Gajah Mada
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Template:Cleanup-date Gajah Mada (d. circa 1364) is a famous military leader and prime minister (mahapatih) of Majapahit Empire who is credited for bringing the empire to its peak of glory. His famous oath is called Sumpah Palapa, in which he vowed not to eat any food containing spices unless he had conquered all of Nusantara. He is a famous Indonesia ancient hero.
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Rose as Mahapatih
Not much is known about Gajah Mada's early life. Among the first accounts of Gajahmada's life is his career as commander of Bhayangkara, elite guard of Majapahit kings and their family. When Rakrian Kuti, one of the officials in Majapahit rebelled against Majapahit king Jayanegara (ruled 1309-1328) in 1321, Gajah Mada and the then-mahapatih Arya Tadah helped the king and his family escaping the capital city of Trowulan. Later Gajah Mada aided the king to return to the capital and crush the rebellion. Seven years later, Jayanegara was poisoned to death by Rakrian Tanca, one of Rakrian Kuti's aides.
In another version, according to the Nagarakertagama, and supported by inscriptions dating from the late 13th and early 14th century, in 1328, Jayanagara was assassinated. It is said that he was overprotective towards his two half sisters, born from Kertarajasa's youngest queen, Dyah Dewi Gayatri. Complaints lodged by the two young princesses led to the intervention of Gajah Mada. He arranged for a surgeon to murder the king while pretending to perform an operation.(1)
Jayanegara was immediately succeeded by his sister Thribuwana Tunggadewi (ruled 1328-1350), under whose leadership Gajah Mada was appointed as mahapatih in 1329, after the retirement of Arya Tadah.
Gajah Mada then crushed another rebellion by Sedah and Keta in 1331.
Sumpah Palapa
It was said that during his appointment, Gajah Mada made his famous oath, Sumpah Palapa. It was stated on Pararaton (Book of Kings), an ancient account on Javanese history:
“ Sira Gajah Mada pepatih amungkubumi tan ayun amukita palapa, sira Gajah Mada : Lamun huwus kalah nusantara ingsun amukti palapa, lamun kalah ring Gurun, ring Seram, Tanjungpura, ring Haru, ring Pahang, Dompo, ring Bali, Sunda, Palembang, Tumasik, samana ingsun amukti palapa “
"Gajah Mada, he the prime minister, said he will not taste any spice, said Gajah Mada : As long as I not unify Nusantara, I will not taste any spice. Before I conquer Gurun, Seram, Tanjungpura, Haru, Pahang, Dompo, Bali, Sunda, Palembang, Tumasik, I will never taste any spice."
This oath is often interpreted that Gajah Mada will never taste any earthly happiness if he not yet conquer the entire archipelago for Majapahit.
Even his closest friends were at first doubtful of his oath. But nonetheless, Gajahmada was serious in pursuing his dream to unify Nusantara under the glory of Majapahit. Soon he conquered the surrounding teritory of Bedahulu (Bali) and Lombok (1343). He then sent the Navy westward to attack the remnant of thallassocrathic kingdom of Sriwijaya in Palembang, and installed Adityawarman, a Majapahit Prince as vassal ruler in Minangkabau, West Sumatra.
He then conquered the first Islamic sultanate in Indonesia, Samudra Pasai, and another state in Swarnadwipa (Sumatra). Gajah Mada also conquered Bintan, Tumasik (Singapore), Malaya, and also Kalimantan.
His conquest continued in the reign of Thribuwana Tunggadewi's son, Hayam Wuruk (ruled 1350-1389), expanding eastward into Logajah, Gurun, Seram, Hutankadali, Sasak, Makassar, Buton, Banggai, Kunir, Galiyan, Salayar, Sumba, Muar (Saparua), Solor, Bima, Wandan (Banda), Ambon, Timor, and Dompo.
He thus effectively brought the archipelago under Majapahits's control, which spanned not only today's Indonesia, but also Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei and southern Philippines.
It was on Gajah Mada's reign that famous Muslim traveller, Ibn Batutta visit Indonesian archipelago around 1345.
However, a tragic accident ended his glorious career and made him lose the king's favour.
Bubat Accident
In 1357, the only remaining state refusing to acknowledge Majapahit's supremacy was Sunda, in West Java, which was located in Majapahit's next door. Later, King Hayam Wuruk, titled Rajasanegara, planning to marry Dyah Pitaloka, princess of Sunda and daughter of Sunda's King. Gajah Mada was tasked in welcoming the princess' arrivall in Bubat village.
Here arose the problem; Sunda's King thought that the marriage was sign of alliance between Sunda and Majapahit. But Gajah Mada thought otherwise. He took it as a sign of submission of Sunda to Majapahit. The strive rose into full scale battle that cause the king and all of his guards killed in Bubat field. Seeing this horror, Dyah Pitaloka then committed suicide.
Hayam Wuruk was deeply shocked about this accident. It is often said that Dyah Pitaloka was a very beautiful princess. Gajah Mada was then demoted and spent his days in Madangkara resort in Probolinggo, East Java.
Gajah Mada died in obscurity in 1364. The task of mahapatih that has Gajah Mada hold is seemed by the king too heavy to be one's burden. The king then created four ministries to hold it. Majapahit could maintain glory that Gajah Mada has built under Hayam Wuruk, which is said to be a wise leader. But a slow decline started after Hayam Wuruk's death.
Legacy
Gajah Mada's legacy is highly regarded in Indonesia. In the early days of the republics, its leaders such as Sukarno often cited Gajah Mada's oath as proof of the nation's possibility to unite, despite its vast territory and various cultures. Thus, Gajah Mada is one of the greatest inspirations for the Indonesian National Revolution against the Dutch colonists.
A state's university, Universitas Gadjah Mada, in Yogyakarta is named after him. Indonesia's first telecommunication satellite is called Satelit Palapa to signify its role in uniting the country. Many cities in Indonesia have streets named after him.