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| Pakubuwono VI | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | |||||
| Susuhunan of Surakarta | |||||
| Reign | 1823–1830 | ||||
| Predecessor | Pakubuwana V | ||||
| Successor | Pakubuwana VII | ||||
| Born | Bendara Raden Mas Sapardan (1807-04-26)26 April 1807 Surakarta,Surakarta Sunanate | ||||
| Died | 2 June 1849(1849-06-02) (aged 42) Ambon,Moluccas | ||||
| Burial | Kapingsangan Tomb,Imogiri Royal Cemetery, Imogiri,Yogyakarta Sultanate | ||||
| Spouses |
| ||||
| Issue | Pakubuwana IX | ||||
| |||||
| House | Mataram | ||||
| Father | Pakubuwana V | ||||
| Mother | Kanjeng Raden Ayu Sasrakusuma | ||||
Pakubuwono VI (26 April 1807, inSurakarta,Central Java – 2 June 1849, inAmbon,Moluccas) (also transliteratedPakubuwana VI) was the fifthSusuhunan (ruler) ofSurakarta from 1823 to 1830 when he was deposed by the Dutch and exiled.
Born as Raden Mas Sapardan on 26 April 1807, he was the son ofPakubuwana V and his wife, KRAy. Sasrakusuma. Through his mother's lineage, he was a descendant ofKi Juru Martani, the firstpatih (prime minister) in the history of theMataram Sultanate.
Raden Mas Sapardan ascended the throne asPakubuwana VI on 15 September 1823, ten days after the death of his father, at the age of 16.[1]
Pakubuwana VI was a supporter ofPrince Diponegoro, who led a rebellion against theYogyakarta Sultanate and theDutch East Indies government starting in1825. However, as a monarch bound by treaties with theDutch, Pakubuwana VI attempted to conceal this alliance.
To prevent their meetings from being detected by the Dutch, the two leaders employed various stratagems. One such tactic was themimis kencana strategy, where they feigned mutual hostility and engaged in staged combat to mislead Dutch intelligence. Another was thecandradimuka strategy—named after a location inGatotkacawayang mythology—which served as a cover for secret meetings to discuss military maneuvers against the colonial forces.[2]
Prince Diponegoro reportedly infiltrated theSurakarta Palace on several occasions to deliberate with Pakubuwana VI regarding the political stances of theMangkunegaran andMadura. Upon the arrival of Dutch officials, they would stage a conflict, concluding with Diponegoro "fleeing" the palace premises.[1]
Throughout theJava War, Pakubuwana VI maintained a double game. While providing clandestine aid and support to the rebels, he also dispatched troops to ostensibly assist the Dutch. The renowned poetRanggawarsita claimed that, in his youth, he had been a member of these "theatrical" military units.
TheDutch forces eventually capturedPrince Diponegoro on 28 March1830. Following this, they turned their attention toward Pakubuwana VI. Dutch suspicion had been fueled by his persistent refusal to cede severalSurakarta territories to the colonial government.
In an attempt to secure evidence against the monarch, the Dutch arrested the court scribe, Mas Pajangswara (the father ofRanggawarsita). As a member of the anti-DutchYasadipura family, Pajangswara refused to disclose the secret correspondence between Pakubuwana VI and Prince Diponegoro. He subsequently died under brutal torture, and his body was reportedly cast into the sea by the Dutch authorities.[1]
On 8 June 1830, Pakubuwana VI was arrested in Mancingan by the Resident of Yogyakarta, Van Nes, and Lieutenant Colonel B. Sollewijn. Fearing that his presence would incite further rebellion, the Dutch decided to exile him fromJava. He was deported toAmbon on 8 July 1830.[2]
The Dutch misinformation campaign regarding these events later strained the relationship between Pakubuwana VI's son,Pakubuwana IX, and Pajangswara's son,Ranggawarsita. At the time of his father's exile, Pakubuwana IX was still in the womb. The throne of Surakarta subsequently passed to Pakubuwana VI's uncle, who reigned asPakubuwana VII.[2]
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Pakubuwana VI died inAmbon on 2 June 1849. According to official Dutch reports, his death was the result of an accident during a sea excursion.
In 1957, his remains were relocated from Ambon to theImogiri royal graveyard, the ancestral burial complex for the monarchs ofMataram. During the exhumation of his grave, evidence emerged indicating a hole in Pakubuwana VI's skull, specifically in the forehead. According to an analysis by General GPH Jatikusumo (a son ofPakubuwana X), the hole was consistent with the caliber of a Baker rifle bullet.
Based on the positioning of the wound, it is widely concluded that Pakubuwana VI did not die by suicide or an accidental mishap at sea. It is strongly suspected that the anti-colonial ruler was assassinated by a gunshot to the head.
| Preceded by | Susuhunan of Surakarta 1823–1830 | Succeeded by |
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