INFOKU -The history of the Indonesian archipelago, especially in Java, is filled with political intrigue, power struggles, and competition between elites.
Among these stories, the events surrounding Arya Penangsang are among the most dramatic and filled with elements of revenge.
Arya Penangsang, also known as Adipati Jipang, is a controversial figure in the history of the Demak Sultanate.
His life was not only influenced by personal revenge for the murder of his father, Raden Kikin, but also by the political and cultural dynamics involving various figures and powers in Java in the 16th century.
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Arya Penangsang was born as the only son of Raden Kikin, an important figure in the Demak Sultanate.
Since childhood, Arya Penangsang showed extraordinary talent in martial arts and leadership.
He was educated by Sunan Kudus, one of the Wali Songo, and grew into a physically tough young man with a deep understanding of military strategy and spirituality.
Arya Penangsang, also known as Sultan Demak V or Raden Jipang, was one of the important figures in Javanese history in the mid-16th century.
As a favorite student of Sunan Kudus, he was known not only for his skill and courage but also for his role in the turbulent period of the Demak Sultanate.
His descent, which is rich in Javanese and Champa noble blood, makes him a figure with a very significant legacy in the history of the archipelago.
Arya Penangsang, the Direct Grandson of Raden Patah
Arya Penangsang was born in Lasem in 1505. He was the first son of Prince Surowiyoto, better known as Raden Kikin or Prince Sekar Seda Lepen.
Raden Kikin himself was the son of Raden Patah, the founder of the Demak Bintoro Sultanate and the first king to rule this Islamic kingdom.
In this case, Arya Penangsang was the direct grandson of one of the most prominent kings in Javanese history.
The mother of Raden Kikin, or grandmother of Arya Penangsang, was Putri Solekha, a granddaughter of Sunan Ampel.
Princess Solekha is the daughter of Prince Wironegoro, Adipati Lasem, and Nyi Ageng Malokha.
Nyi Ageng Malokha is the daughter of Raden Rahmat, better known as Sunan Ampel, one of the Walisongo who was highly respected in the spread of Islam in Java.
Thus, Arya Penangsang has a rich lineage with a strong religious and political heritage in Java.
Arya Penangsang's mother was Putri Ayu Retno Panggung, who was a direct descendant of the Majapahit kingdom.
He is the son of Duke Jipang, Ratu Ayu Retno Kumolo, who is the granddaughter of King Majapahit Bhre Kertabhumi.
Queen Ayu Retno Kumolo married Ki Hajar Windusana, making Arya Penangsang inherit his grandmother's position as Duke of Jipang.
Arya Penangsang is known to lead with an iron fist.
He is known to be tall, big, and has a strong character and is easily provoked.
His courage was unmatched, and he was highly respected by his followers.
Equipped by Sunan Kudus with the sacred heirloom, the Keris Ki Brongot Setan Kober and the mighty black horse Gagak Rimang, Arya Penangsang wields supernatural powers that are his mainstay in battle.
After the death of Raden Patah, the founder of the Demak Sultanate, power fell into the hands of his son, Muhammad Yunus, better known as Pati Unus.
Political Conflict & Power Struggle
However, Pati Unus' leadership did not last long.
In 1521, he died at a young age while trying to seize Malacca from the Portuguese.
This tragic event was recorded in Tom Pires' "Suma Oriental" and quoted by Merle Calvin Ricklefs in his book "History of Modern Indonesia 1200-2008".
Pati Unus died at the age of 25 without leaving any descendants, creating a power vacuum in Demak.
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This situation triggered a fierce power struggle between two main factions: one led by Raden Kikin, father of Arya Penangsang, and the other by Raden Trenggana, father of Prince Prawata (Prince Mukmin), a disciple of Sunan Kudus.
In this internal conflict, Raden Kikin became a victim of murder.
While returning from Friday prayers, he was attacked and killed on the riverbank.
This event earned him the posthumous title of Pangeran Sekar Seda Lepen, which means "Sekar who died in the river."
This murder became the starting point of deep revenge within Arya Penangsang.
From the tragedy of his father's death, Arya Penangsang felt that he had a more legitimate claim to the throne of Demak than Sultan Trenggana.
This murder not only created a deep wound for Arya Penangsang but also planted the seeds of hatred against the Demak royal family, especially against Sunan Prawata and Sultan Trenggana, who were considered the main obstacles to his ambitions.
This revenge continued to rage in his heart, marking the beginning of a series of bloody conflicts that would change the course of Demak's history.
Raden Prawata sent Surayata, a member of the intelligence forces, to stop Prince Sekar, a strong rival of Raden Trenggana.
Surayata managed to kill Prince Sekar on the riverbank after returning from Friday prayers.
Prince Sekar is also known as Sekar Seda Lepen (Sekar who died in the river).
Thus, Raden Trenggana succeeded in ascending the throne as Sultan of Demak.
To ease tensions, Arya Penangsang was appointed Duke of Jipang, while Jaka Tingkir, the commander of the troops, married the Sultan's fifth child and became Duke of Pajang.
Opposition to the Demak Kingdom
When Sultan Trenggana ascended the throne of the Demak Sultanate, Arya Penangsang firmly refused to recognize his authority.
He chose to run the Jipang region independently, as if separating himself from Demak.
Sultan Trenggana's attempts to defuse tensions through peace offers were unsuccessful, as Arya Penangsang's grudge against the royal family was already deeply rooted.
During the reign of Sultan Trenggana, Arya Penangsang began to gather support from several other dukes who also doubted the legitimacy of the Sultan's power.
With this support base, Arya Penangsang's position as opposition leader is strengthened.
After the death of Sultan Trenggana in 1546, who was killed in battle in front of Panarukan Fort, chaos struck the Demak Sultanate.
The throne was then passed on to his son, Prawata, who later became known by the title Sunan Prawata.
However, this situation did not bring stability to Demak, especially with Sunan Kudus's students starting to turn away.
Arya Penangsang, who had long harbored a grudge, saw Sunan Prawata's reign as an opportunity to continue his conflict.
He sent a hitman who succeeded in killing Sunan Prawata.
However, the death of Sunan Prawata was not the end of the complex political competition in Demak.
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Instead, it sparked a new, more intriguing phase when Jaka Tingkir, better known as Sultan Hadiwijaya, ascended the throne.
Under his leadership, the center of power was moved from Demak to Pajang. This move further angered Arya Penangsang and deepened his resentment.
During this period, Sunan Kudus' students filled important positions in the government: Sunan Prawata as Sultan of Demak, Kalinyamat as ruler of Jepara, Jaka Tingkir as Duke of Pajang, and Arya Penangsang as Duke of Jipang.
On the other hand, Sunan Kalijaga's students, such as Pemanahan, Panjawi, and Juru Martani, who originally came from the small village of Sela, managed to get a place in the circle of power.
They moved closer to Jaka Tingkir who, in turn, began to turn away from the influence of Sunan Kudus and moved closer to the politics pioneered by Sunan Kalijaga.
This transfer of power not only illustrates the shift in influence within the sultanate but also reflects the changing alliances and political dynamics that are constantly turbulent, between the two great centers of spiritual and political power between Sunan Kudus and Sunan Kalijaga.
This conflict was ultimately not just about the throne, but also about the legitimacy of power and cultural influence, reflecting the competition between old and new values in Java.
Sunan Kudus played an important role in fueling Arya Penangsang's revenge.
As Arya Penangsang's teacher and mentor, Sunan Kudus did not remain silent when he saw the deaths of his loyal students, such as Sunan Prawata and Pangeran Hadiri.
He took advantage of this situation to provoke Arya Penangsang to take revenge against the people around Sultan Trenggana's power.
In various historical records such as Babad Sengkala, Serat Kandha, and Babad Tanah Jawi, it is explained how Sunan Kudus used the death of Raden Kikin as a tool to arouse the anger of Arya Penangsang.
Sunan Kudus showed that the death of Arya Penangsang's father was the result of Sunan Prawata's orders to pave the way for Raden Trenggana to the throne of the Demak Sultanate.
Provocation Leads to Aryo Penangsang's Death
Provocation from Sunan Kudus triggered Arya Penangsang to launch a series of silent assassination operations against important figures in the Demak and Pajang Sultanates.
One of the famous missions was sending Rangkut and the Perjineman (intelligence) troops to assassinate Sunan Prawata.
The operation was successful, but at the cost of Rangkut's own life.
It didn't stop there, Arya Penangsang also tried to kill Jaka Tingkir alias Sultan Hadiwijaya in Pajang.
This mission was carried out in the early hours of the morning at the keputren, where Jaka Tingkir and his concubines lived.
However, this attempt failed after Sultan Hadiwijaya managed to capture members of the Perjineman troops and gave them money to return to Jipang.
Prawata's younger brother, Sultan Hadiri and his wife, Queen Kalinyamat, reported this murder to Sunan Kudus without knowing Sunan Kudus' involvement.
On their way home from Sunan Kudus, they were intercepted by Aria Penangsang's troops.
Sultan Hadiri was killed, but Queen Kalinyamat survived. Aria Penangsang's covert operation was gradually unraveling.
Another silent assassination attempt was made in Pajang.
The place was still in the princess's palace and the time was early morning, when Jaka Tingkir was with his concubines.
However, this time Jaka Tingkir managed to thwart this attempt.
His concubines screamed, and Jaka Tingkir used his kampuh to fight the armed intelligence troops.
The captured troop members were given money and told to return to Jipang.
This failure made Aria Penangsang very embarrassed and anxious.
He complained to Sunan Kudus, who then summoned Jaka Tingkir to Kudus.
Although initially hesitant, Jaka Tingkir finally came to Kudus accompanied by his trusted people, Sunan Kalijaga's students from Sela, namely Ki Ageng Pamanahan, Ki Panjawi and Ki Juru Martani.
They entered Kudus square with 400 troops after traveling 117 km from Pajang.
They were captivated by the beauty of the mosque gate and the Kudus Tower, symbols of the glory of Majapahit that they aspired to.
The meeting was full of tension, but Sunan Kudus managed to calm the situation and give advice to both parties.
Because no agreement was reached, a battle finally occurred.
Arya Penangsang showed his bravery by crossing the river with his troops.
However, they were exhausted and unprepared for the sudden attack from Pajang's troops.
Arya Penangsang, with his black horse Gagak Rimang, fought bravely against Danang Sutawijaya.
In the midst of the battle, Danang Sutawijaya managed to injure Arya Penangsang with Kyai Pleret's spear, which resulted in Arya's intestines falling out.
Despite this, Arya Penangsang was still able to chase his enemy, tying his intestines to the Setan Kober keris.
Despite being badly injured, Arya continued to fight with an unbeatable spirit.
In the end, in a battle full of courage and violence, Arya Penangsang managed to defeat Danang Sutawijaya and almost killed him.
However, when he was about to pull the Setan Kober keris from its sheath to kill his enemy, his intestines which were tied to the keris were also cut.
With his life dying, Arya Penangsang finally died after Danang Sutawijaya, following Ki Ageng Pemanahan's advice, sucked the top of his head.
The task of killing Arya Penangsang was successfully carried out by Sunan Kalijaga's students from Sela, and they succeeded brilliantly.
Arya Penangsang was killed in a dramatic clash on the Bengawan Sore River in 1558.
This event received a large portion in the Babad Tanah Jawi, and is recorded in the collective memory of the Javanese people to this day. (Roes/ Adapted from a trusted source )
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