Javanese histories of Dipanagara: the Buku Kedhun Kebo, its authorship and historical importance

Abstract

[...]there are the accounts written by Pai)eran Dipanagara himself whilst in exile in Menado (1830-1833) and in Makassar (1833-1855), and later on in the nineteenth century by members of Dipanagara's own family2; of these Babad accounts Parjeran Dipanagara's autobiography is the best known and was used by both Louw and de Klerck for their history of the Java War.3 A part of this autobiographical Babad has been published by Rusche & Co in Surakarta in 1908-1909, 1914, and 1917, but it seems certain that this publication was not based on the original MS.4 Indeed, despite its popularity it must still remain a somewhat dubious source for the historian as no original MS. has come to light since A. B. Cohen Stuart made the copies, which are now in the Museum Pusat, in the 1870s.5 Secondly there is the group of Babads written at the courts of Central Java during the course of the nineteenth century often by men who had a direct experience of the events they described. 1834, is however clearly false as he was confirmed as Bupati four years earlier on the 9th June 1830.25 Throughout the Buku Kdhui) Kbo, and especially in the latter part of the Babad, the dates and chronograms which are given for events are almost without exception wrong, sometimes by as much as a year, and this detracts from its usefulness as an historical source. [...]the confusion over the dating of the Buku Kdhui) Kbo in the introduction is in context with the rest of the work: rightly the author referred to his own stupidity in such chronological matters when he wrpte, 'rehnirj bodho pujangane' (because of the stupidity of the poet), and he might perhaps have carried his modesty a stage further and refrained from calling himself a 'pujatjga'.26 2 4 Roorda op. cit. pp. 198-9. [...]there are detailed accounts of the fighting around Yogyakarta and Slaroi) in the early months of the war in the early part of the Buku, and many of these accounts equate almost exactly with certain Dutch military 6 2 Soedjarah Raden Adipati Tjokronagoro I op. cit. gives a list of Cakranagara's wives which illustrate the extent of his connections: [...]if the Dutch still wish to remain as soldiers, their pay will remain unchanged, the great ones will not be changed in their positions, so as to be the sword of the religion.2 Secondly, if the Dutch still feel at home in Java, but are willing to be in a private capacity and to trade, they will be distributed ten thousand3 ricefields, (and) all the various Dutch homes must be brought together in one area, that is all on the North Coast.4 Thirdly, if the Dutch wish to return home to The Netherlands, we will continue forever to be as brothers with each other, (and if) they want any produce from the Javanese, the Dutch must indeed pay the right price for it, or if the Dutch wish to cultivate ricefields in Java, they must rent them for the right rent.