The fall of Majapahit

After reaching its peak in the 14th century, Majapahit power gradually weakened. After his death in 1389 Hayam Wuruk, Majapahit entered a period of decline due to conflict throne. Hayam Wuruk is heir to the crown Kusumawardhani daughter, who married his own cousin, the prince Wikramawardhana. Hayam Wuruk also have a son of his concubine Wirabhumi are also demanding their right to the throne. Civil war called the War Paregreg estimated to occur in 1405-1406, between Wirabhumi against Wikramawardhana. The war was finally won by Wikramawardhana, semetara Wirabhumi arrested and later beheaded. This civil war seems to weaken the control of Majapahit of areas across the conquests.

In the period Wikramawardhana government, a series of naval expedition led by the Ming Dynasty admiral Zheng He, a Muslim general of China, arrived in Java several times between the period 1405 to 1433. Since 1430 the expedition of Cheng Ho has created China and Arab Muslim communities in some port city north coast of Java, such as in Semarang, Demak, Tuban, and Ampel; then Islam was beginning to have a foothold on the northern coast of Java.

Wikramawardhana ruled until 1426, and continued by his daughter, Queen Suhita, who reigned in the year 1426 until 1447. He was the second daughter of a concubine who Wikramawardhana second daughter also Wirabhumi. At 1447, and died Suhita followed by Kertawijaya government, his younger brother. He reigned until 1451. After Kertawijaya died, Bhre Pamotan became king and reigned with a degree in Kahuripan Rajasawardhana. He died in 1453 AD. Three-year time lag occurs without the king's succession crisis takhta.Girisawardhana, Kertawijaya son, ascended the throne in 1456. He later died in 1466 and was replaced by Singhawikramawardhana. In the 1468 revolt against the prince Kertabhumi Singhawikramawardhana and install himself as king of Majapahit.
When Majapahit was founded, Muslim traders and missionaries had begun to enter the archipelago. At the end of the 14th century and the beginning of the 15th century, the influence of Majapahit in the archipelago began to decrease. At the same time, a new trading empire based on Islam, the Sultanate of Malacca, began to emerge in the west of the archipelago. In the western part of this crumbling empire, Majapahit was unable longer to stem the rise of the Malacca Sultanate in the mid-15th century began to control the Strait of Malacca and expanding his power to Sumatra. In the meantime some of the Majapahit empire and conquered areas in other parts of the archipelago, one by one began to break away from the power of Majapahit.

Wikramawardhana ruled until 1426, and continued by his daughter, Queen Suhita, who reigned in the year 1426 until 1447. He was the second daughter of a concubine who Wikramawardhana second daughter also Wirabhumi. At 1447, and died Suhita followed by Kertawijaya government, his younger brother. He reigned until 1451. After Kertawijaya died, Bhre Pamotan became king and reigned with a degree in Kahuripan Rajasawardhana. He died in 1453 AD. Three-year time lag occurs without the king's succession crisis takhta.Girisawardhana, Kertawijaya son, ascended the throne in 1456. He later died in 1466 and was replaced by Singhawikramawardhana. In the 1468 revolt against the prince Kertabhumi Singhawikramawardhana and install himself as king of Majapahit.
When Majapahit was founded, Muslim traders and missionaries had begun to enter the archipelago. At the end of the 14th century and the beginning of the 15th century, the influence of Majapahit in the archipelago began to decrease. At the same time, a new trading empire based on Islam, the Sultanate of Malacca, began to emerge in the west of the archipelago. In the western part of this crumbling empire, Majapahit was unable longer to stem the rise of the Malacca Sultanate in the mid-15th century began to control the Strait of Malacca and expanding his power to Sumatra. In the meantime some of the Majapahit empire and conquered areas in other parts of the archipelago, one by one began to break away from the power of Majapahit.

                        

A display of ship models Majapahit diMuseum Negara Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Singhawikramawardhana kingdom moved the capital farther inland in Daha (the former capital of Karachi) and continued to rule there until succeeded by his son Ranawijaya in the year 1474. In the 1478 defeat Ranawijaya Kertabhumi and reunite into a single kingdom of Majapahit. Ranawijaya ruled during the period 1474 to 1519 with a degree Girindrawardhana. Despite this strength has been weakened by the conflict Majapahit dynasty and started the rise of Islamic kingdoms in the north coast of Java.
The expiration of the Majapahit Empire in the period ranging from 1478 (in 1400 saka, the end of the century is considered as the usual change of dynasty and the end of a government by the year 1527.

In Javanese tradition there is a kronogram or candrasengkala which reads ilang kretaning earth vanished. This is supposedly a year sengkala end of Majapahit and should be read as 0041, the year 1400 Saka or 1478 AD. Sengkala meaning is "gone gone prosperity of the earth". However, the truth is illustrated by the death of Bhre candrasengkala Kertabumi, the 11th king of Majapahit, by Girindrawardhana.

According to the inscription Jiyu and Petak, Ranawijaya admitted that he had defeated Kertabhumi and moved the capital to Daha (Karachi). This incident sparked a war between the Sultanate of Demak Daha, because the rulers were descendants Kertabhumi Demak. Demak won this battle in 1527. A large number of palace servants, artists, clergy, and members of the royal family fled to the island of Bali. This displacement is most likely to avoid retaliation and punishment of Demak due to their support during this fight Ranawijaya Kertabhumi.

With the fall of Daha who was destroyed by Demak in 1527, the power of the Islamic empire at the beginning of the 16th century finally beat the rest of the kingdom of Majapahit. Demak under the reign of Prince (later Emperor) Fracture (Fatah), recognized as the successor to the kingdom of Majapahit. According to Babad Tanah Jawi and Demak tradition, the legitimacy of Raden Patah because he is the son of the king of Majapahit UB V with a Chinese princess.

      
Historical records of Chinese, Portuguese (Tome Pires), and Italy (Pigafetta) indicates that there has been a transfer of power from the hands of the Hindu Majapahit into the hands of the Duke of Unus, the ruler of the Sultanate of Demak, between the years 1518 and 1521 M.
Demak ensure its position as a regional power and became the first Islamic kingdom in Java stand. It was after the fall of Majapahit, the rest of the surviving Hindu kingdom in Java Blambangan only royal residence on the east end, and the Sunda kingdom which had its capital at Pajajaran in the west. Islam slowly began to spread as people retreat to the mountains and the Hindu Bali. Some pockets of the Hindu Tengger people are still survive in the mountainous Tengger Bromo and Semeru region.

Saifuddin / 7310040006