Article
The Reign and the Royal Authority in King Balitung’s Period (898-c.910): An Analysis of Old Javanese Inscriptions from the 9th and 10th Centuries
2015 Volume 2015 Issue 44 Pages 83-100
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2015 Volume 2015 Issue 44 Pages 83-100
In Central Java a number of religious foundations were built from the 8 th to 10th centuries. Inscriptions which originated from the 9 th and early 10th centuries mention that kings or officials with the titles Rake or Samgat founded a sīma. A sīma was a village or part of a village whose tax status was changed; for example, tax on artisans and traders was exempted. Previous studies suggest that the establishment of a sīma could have been a means by which the king controlled a Rake or Samgat and a temple.
This paper focuses on King Balitung’s reign and his attempts, in order to explain the process of the consolidation of royal authority and its historical background based on the analysis of the Old Javanese inscriptions. The paper also discusses the function of sīmas in Balitung’s reign with regard to this process.
The analysis of the inscriptions leads us to the conclusion that in Balitung’s reign there existed Rakes or Samgats who were acting on their own authority and initiative. This compelled Balitung to consolidate his authority. During Balitung’s reign establishing sīmas was one of the important means not only to control Rakes or Samgats and temples, but also to provide disaster relief and to increase trade activities. The means of the consolidation of royal authority are as follows: ( 1 ) legitimating himself as a rightful successor to previous kings, ( 2 ) ordering that all religious foundations in Java should be free of financial obligations, ( 3 ) proclaiming that he was superior to previous kings, ( 4 ) incorporating Hindu deities’ names into his title, and ( 5 ) choosing his successor during his reign. Apart from Balitung himself, only his successor Dakṣa was allowed to use a Hindu deity’s name in the title. By deciding on his successor, he was attempting to ensure stability in royal authority. The result of these attempts by Balitung may have been reflected in an increase in his establishment of sīma.
