Mataram

Mataram is a medieval state that existed on the territory of modern Indonesia in 732-1043 , in the central and eastern part of Java Island.

Mataram temple near Prambanan

The state of Mataram was founded by a feudal lord, Saivaya Saiva . In the middle of the 8th century, the Buddhist dynasty of the Shailendra came to power in the country.

The middle and second half of the eighth century was the heyday of temple construction. It was during this period that the largest monument of medieval Indonesian architecture was created - the Borobudur Buddhist stupa.

The ruler of Mataram had the title “Srimaharaj” and ruled the country, appointing his governors ( cancer ) to various areas. The monarch was deified; He was considered the embodiment of a supreme deity, a Shaivist or Buddhist.

In 832, a Shivaist dynasty founded by Sindok came to power in the country. At the beginning of the tenth century, the center of Mataram was moved to East Java . During this period, the main trading and foreign policy partners of Mataram were the island of Bali and the Moluccas . Under the ruler Erlang ( 1019-1045 ), an attempt was made to subjugate all of Java , uniting it within the boundaries of a single centralized state.

In 1006, Mataram was seriously affected by the eruption of the largest Merapi volcano on the island of Java .

In the struggle for supremacy at sea, Mataram’s interests clashed with the intention of the Sumatran state of Srivijaya to control the sea trade routes from South-East to East Asia . In the war of 992 - 1006, Mataram was defeated, but in 1030 Srivijaya was forced to acknowledge the predominance of Mataram in eastern Indonesia . In the 40s of the XI century, Mataram was divided into 2 states - Kediri and Jangal.