By Baron Henri Estramant.
His Majesty Sultan Hamengkubuwono X of Yogyakarta (b. 2 April 1946) appointed his eldest child out of five daughters, Gusti Kanjeng Ratu Pembayun, as heir apparent to the throne of Yogyakarta at the beginning of May 2015.
The 69-year old 10th Sultan, who ascended the throne in March 1989, issued a sabdaraja (Sultan’s proclamation) making Pembayun crown princess and giving her the title “Gusti Kanjen Ratu Mangkubumi”. The sabdaraja was issued during a closed procession at the keraton (Sultan’s Palace), attended by just a few members of the Sultanic House and some abdi dalem (royal servants).
The decree itself was issued in response to deliberations by the Yogyakarta Legislative Council (DPRD I) on a special draft bylaw regarding the posts of governor and deputy governor in Yogyakarta province. Deliberations have continued since early February, and councillors had not agreed on whether the governor and deputy governor ought to be males as implied in Article 18 of Law No. 13/2012 on Yogyakarta’s special status. Article 18 (c) of the same law also states the governor and deputy governor are automatically the ruling Sultan of Yogyakarta and the Duke of Pakualaman respectively.
Sultan Hamengkubuwono X discontinued polygamy for Yogyakarta’s Ruling House, and is married thus only to Queen Hemas. They have five daughters, of whom the eldest is now heiress apparent.
Crown Princess Pembayun is a graduate from the University of Brisbane in Australia, is married to Kanjeng Pangeran Haryo Prince Wironegoro, and is mother to one son and a daughter. She has served as president director and president commissioner of PT Madu Baru, PT Mataram Mitra Manunggal, PT Yogyakarta Tembakau Indonesia and PT Yarsilk Gora Mahottama.
The Kartasura Dynasty rules over Yogyakarta since 1755. Should Gusti Kanjeng Ratu Pembayun one day ascend the throne, she would become the very first queen regnant in Yogyakarta and only of one few women rulers in a Muslim state.
Yogyakarta enjoys the status of “Special Administrative Region” (Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta); headed by a hereditary monarch, and making it the only surviving realm within the Republic of Indonesia. The Sultan likewise serves as 3rd Governor of Yogyakarta.
For more information
Palace of Yogyakarta (keraton): http://www.indonesia-tourism.com/yogyakarta/keraton.html
