King of Solo, Pakubuwono XIII, Dies at 77 After Years of Palace Intrigue
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The King of the Surakarta Palace, SISKS pakubuwono (PB) XIII Hangabehi, passed away on Sunday, november 2nd, at the age of 77, marking the end of an era defined by both tradition and a protracted succession dispute.Born GRM Suryadi on June 28, 1948, as the eldest son of Pakubuwono XII, his path to the throne was far from assured, shadowed by a fierce rivalry with his half-brother.
A contentious Succession
The seeds of conflict were sown in June 2004 with the death of Pakubuwono XII, who died without naming a successor or designating an official queen consort. This created a power vacuum that quickly ignited a bitter struggle between Hangabehi and Kanjeng Gusti Pangeran Harya (KGPH) panembahan Agung Tedjowulan, both of whom laid claim to the title of Pakubuwono XIII.
Initially, a family consensus favored Hangabehi, with Tedjowulan publicly conceding the title. However, this fragile peace quickly unraveled. The tension escalated dramatically in September 2004 when supporters of Tedjowulan forcibly entered the Surakarta Palace, breaching it’s doors and resulting in injuries to nobles and courtiers present at the time.
Years of Division and Reconciliation
The ensuing “Twin Kings” conflict persisted for nearly eight years, deeply dividing the royal household and the wider community. The issue of dualism within the Solo Palace was finally addressed in 2012 through a reconciliation effort spearheaded by the solo City Government, than led by Deputy City Councilor Joko Widodo (Jokowi), alongside members of the DPR RI.
at a moment of prayer, Tedjowulan formally acknowledged Hangabehi’s rightful claim to the title of PB XIII. This marked a significant step towards healing the rift and restoring stability to the Surakarta Kasunanan.
A Life of Service and Succession
Beyond the palace walls, Hangabehi also pursued a career outside of royal duties, working at Caltex Pacific Indonesia in Riau before relocating to jakarta. Within the palace, he held several important positions, including Pangageng of the Surakarta palace Museum, and was honored with the Sri kabadya I Star by his father.
In February 2022, during the 18th Tingalan Dalem Jumenengan ceremony, PB XIII formally appointed his son, KGPH Purubaya, as the crown prince, bestowing upon him the title Kangjeng gusti Pangeran Adipati Anom (KGPAA) Hamangkunegara Sudibya Rajaputra Narendra Mataram, ensuring a continuation of the royal lineage.
News of the King’s passing initially spread through social media and messaging applications before being officially confirmed by a relative,Raden Ayu Febri Hapsari Dipokusumo,who simply requested prayers. A spokesperson for the Supreme Minister of the Surakarta Palace, KGPHPA Tedjowulan, Bambang Ary Wibowo, further confirmed the news, stating, “The body is still in the hospital in planning for being taken
