Just days after their father’s death, Purbaya publicly declared himself Pakubuwono XIV during the royal funeral procession on Nov 5. His supporters framed the move as a necessary step to avoid a leadership vacuum.
Others criticised the timing, saying royal succession should occur only after a 40- to 100-day mourning period and in coordination with the central government.
The split deepened on Nov 13, when the Extended Royal Family Council – which is aligned with Hangabehi – conducted a separate coronation ceremony naming him Pakubuwono XIV.
Two days later, Purbaya’s camp responded by holding a closed coronation ritual on Nov 15, reinforcing his competing claim.
The court’s approval of Purbaya’s name change has not been accepted by all factions.
Eddy Wirabhumi, executive chair of the Surakarta Palace Customary Council – which supports Hangabehi – said a civil lawsuit has been filed to challenge the decision.
“We are contesting the ruling,” Eddy said, as quoted by TribunSolo.
The lawsuit is scheduled for its first hearing on Feb 5.
A FAMILY DIVIDED
Purbaya has the backing of Gusti Timoer Rumbai, the eldest daughter of Pakubuwono XIII, who has insisted her father’s decision to appoint Purbaya as crown prince must be honoured.
“I must emphasise this, in 2022, Pakubuwono XIII formally appointed and inaugurated the crown prince. We are obliged to carry out that mandate,” she said in December, as reported by Metro TV.
On the other side, Gusti Moeng, a younger sister of the late king, has defended Hangabehi’s claim as the result of a broad family consensus.
“We believe that rights are given by God. Gusti Bei (Hangabehi), now Pakubuwono XIV, did not ask to be born older than Purbaya,” she said.
The palace stalemate has drawn intervention from the Indonesian government. Vice–President Gibran Rakabuming, a former mayor of Solo, and Culture Minister Fadli Zon have both attempted mediation. Solo is the popular colloquial name for Surakarta.
The Ministry of Culture has appointed Tedjowulan – the palace’s chief minister and the late king’s younger brother – as a caretaker and mediator. He was also given the responsibility of safeguarding the palace complex as a cultural heritage site.
Tedjowulan has previously criticised Purbaya’s early declaration to ascend the throne, arguing it violated palace custom – particularly because it was made even before the late king’s body was formally taken for burial.
This is not the first time the Surakarta Palace has seen internal fractures. A similar leadership split followed the death of Pakubuwono XII in 2004, and it took eight years – until 2012 – for the dispute to be resolved through a peace agreement.
The players in the previous dispute happen to be Tedjowulan and his older brother, the immediate past king.
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/indonesia-surakarta-palace-solo-king-succession-5896186
