT Wilotikto as regent of Blora was asked to be the anniversary of the City of Blora to date.
The ballad of rebellion in Mataram under the government of Sunan Pakubuwana II & III culminated in an event known as Palihan Nagari or the Giyanti Agreement (13 February 1755). The agreement consisting of 9 articles divided Mataram into two.
Differences of opinion in the community regarding who the First Regent of Blora is, should receive serious attention from the Blora Regency Government at this time.
There are people who hope that the current 28th Regent of Blora, H Arief Rohman, during his term of office will immediately conduct research again on the history of the founding of Blora. -@g-
