Seni Benang Ratu Majapahit - Keindahan dalam Kerajinan Jarum dan Kerajinan Sendiri
Memulai Misi Penaklukkan Nusantara
Purwadi dalam buku Sejarah Raja-raja Jawa: Sejarah Kehidupan Kraton dan Perkembangannya di Jawa (2007) menyebut bahwa jasa besar Tribhuwana Wijayatunggadewi adalah meletakkan dasar-dasar politik kenegaraan Majapahit.
Naiknya Tribhuwana Tunggadewi ke singgasana Majapahit juga berimbas besar terhadap karier Gajah Mada. Sosok perwira muda ini langsung melejit berkat jasa-jasanya mengamankan negara, termasuk menyelesaikan pemberontakan Sadeng dan Keta yang masih menjadi bagian dari dampak kepemimpinan Jayanegara.
Berkat kesetiaannya terhadap negara juga kecakapannya, Gajah Mada langsung menjadi orang kepercayaan Tribhuwana Wijayatunggadewi.
Pada 1334, Sri Ratu Tribhuwana menunjuk Gajah Mada untuk menempati posisi sebagai rakryan patih atau mahapatih alias perdana menteri menggantikan Arya Tadah yang undur diri karena sudah merasa tua.
Dikutip dari Sedjarah Indonesia Lama (1961) karya Pitono Hardjowardojo, saat dilantik menjadi mahapatih pada 1334, Gajah Mada mengucapkan Sumpah Palapa. Ia berikrar pantang merasakan kenikmatan duniawi sebelum berhasil mempersatukan Nusantara di bawah naungan Majapahit.
Era Tribhuwana Wijayatunggadewi memang merupakan masa di mana Majapahit mulai melebarkan sayapnya hingga ke luar Jawa.
Tahun 1343, misalnya seperti dinukil dari buku Sejarah Kebudayaan Bali (1998) yang disusun Supratikno Raharjo dan kawan-kawan, Kerajaan Majapahit menaklukkan Bali.
Berikutnya, giliran kerajaan-kerajaan di kawasan lain di luar Jawa yang ditundukkan oleh Kerajaan Majapahit di bawah komando Mahapatih Gajah Mada atas perintah Sri Ratu Tribhuwana Tunggadewi.
The Rise of the Wealthy and Powerful Majapahit Empire
Raden Wijaya was crowned as the Majapahit Emperor, and the Empire began to expand slowly. Additionally, due to its strategic position on the spice trade route, the Majapahit Empire grew immensely wealthy by levying duties on goods shipped through its area of control. The golden age of the Majapahit Empire, however, is said to have been during the reign of Hayam Wuruk, the fourth ruler of the empire. Hayam Wuruk, who ruled from 1350 to 1389, was assisted by an equally formidable prime minister, Gajah Mada.
Terracotta head believed to be a representation of Gajah Mada, Trowulan, East Java, Indonesia (Wikimedia Commons)
During his premiership, Gajah Mada had successfully added Bali, Java and Sumatra to the Majapahit Empire. Although Gajah Mada died around 1364, the expansion of the empire continued. By 1365, the entire Malay Archipelago, with the exception of Sri-Vijaya and two of its colonies, were conquered by the Majapahit Empire. In 1377, Palembang, the capital of Sri-Vijaya, fell to Hayam Wuruk’s troops. The Kingdom of Singapura, an offshoot of Sri-Vijaya, was also later conquered. Nevertheless, this rival was not entirely destroyed, and its descendants would later return to cause trouble to the Majapahit Empire.
The Majapahit Empire: The Short Life of an Empire that Once Defeated the Mongols
The Mongols are perhaps best known as one of history’s greatest conquerors. As they extended their borders, numerous empires were destroyed and dynasties replaced. Perhaps less well-known is the Mongol (under Kublai Khan’s Yuan Dynasty of China) expedition to Java. This expedition ended in a Mongol defeat, and gave rise to one of the last major powers in the Southeast Asian region, the Majapahit Empire.
The story of the Majapahit Empire begins at the end of the 13th century AD in the Singhasari Kingdom with Raden Wijaya (the founder of the Majapahit Empire), and Jayakatwang (the last ruler of the Singhasari Kingdom). Raden Wijaya’s father-in-law was Kertanegara, whose throne was usurped by Jayakatwang. Raden Wijaya, however, was pardoned, and was given Trowulan in East Java. This site would later serve as the capital of the Majapahit Empire.
The Bajang Ratu Gate and Wringin Lawang, two examples of Majapahit Architecture, Trowulan, East Java, Indonesia (Wikimedia Commons)
According to the Chinese sources, prior to Jayakatwang’s treachery, Kertanegara had incurred the anger of Kublai Khan. Kertanegara had refused to pay tribute to the Yuan Dynasty, mistreated the Yuan envoy, and even challenged Kublai Khan. As a result, the Emperor decided to punish Kertanegara by dispatching 1000 ships to subdue his kingdom.
The Javanese sources, however, paint an alternate picture. Instead of depicting Kertanegara as refusing to pay tribute to the Mongols, the king is said to have been a friendly vassal. The expedition sent by Kublai Khan to Java was not meant to punish Kertanegara, but to aid Raden Wijaya. This is because Raden Wijaya had sent an urgent envoy to the Emperor requesting for aid against Jayakatwang. Furthermore, Raden Wijaya also promised to offer Kublai Khan the pick of the most beautiful princesses in the Singhasari Kingdom.
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