Benteng Pendem Ambarawa

Fort Wilem I or Pendem Ambarawa

Central Java, Indonesian

Ambarawa is a part of Central Java, Indonesia. In this Place have a Fort the name is Fort Willem or Pendem Ambarawa, which was built in the year 1834 to 1845 by the Dutch East Indies goverment, under the leadership of Colonel Hoom. “Pendem” is originated from language Javanese because this Fortress is located underground. Design by Fort Pendem Ambarawa shaped rectangles are strikedly two floors.

Williem fort is the largest fort in Java, this place is used as a military complex capable of carrying 12,000 troops and various supporting facilities, such as armory, workshop, training ground, and hospital. It took around 18 years to build this fort. The construction of the Ambarawa fort was based on the construction of VOC strongholds since the early nineteenth century, along the Semarang-Salatiga-Solo route for the development of relations with the kingdom of Mataram. Also in 1827 - 1830 there were military barracks and logistics under the leadership of Colonel Horn.

In 1834 the fortress Fort Willem I was built with the approval of the Governor General of the Dutch Hindio J.C. Baud The process of building this fort using a mandatory work system. The workers are mostly from Ambarawa and Temanggung. They are forced to work for 10 days and pay 10 cents a day. this was what later received opposition from the Temanggung Sumodilogo Regent who was supported by the Kedu Resident, Von Hogendrop.

The initial purpose of the establishment of this fort was as a military barracks and military logistics storage, but in its development the fort was later used as a defense facility equipped with a moat surrounding it as a preparation in the war against the sultanate of Yogyakarta. The construction of this fort was completed in 1848 which was later given the name Fort Cochius which was taken from the name of Lieutenant General Frans David Cochius commander in the Dutch East Indies who led the Dutch troops during the Diponegoro war in 1825. However, in 1856 fort Cochius fort became a pupillenschool for children European children who were born in the Dutch East Indies and turned into Fort Willem I or Ambarawa Pendem Fort.

Kerajaan Majapahit

Indonesian Far East Asia

Majapahit Kingdom before Indonesia

Surya Majapahit

Sumber Wikipedia.org

        The existence of the Majapahit kingdom is inseparable from the existence of a poet named Prapanca. Prapanca name itself is known by the people of Indonesia as a poet who wrote the book Negarakertagama. In this case the prapanca name is actually not the original name of the author of the book, but that name is a pseudonym or we can call it "pen name" if it is associated with current conditions, where many of the authors have different names from the original names written in the results of his work. Prapanca itself means "barriers and deceivers". The origin of the word naming is known to be a symbol of Shiva's religion at that time which became a rival of Buddhism which developed simultaneously during the reign of King Hayam Wuruk. Through the work of the Prapanca poet, the Indonesian people can get to know the greatness of the Majapahit kingdom, which is one of the largest kingdoms in the archipelago or the region that is currently named Indonesia. There are several books written by poets Prapanca, among others sugataparwa, Bhismacharanantya, parwasagara and Nagarakretagama. In the last mentioned book has an important meaning in uncovering the history of the Majapahit kingdom itself.

        Nagarakretagama book written by Prapanca, he is a former official of Buddhism in the kingdom of Majapahit to replace his father. He ruled in religious affairs when Majapahit was ordered by king Rajasanagara in 1365 AD. We Negarakretagama contains poems as flattery to the king. This book was written by Prpanca when he was imprisoned on the slope of a mountain in the village of Kamalasana after leaving the city of Majapahit. He wrote the Nagarakretagama book based on his experience while serving as a Buddhist leader who had followed the king's activities around several regions or villages. The Nagarakretagama Book was written as an offering to the king for his love for the kingdom of Majapahit.

The Nagarakretagama book contains 98 poems which are divided based on events that occur. The division is as follows:

1. The first poem contains worship of the greatness of King Rajasanagara which is considered to be the incarnation of the god Shiva-Buddha who has provided welfare and peace for his people.

2. Poems 2 - 6 contain family relations to Rajasanagara;

3. Pupuh 3 describes the father and mother of your majesty who live in Singasari;

4. Pupuh 4 contains a marriage between Rani Jiwana who is the aunt of King Rajasanagara and King Wengker;

5. Pupuh 5 contains the younger brother named Rani Lasem and Rani Padyang;

6. Pupuh 6 describes the marriage of His Majesty's two sisters;

7. Poem 7 contains praise for His Majesty which everyone submits to;

8. Pupuh 8-12 contains the ins and outs of the kingdom from the royal capital which is the residence of the king to the servants and dignitaries of the kingdom;

9. Pupuh 13-16 concerning the area of ​​the Majapahit kingdom and its colonies or conquered kingdoms as contained in poem 15/1 which mentions the kingdoms of Campa, Siam, Daramanagara, Singanagara;

10. Poems 17 - 60 which tells the story of His Majesty's trip to Lumajang;

11. Pupuh 61 - 62 describes the journey of the king in Saka 1283 or 1361 in the village of Simping to repair the tomb temple;

12. Pupuh 63 - 67 contains the victims of the victims of Srada victims (Nyadran) in commemoration of the death of King Patani;

13. Pupuh 68 - 69 contains the division of the kingdom of Airlangga for his two children into the kingdom of Daha and Panjalu by Mpu Bharada by pouring water jugs into the air;

14. Pupuh 70 - 73 contains the return of His Majesty from Simping, then word got out that the Gadjah Mada patih was ill and finally died, then a meeting was held to choose a successor to the Gadjah Mada patih but the king did not find a suitable one;

15. Pupuh 74 - 82 contains the names of the Tombs, Wakaf land, boarding houses, Kebudhaan villages and Kesiwaan villages etc. Especially in Java and Bali;

16. Pupuh 83 contains the ancestors of the people and the welfare of the people of Java during their reign;

17. Pupuh 84 contains His Majesty's kirab, which travels around the city on a yellow stretcher, accompanied by princes, priests, scholars in uniform;

18. Canto 85 recounts the meeting every month of Caitra or the first month of the year which is a kind of deliberation with everyone;

19. Pupuh 86 - 92 tells the story of a big party held at the Bubat field, which was attended by His Majesty;

20. Poem 93 - 94 contains a description of how many poets who created poetry kakawin as idol of the king;

21. Pupuh 95 - 98 which tells the fate of the awkward poet who lives in the village and then ascetic on the slope.

Reference: Towards the Peak of Grandeur: History of the Majapahit Kingdom (Prof. Dr. Slamet Muljana)