Legend of Banyuwangi

A long time ago in the eastern end of East Java Province there was a large kingdom ruled by a just and
wise King. The King had a handsome son named Raden Banterang. Raden Banterang's passion is hunting.

IN THE PALACE
RADEN BANTERANG : Dad, I want to go hunting today. I beg your permission, Dad! Please! (begging)

KING : What? Again?

RADEN BANTERANG : Yes Dad, please!

KING : Well, I’ll let you hunt

RADEN BANTERANG : Thanks Dad

KING : Yes, be careful my son

RADEN BANTERANG : Yes Dad, I’m going now

After he got a permission from his father to hunt, Raden Banterang went to the courtyard to call out Aria
to prepare hunting equipment. Aria is a royal soldier close to the prince.

YARD, IN THE PALACE

RADEN BANTERANG : Aria! (shout)

ARIA : Yes, Sir!

RADEN BANTERANG : Could you please help me to prepare some hunting equipment?

ARIA : Yes, Sir. That’s it, sir?

RADEN BANTERANG : Yes, because this morning I'm going to hunt in the woods

ARIA : Alright, Sir!

RADEN BANTERANG : Oke, you must accompany me

ARIA : Yes Sir!

Soon after the equipments are ready. He went to the forest around Blambangan to hunt for animals. But
in the middle, he saw a deer. He chased it and the deer ran deeper into the forest. His horse was so fast,
he left his guards behind. Unfortunately he lost the deer.
RIVER, FOREST

RADEN BANTERANG : Where did that deer go? Will I find it? But I’m very tired. I have to take a break
now. Whoa, what a coincidence that there is a river up front. Hem, the river
water is fresh. (drinks the water)

Raden Banterang drinks the river water. After that, he left the river. But only after a few walks, he took a
rest under a big banyan tree. Suddenly a lovely lady appeared in front of him. Raden Banterang was very
surprised to see a beautiful girl alone in the forest. He was suspicious that she was not a human being. So
he asked her.

RADEN BANTERANG : Excuse me, Who are you? Do you live around here

SURATI : No, I'm from Klungkung, Bali. My name is Surati. I'm a princess from there. I need
your help

RADEN BANTERANG : I will help you, but please tell me. What’s the matter?

SURATI : I'm in danger. There was a rebellion in Klungkung. The rebel killed my father.
Thankfully, I survived. My guards took me here but I lost them. Now I'm alone. I
don't know where to go. Please, help me.

RADEN BANTERANG : Ok, You are coming to the right person. I'm prince Banterang from the kingdom
of Blambangan. I will protect you. Please come with me. Come on !

Then, Raden Banterang took Surati home. He fell in love with her and then several months later he married
her.

One day when Surati was on the street he met a man. The man called her. She was surprised to realize
that the man was her brother Rupaksa. Rupaksa told her that it was Raden Banterang who killed their
father. He came to Blambangan to take revenge and asked Surati to join him. Surati was shocked but she
refused to join.
STREET, IN THE PALACE

RUPAKSA : Surati! Surati!

SURATI : Brother!

RUPAKSA : Surati, I came here to take revenge, because Raden Banterang had killed our
father.

SURATI : (shocked) I'm really shocked. But I'm not sure. Raden Banterang is now my
husband. He's very kind to me. He never hurts me. He's protecting me. I will
never betray him

RUPAKSA : (surprised) What?! You're married to him ? And you don’t want to help me?

SURATI : (sob) Yes, forgive me!

RUPAKSA : But he killed our father!

SURATI : It’s hard for me to believe it

RUPAKSA : (angry) OK then. I have to go now. But please keep my headdress. Put it under
your pillow (Rupaksa gave his headdress to his sister Surati. To respect her older
brother, Surati put it under her pillow)

Several days later Raden Banterang was hunting in a forest when he met a man that looked like a priest.
The man greeted him politely. Then he said something.

FOREST
RUPAKSA : Our life is in danger. Someone has an evil intention to you

RADEN BANTERANG : May i know who it is?

RUPAKSA : Your wife, Surati

RADEN BANTERANG : Surati? How do you know?

RUPAKSA : I am a priest. I have clear spiritual vision. I just want to save you. Search her
room. If you find a headdress under her pillow then my words are correct. It is
from a man who will help her kill you

RADEN BANTERANG : Thank you, your Holiness

Raden Banterang was shocked. He was very angry to his wife. He immediately went home. When he got
to the palace he immediately searched Surati's bed room. As he found the head dress under her pillow
he was sure that the priest was right.

IN THE BEDROOM, THE PALACE

RADEN BANTERANG : ( filled with anger) You are an unfaithful wife. I know that you want me dead.
This is the evidence. This is from a man who will help you kill me. Tell me who
he is!

SURATI : (shock and cry) It’s my brother's head dress. I met him several days ago when
you went hunting. He gave me this and told me to put it under my pillow. So I
did. He wants to kill you, not me! (try to convince)

But Raden Banterang did not trust her. He gave her a death sentence. He took his wife to a river bank as
he would stab his wife and throw her body into the river.

RIVER, THE FOREST

SURATI : Before I die, let me have a few words

RADEN BANTERANG : Please do

SURATI : After I throw my body in here. If the water become dirty and smelly, it means
that I am guilty. But if the water become clear and fragrance, it means that I
am innocence

Then Raden Banterang stabbed her with a kris. Surati threw herself into the river. Amazingly the water
became clear and fragrance came out of it. Surati was innocent! Raden Banterang regretted his
emotional behavior. Since then, he changed the name of his kingdom into Banyuwangi. Banyu means
water and Wangi means fragrance. Because of it, Banyuwangi later became the name of the city of
Banyuwangi.