Biography Raden Wijaya: Founder and First King of Majapahit

Raden Wijaya, or Dyah Wijaya, is the founder and first king of the Majapahit Kingdom, reigning from 1293-1309. He held the title Sri Kertarajasa Jayawardana, or in full, Nararya Sanggramawijaya Sri Maharaja Kertarajasa Jayawardhana.

Lineage and Family

According to Nagarakretagama, Raden Wijaya is the child of Dyah Lembu Tal, the grandson of Mahisa Campaka or Narasinghamurti. His grandfather, Mahisa Campaka, is the son of Mahisa Wonga Teleng, the son of Ken Angrok and Ken Dedes, the founder of the Rajasa Dynasty, which later produced the kings of Singhasari and Majapahit. The manuscript praises Lembu Tal as a brave warrior and the father of Raden Wijaya.

From his genealogy, Wijaya is also the nephew of Kertanagara, a descendant of Anusapati, the son of Ken Dedes and Tunggul Ametung.

Marriage and Descendants

According to the inscriptions of Balawi (1305), Sukamerta (1296), and Kakawin Nagarakretagama, Raden Wijaya married four daughters of Kertanagara, the last king of the Singhasari Kingdom, namely Tribhuwaneswari, Narendraduhita, Jayendradewi, and Gayatri.

From this marriage, Wijaya had a son named Jayanagara with Tribhuwaneswari, and two daughters with Gayatri, namely Tribhuwana Wijayatunggadewi and Rajadewi Maharajasa.

Establishing the Village of Majapahit and the Death of Kertanagara

According to the inscription of Kudadu (1294), Lembu Tal (Raden Wijaya's father) is the son of Narasinghamurti. In 1292, there was a rebellion by Jayakatwang, the regent of Gelanggelang, against the Singhasari Kingdom. Raden Wijaya was entrusted by Kertanagara to suppress the Gelanggelang forces attacking from the north. Although he successfully repelled the enemy, a larger rebel force from the south managed to kill Kertanagara.

Faced with this threat, Dyah Wijaya fled and allied with Arya Wiraraja. They planned to reclaim the throne from Jayakatwang. Through clever tactics, Wijaya succeeded in opening the Tarik Forest in the east of Kadiri and establishing the Village of Majapahit, marking the beginning of the magnificent kingdom.

War Against Jayakatwang and the Mongol Invasion

In 1293, a Mongol force led by Ike Mese landed in Java to attack Kertanagara, who had injured the envoy sent by Kubilai Khan in 1289. Raden Wijaya seized this opportunity to destroy Jayakatwang. He allied with the Mongol forces and successfully defeated Jayakatwang in the Battle of Daha.

After this success, Wijaya betrayed the Mongol forces, killed them, and proclaimed himself the first King of Majapahit in 1293. His reign was marked by the appointment of his loyal supporters and internal conflicts.

Ranggalawe's Rebellion and the Murder of Lembu Sora

In 1295, Mahapati incited Ranggalawe to rebel, triggering the first civil war in Majapahit. After Ranggalawe's death, the kingdom was divided between Wijaya and Wiraraja. This rebellion was followed by the murder of Lembu Sora in 1300, creating an unstable atmosphere in the kingdom.

End of Life and Progeny

According to Nagarakretagama, Raden Dyah Wijaya passed away in 1309. He was buried in Antahpura and enshrined in Simping, Blitar, as Harihara, a fusion of Vishnu and Shiva. Jayanagara, his son, succeeded him as the next ruler of Majapahit.

Dyah Wijaya's Lineage

Family

Grandfather:

• Mahisa Campaka, son of Mahisa Wonga Teleng, son of Ken Angrok and Ken Dedes.

Parents

• Dyah Lembu Tal, son of Mahisa Campaka (Narasinghamurti), ruler of Kediri under Tumapel.

Queen Consort

• Sri Parameswari Dyah Dewi Tribhuwaneswari.

Concubines

• Sri Mahadewi Dyah Dewi Narendraduhita.
• Sri Jayendradewi Dyah Dewi Prajnaparamita.
• Sri Rajendradewi Dyah Dewi Gayatri.

Children

• With Indreswari, a son named Jayanagara.
• With Gayatri, two daughters, Tribhuwana Wijayatunggadewi and Rajadewi Maharajasa.