HISTORY OF YOGYAKARTA

The city of Yogyakarta is situated on Java Island, about 500 km southeast of

Jakarta, the capital city of Indonesia. As the capital of Yogyakarta Special Region
Province, the city has about 32.5 km2 area with a total population in 2004 of around
398,004 and population density of 12,246.28/km2 (National Socio Economic Survey,
2004).
The city of Yogyakarta has a long and rich history, documented in Indonesian
literature. It was founded in 1755, when the Sultanate of Mataram, which had been in
existence since the 8th century, was divided by the Dutch East India Company (VOC)
under the Treaty of Giyanti into two parts: the Sultanate of Ngayogyakarta
Hadiningrat, with Yogyakarta as its capital, and Surakarta Hadiningrat, with Surakarta as
its capital. During the Indonesian National Revolution (1945-1950) Yogyakarta played an
important role in countering  the aggression of the Dutch after World War II.
As one of the ancient cities in Indonesia, the  spatial development of Yogyakarta
can be traced from its ancient origins to the most recent developments [2]. Kraton, or the
Sultan's palace, is the centre of the citizens’ activities in the social political, spiritual and
economical spheres. It has public squares in the North and the South and a mosque in the
West (known as Kauman great mosque).  There is also a traditional market nearby (later
known as Beringharjo market). During its development, the location of the kraton, which
is at the centre of Yogyakarta, drove the sprawl of the city in a unique and ordered pattern.
The Kraton became the cultural centre and in many ways influenced the values and
traditions of the society.
1. Mataram Kingdom (8th - 10th Century CE)
According to Canggal inscription dated 732, the area traditionally called as
"Mataram" became the capital of Medang Kingdom, identified as Mdang i Bhumi
Mataram established by King Sanjaya. Mataram became the center of a refined and
sophisticated Javanese Hindu-Buddhist culture, for about three centuries its heartland
in Kewu Plain(southern slope of Mount Merapi) around Prambanan witnessed the
construction of numerous candi includingBorobudur and Prambanan.
Around the year 929, the centre of the kingdom was shifted to East Java
by Mpu Sindok, who established the Isyana Dynasty. The exact cause of the move is
still uncertain; however, a severe eruption of Mount Merapi volcano or a power
struggle probably caused the move. Historians suggest that, sometime during the reign
of King Wawa of Mataram (924—929), Merapi volcano erupted and devastated the
kingdom's capital in Mataram. Although missing from the historical record since the
 migration of the capital of Medang kingdom in the 10th century to the eastern Java, the
valley area in the south of Mount Merapi since the 15th century still inhabited and
according to later account, perhaps become part of the region called "Pengging".
2. Majapahit Empire (1293 – 1527)
During the Majapahit era, the area surrounding modern Yogyakarta identified
again as "Mataram" and recognize again as one of Majapahit 12 provinces in Java ruled
by a Duke titled 'Bhre Mataram'. During the reign of Hayam Wuruk (1350 to 1389), the
title of Bhre Mataram was held by king's nephew also son in-law Wikramawardhana.
3. Mataram Sultanate (1575 - 1620)
Kotagede (now part of districts in Yogyakarta) was established as the capital
of Mataram Sultanate. The palace of the founder of Mataram Sultanate, Panembahan
Senopati established in scene of part of Alas Mentaok. During the reign of Sultan
Agung Hanyokrokusumo (1613-1645), Sultanate Mataram reach its zenith as the
greatest kingdom in Java, expanded its influence to Central Java, East Java and half of
West Java. After a two times move its capital, (Palace of Pleret and Place of Kerta,
both located in Bantul Regency), the capital of Mataram Sultanate moved to Kartasura.
4. Aftermath of the Gianti Treaty (1745 - 1945)
During the reign of Pakubuwono II, a civil war broke
out in Mataram Sultanate. The civil war was fought
between Prince Mangkubumiand his elder brother, Sunan
Pakubuwono II. The civil war started when Sunan
Pakubuwono II agreed to cooperate with the VOC, ceded some
of Mataram territory to the Dutch, and submitted to foreign
powers. His younger brother, Prince Mangkubumi stood
against the agreement due to concern that his people would
become slaves under Dutch rule. Prince Mangkubumi defeated
the Pakubuwono forces and declared sovereignty in the Kingdom of Yogjakarta
occupying southern parts of the former Mataram Sultanate.
The Yogyakarta Sultanate was established as a result of the Treaty of
Giyanti (Perjanjian Gianti) by Prince Mangkubumi, who later ascended the throne
as Sultan Hamengkubuwono I. Officially, the creation of Yogyakarta Sultanate is dated
at 7 October 1756 as a result of civil war among the princes of The Mataram Sultanate.
This civil war marked the end of the Mataram Sultanate and resulted in the birth of
the Yogyakarta Sultanate and the Surakarta Sunanate.
However, in later years both of the heir of Mataram, the Yogyakarta Sultanate
and the Surakarta Sunanate confined their power and were reduced as Dutch East
 Indies protectorate kingdoms under the crown of the Kingdom of Netherlands,
identified asVorstenlanden Mataram.
5. Republic of Indonesia era (1945 - present)
In 1942 the Japanese Empire invaded Dutch East Indies and ruled Java until
they were defeated in 1945. Sukarno proclaimed the
independence of the Indonesian Republic on August
1945. Sultan Hamengkubuwono IX promptly send a
letter to Sukarno, expressing his support for the newly
born nation of Indonesia and acknowledging
Yogyakarta Sultanate as part of the Indonesian
Republic. The Sunanate of Surakarta did the same, and
both of the Javanese kingdoms were awarded special
status as 'Special Region' within the Indonesian
Republic. However because of a leftist anti-royalist
uprising in Surakarta, the Sunanate of Surakarta lost its
special administrative status in 1946 and was absorbed
into Central Java Province.
Yogyakarta's support was essential in the Indonesian struggle for
independence, during the Indonesian National Revolution (1945-1949). The city of
Yogyakarta became the capital of the Indonesian Republic from 1946 to 1948, after the
fall of Jakarta to the Dutch. Later the Dutch also invaded Yogyakarta, causing the
Republic's capital to be transferred once again, to Bukittinggi in West Sumatra on 19
December 1948. Because of its significant contribution to the survival of the
Indonesian Republic, Yogyakarta was given the status of Special Administrative
Region, making Yogyakarta the only region headed by a monarchy in Indonesia.
6. Geography
The area of the city of Yogyakarta is 32.5 square kilometres (12.5 square
miles). While the city spreads in all directions from thekraton (the Sultan's palace), the
core of the modern city is to the north, centring around Dutch colonial-era buildings
and the commercial district. Jalan Malioboro, with rows of pavement vendors and
nearby market and malls, is the primary shopping street for tourists in the city, while
Jalan Solo, further north, is a shopping district more frequented by locals. At the
southern end of Malioboro, on the east side is the large local market of Beringharjo, not
far from Fort Vredeburg a restored Dutch fort.
At Yogyakarta's centre is the kraton, or Sultan's palace. Surrounding the
kraton is a densely populated residential neighbourhood that occupies land that was
formerly the Sultan's sole domain. Evidence of this former use remains in the form of
old walls and the ruined Taman Sari, built in 1758 as a pleasure garden. No longer used
by the sultan, the garden had been largely abandoned. For a time, it was used for
housing by palace employees and descendants. Reconstruction efforts began in 2004,
and an effort to renew the neighbourhood around the kraton has begun. The site is a
developing tourist attraction.[citation needed]
Nearby to the city of Yogyakarta is Mount Merapi. The northern outskirts of
the city run up to the southern slopes of the mountain in Sleman Regency (Indonesian
language–Kabupaten). Gunung Merapi (literally Mountain of Fire in
Indonesian/Javanese), is an active Stratavolcano located on the border between Central
Java and Yogyakarta, Indonesia. It is the most active volcano in Indonesia and has
erupted regularly since 1548. The volcano last erupted in November 2010.
Climate[edit]
Yogyakarta features a tropical monsoon climate. The city features a
lengthy wet season running from October until June and a short dry season that only
covers the months of July, August and September. The city averages roughly 2,200 mm
(87 in) of precipitation annually. Yogyakarta experiences particularly heavy rainfall
from November through April. Temperatures remain relatively constant throughout the
course of the year, with average high temperatures at around 30 degrees Celsius and
average lows at around 22 degrees Celsius.