Hamengkubuwono VII

Hamengkubuwono VII (also spelled Hamengkubuwana VII, 4 February 1839 – 30 December 1921) was the seventh sultan of Yogyakarta, reigning from 22 December 1877 until his abdication in 29 January 1921.

His residence after the abdication of the crown in the early 19th Century is now known as the Museum Ambarrukmo, part of the Royal Ambarrukmo Yogyakarta hotel complex.

Early life His birth name was Gusti Raden Mas Murteja, the eldest son of Sultan Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwana VI, born on 4 February 1839. He ascended the throne, succeeding his father, on 13 August 1877.

GRM Murteja was the son of Gusti Kangjeng Ratu (GKR) Sultan, the second consort of Hamengkubuwana VI. The first consort, GKR Hamengkubuwana, a daughter of Pakubuwana VIII of Surakarta, did not have any male children. Following the death of Hamengkubuwana VI, GRM Murteja ascended the throne as Sultan Hamengkubuwana VII. Reign

During the reign of Hamengkubuwana VII, numerous sugar factories were established in Yogyakarta, totaling 17 in number. Each factory establishment provided him with the opportunity to receive funds amounting to f 200,000.00 (f = florin, the Dutch currency). This greatly increased the Sultan's wealth, earning him the epithet Sultan Sugih (the Wealthy Sultan).

It has been alleged that the Dutch authorities were involved, as they opposed the succession of a crown prince known for resisting regulations imposed by the colonial government in Batavia.

Traditionally, succession occurred only after the reigning king's death. In this case, however, the accession of Hamengkubuwana VIII took place while Hamengkubuwana VII was still alive. According to some accounts, the former Sultan was exiled by his fourth son to Ngambarrukmo Palace outside the Yogyakarta Kraton.

Hamengkubuwana VII accepted his son's decision with magnanimity (in Javanese tradition referred to as mikul dhuwur mendhem jero), as his son had politically consolidated power within the royal administration. After his abdication, Hamengkubuwana VII reportedly stated, "No king has ever died in the kraton after me," a claim that remains debated. To date, two subsequent rulers died outside the palace: Hamengkubuwana VIII (who died after retrieving the crown prince, Gusti Raden Mas Dorodjatun, from Batavia) and Hamengkubuwana IX (who died in the United States). Among the Javanese, it is considered an honor to die in one's own home. Hamengkubuwana VII died at Ngambarrukmo Palace on 30 December 1931 and was buried at Imogiri Cemetery.

Another version states that Hamengkubuwana VII requested retirement approval from the Dutch to madeg pandita (become a hermit) at Ngambarrukmo Palace.

Cultural and educational development The era of Hamengkubuwana VII marked the early phase of modernization, during which many schools were established. He encouraged higher education for his children, including sending several of them to study in the Netherlands. In the field of dance, Hamengkubuwana VII supported artistic development beyond the palace walls, encouraging his children to establish a Yogyakarta-style dance school, Kridha Beksa Wirama, which was open to the public at Dalem Tejakusuman. In addition to founding schools, he also strengthened dance and wayang performances, which grew increasingly popular from late 1918 onward.

During his reign, various mass organizations also emerged. Muhammadiyah, one of Indonesia's largest Islamic organizations, originated within the kraton milieu during this period. Initiated by Raden Ngabehi Ngabdul Darwis, also known as Kyai Haji Ahmad Dahlan, a palace official who had studied in Saudi Arabia, Muhammadiyah focused on social welfare and education and developed from the Kauman area.

Hamengkubuwana VII envisioned encouraging public participation in political organizations as a foundation for Indonesia's future. The Loji Mataram building owned by the kraton on Malioboro Street, now the building of the Regional House of Representatives of Yogyakarta (DPRD DIY), was lent to Budi Utomo for its first congress. He also facilitated the celebration of Islamic holy days according to the Hijri calendar, while the Garebeg ceremonies continued to follow the Sultan Agungan calendar. In 1920, he conveyed this intention to Danureja VII and the Dutch East Indies government, choosing to live as a pandhita at Ambarukmo. This decision was influenced by Dutch proposals for agrarian reorganization, which he believed would restrict his authority, particularly through the abolition of the apanage system that transferred land administration to the colonial government via regional treasuries. Politically, these regulations effectively reduced the Sultan to a component of the colonial administration. Hamengkubuwana VII subsequently appointed GRM Sujadi as his successor to ensure a smooth succession and political stability under continued Dutch influence.

Legacy Beyond sugar factories, railway networks, and Pesanggrahan Ambarukmo, the legacy of Hamengkubuwana VII includes artistic works such as the dances Bedaya Sumreg, Srimpi Dhendhang Sumbawa, and Bedaya Lala. During his reign, Bedaya dance costumes transitioned to the mekak style while retaining paes ageng makeup. In the field of kris craftsmanship, he was known for his high-quality collection of tangguh kaping piton krises. Another source identified her as Gusti Kanjeng Ratu Sultan and suggested she had previously been married Paku Alam IV. She was a daughter of Kanjeng Raden Tumenggung Jayadipura who was also known as Gusti Kanjeng Ratu Hageng or Gusti Kanjeng Tegalrejo.

As Ratu Kencana hadn't yet produced any male children by the time the second queen already had four princes, she gambled. She planned to make one of her daughter as the future queen consort, so that the next monarch would be her grandson. In 1883, she supported the widow of Hamengkubuwana V, Gusti Kanjeng Ratu Sekar Kedhaton's coup d'etat, aimed to proclaimed the late Sultan's son, Gusti Pangeran Harya Suryaning Ngalaga, as the rightful heir. The action failed, her title revoked, exiled, and renamed as Gusti Kanjeng Ratu Wandhan.

Gusti Kanjeng Ratu Hemas died in 1892. Later, a concubine named Kanjeng Bendara Raden Ayu Rêtna Sri Wulan, daughter of Bendara Pangeran Harya Hadinegara, son of Hamengkubuwana II was elevated to the third queen consort by the title of Gusti Kanjeng Ratu Kencana.

One of his concubines, Bendara Raden Ayu Rêtna Mandaya, was a daughter of Kanjeng Raden Adipati Danureja VI.

His wives and several notable children were listed below.

Queen consorts Gusti Kanjeng Ratu Wandhan Gusti Kanjeng Ratu Candrakirana Gusti Kanjeng Ratu Sekar Kedhaton, changed to Gusti Kanjeng Ratu Madurêtna Married Raden Tumenggung Kertanegara Gusti Kanjeng Ratu Hemas (died 1892) Gusti Raden Ajeng Murkatijah, titled Gusti Kanjeng Ratu Sekar Kedhaton Gusti Raden Mas Akadiyat (1874 - 1893), appointed as the Kanjeng Gusti Pangeran Adipati Anom Hamengkunegara (Crown Prince) of Yogyakarta in 1883 Gusti Kanjeng Ratu Hangger Married Bendara Raden Mas Abimanyu, titled Bendara Kanjeng Pangeran Harya Kusumayuda, second son of Pakubuwana X Gusti Raden Mas Pratistha (1877 - 1942), appointed as the Kanjeng Gusti Pangeran Adipati Anom Hamengkunegara (Crown Prince) of Yogyakarta in 1893, degraded to Kanjeng Gusti Pangeran Adipati Juminah Gusti Raden Mas Putra (1879 - 1913), appointed as the Kanjeng Gusti Pangeran Adipati Anom Hamengkunegara (Crown Prince) of Yogyakarta Married Bendara Raden Ajeng Siti Katinah, daughter of Kanjeng Gusti Pangeran Adipati Mangkubumi Gusti Raden Mas Sujadi (1880 - 1939), titled Gusti Pangeran Harya Purbaya, appointed as the Kanjeng Gusti Pangeran Adipati Anom (Crown Prince) of Yogyakarta, succeeded as Hamengkubuwana VIII Gusti Kanjeng Ratu Hayu Married Kanjeng Pangeran Harya Adipati Danureja VII Gusti Kanjeng Ratu Kencana, first cousin three times removed of the Sultan. She was a granddaughter of Hamengkubuwana II. Gusti Pangeran Harya Mangkukusuma Gusti Kanjeng Ratu Bendara Married Kanjeng Pangeran Harya Suryadi Gusti Pangeran Harya Tejakusuma Gusti Pangeran Harya Natapraja Gusti Raden Mas Suhardi Gusti Kanjeng Ratu Dewi Married Kanjeng Raden Tumenggung Wijil Gusti Raden Ajeng Murkamsilah Gusti Kanjeng Ratu Bendara Gusti Kanjeng Ratu Candrakirana Married Kanjeng Pangeran Harya Adipati Danureja VIII Bendara Raden Ayu Rêngga Rêtnaasmara Bendara Raden Ayu Rêtnaliring Asmara Bendara Raden Ajeng Muryalitarina Married Bendara Raden Mas Sujana, titled Bendara Kanjeng Pangeran Harya Purbanegara, son of Pakubuwana X Raden Rêtnadewati Mas Ajeng Rêtna Murcita Mas Ayu Rêtna Jumanten Raden Ajeng Cênthung