- Kraton (Indonesia)
Kraton is the Javanese word for a royal
palace . Its name is derived from "ratu", which means "queen". In Java, the palace of a prince is called "puro" or "dalem". The general word to designate a palace isistana , as in Indonesian and Malay.Designated as such for
tourist s, the palaces are known by their locality - 'The Yogyakarta Kraton', or 'The Solo Kraton' but inIndonesia n andJava neseetiquette , the places are given their full formal titles when being written or spoken about.pecific palaces
In the
Yogyakarta region, palaces includeKraton Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat (Palace of Hamengkubuwono I to X) and Puro Pakualaman (Palace of Pakualam).In
Surakarta , notable palaces includeKraton Surakarta Hadiningrat (Palace of Pakubuwono II to IX) and thePuro Mangkunegaran .In Karta and
Plered , there are remains of palaces from the 1600s and inKota Gede there are even remains of a palace from the 1500s.In
Cirebon (inWest Java ), there are the "Kraton Kasepuhan of Cirebon", the "Kraton Kanoman of Cirebon", "Kraton Kacirebonan" and the "Kraton Keprabonan", used by rival branches of the dynasty.Metonymic use
The term kraton 'palace' is also used as a way to refer to the court which it houses.
This is especially the case for native Indonesian states where the succession is disputed, giving issue to two or more branches of the dynasty, or even rivaling dynasties, each setting up an alternative court, while competing for the same state, but generally only controlling part of it.
An example is the West-Javan state of
Cirebon , which was founded in 1478 and since 1662 was ruled from four kraton (palaces):
*(1) Kraton Kasepuhan, using as the ruler's styleSultan
*(2) Kraton Kanoman, style Sultan
*(3) Kraton Kaprabonan, stylePanembahan (lower in rank)
*(4) Kraton Kacirebonan, style Sultanee also
*
Cirebon
*Yogyakarta
*Surakarta
*Crown jewels for current palaces outside of Java but inIndonesia
*List of Indonesian monarchies
*Palaces References
* Miksic, John (general ed.), et al. (2006) "Karaton Surakarta. A look into the court of Surakarta Hadiningrat, central Java" (First published: 'By the will of His Serene Highness Paku Buwono XII'. Surakarta: Yayasan Pawiyatan Kabudayan Karaton Surakarta, 2004) Marshall Cavendish Editions Singapore ISBN 981-261-226-2
External links
* [http://www.worldstatesmen.org/Indonesia_princely_states1.html WorldSatesmen - Indonesia - Princely States]
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