Hamengkubuwono III

Hamengkubuwono III (also spelled Hamengkubuwana III, born Raden Mas Surojo; 20 February 1769 – 3 November 1814) was the third sultan of Yogyakarta, reigning from 1810 to 1811 as prince regent and as Sultan from 1812 to 1814. His reign took place during the interregnum of Dutch rule during the Napoleonic Wars, twice replacing his father Hamengkubuwono II.

As Hamengkubuwono II's eldest son, Surojo became crown prince in 1790, prior to his father's succession, due to the intervention of Hamengkubuwono I. A faction emerged in Yogyakarta opposing his succession, which had gained the upper hand by 1808. Following an 1810 rebellion by a Yogyakartan noble, however, Hamengkubuwono II was forced to concede his rulership to Surojo by Herman Willem Daendels. After the British invaded Java, Hamengkubuwono II returned to power and purged Surojo's supporters, until he was again deposed and exiled in 1812.

Surojo formally became Sultan Hamengkubuwono III in June 1812. His reign as sultan saw a reduction in Yogyakarta's military forces and territories by a treaty with the British. He lightened taxation and labour demands on the sultanate's population, which had been imposed by his father for ambitious projects. He died at the age of 45 in November 1814, and was succeeded by his ten-year old son Hamengkubuwono IV.

Early life Hamengkubuwono III was born Raden Mas Surojo on 20 February 1769 at the Yogyakarta Keraton, where he spent his childhood. His father was Hamengkubuwono II (at the time of his birth, crown prince with the birth name of Raden Mas Sundoro), and his mother was Raden Ajeng Gambariyah (later titled Gusti Kanjeng Ratu Kedhaton/Queen). Surojo was Sundoro's eldest son. In his youth, Surojo became known as an amateur historian and a writer, and according to Dutch accounts, Surojo's grandfather Hamengkubuwono I took a liking to Surojo, personally educating him including on Javanese history and tales. Hamengkubuwono III had three official wives and over 20 concubines, resulting in 32 children. His first queen consort was his first cousin, Gusti Kanjeng Ratu Kencana, a daughter of Kanjeng Raden Tumenggung Sasradiningrat I (also known as Kanjeng Raden Tumenggung Sasranegara), Regent of Grobogan by his primary wife, Bendara Raden Ayu Sasradiningrat, a daughter of Hamengkubuwana I. She was the mother of his successor, Hamengkubuwana IV, and as queen dowager, she was later styled as Gusti Kanjeng Ratu Hageng. The second and third were childless: Gusti Kanjeng Ratu Hemas, daughter of Raden Rangga Prawiradirja I of Madiun, and Gusti Kanjeng Ratu Wandhan.

Diponegoro, his eldest son, was from a concubine, Raden Ayu Mangkarawati. Family Royal consorts Gusti Kanjeng Ratu Kencana, first cousin of the Sultan. She was a granddaughter of Hamengkubuwana I, later the Gusti Kanjeng Ratu Hageng (Queen Dowager). Gusti Raden Mas Ibnu Jarot (1804 - 1823), appointed as the Kanjeng Gusti Pangeran Adipati Anom (Crown Prince) of Yogyakarta, succeeded as Hamengkubuwana IV Gusti Kanjeng Ratu Hemas Gusti Kanjeng Ratu Wandhan Concubines Raden Ayu Mangkarawati Bendara Raden Mas Mustahar (1785 - 1855), changed to Bendara Raden Mas Antawirya, titled Bendara Pangeran Harya Diponegoro Raden Ayu Dayapurnama Bendara Pangeran Harya Hadisurya Raden Ayu Lesmanawati Raden Ayu Prabuningrat Raden Ayu Murtiningrum Raden Ayu Sasradipura Raden Ayu Surtikawati Raden Ayu Danudiningrat Married Kanjeng Raden Tumenggung Danudiningrat Raden Ayu Sasmitalangen Bendara Pangeran Harya Hadinegara or Bendara Pangeran Harya Suryaning Ngalaga