Jakarta, IDM – Well-preserved, neat and tidy: such is the first impression one gets when setting foot at the Mangkunegaran Palace, Solo, Central Java. Erected in 1757, the Palace captures many historical moments. One of the most famous was during the leadership of Kanjeng Gusti Pangeran Adipati Arya (KGPAA) Mangkunegara I Raden Mas Said or Prince Sambernyawa, with his elite armed forces, called the “Legiun Mangkunegaran”.
The court’s armed forces were highly respected and feared in its era. These days, the headquarters, consisting of cavalry-artillery buildings to the east of the Mangkunegaran Palace, is still standing – a witness of how the military forces were already formed long before the Republic of Indonesia was established.
History of the Legiun Mangkunegaran Formation
Interviewed at the Mangkunegaran Palace, Kanjeng Gusti Pangeran Adipati Arya (KGPAA) Mangkunegara X Gusti Pangeran Haryo Bhre Cakrahutomo Wira Sudjiwo recounted how the genesis of the Legiun Mangkunegaran can be traced from Raden Mas Said’s military tradition. He and his guerrilla forces fought in many battles for many years.
“Valor is something that runs strong in Mangkunegaran, and its embryos have been formed since the struggle of KGPAA Mangkunegara I or Raden Mas Said in the early 19th century. His endeavor became a long journey with the troops, which was associated with the battles in that era,” said Bhre.
The Mangkunegaran Duchy was an autonomous kingdom with the right to build independent troops from the Sunanate (Kasunanan) of Surakarta, based on the Salatiga agreement in 1756. It also marked the time Raden Mas Said secured his title as KGPAA Mangkunegara I.
During his brief reign, from 1757- 1759, he established a military force, Praja Mangkunegaran, consisting of 12 professional units, 22 infantry units, cavalry and artillery, each of which had 44 members. This force was the provenance of the Legiun Mangkunegaran’s formation. “Over time, this embryo grew, during the KGPAA Mangkunegoro II era (1796-1835), into the Legiun Mangkunegaran,” explained Bhre.
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A historian of Solo, Heri Priyatmoko, mentioned that before the formation of the Legiun Mangkunegaran, Raden Mas Said’s guerrilla force was formed by recruiting guards, consisting of female and male prajurits (soldiers). “It can be said that the Legiun is a prototype of a modern military force. What becomes the historical basis is whether the Mangkunegaran had reliable troops that were not, or rarely, held by other kingdoms at that time. For example, the female guards. In the Mangkunegara I period, the guards consisted of women and men. They would later spread to other areas of authority, such as Karanganyar and Wonogiri,” explained Heri.
Heri added that female guards were an anomaly in the feudal era; it was unconventional, yet they were able to keep it going. Even before coming to power, Mangkunegara I had already applied hit-and-run tactics, attacking the enemy and quickly retreating.
“This was evident when they survived the eight years of simultaneously fighting against the three powers: the colonial, Hamengkubuwono I and Paku Buwono I. Even the British Army under Thomas Stamford Raffles once used around 800 Legiun Mangkunegaran soldiers to attack the Yogyakarta Palace, on June 19-20, 1812,” said Heri.
Established amid local political turmoil between the Javanese kingdoms and the Dutch East Indies colonial government, the Legiun Mangkunegaran was customarily called in to handle conflicts demanding military force. It was once involved in the Napoleonic Wars against England in 1811, the crackdown on pirates in Bangka in 1819-1820, Java War in 1825-1830, Aceh War in 1873-1904 and the Pacific War against Japan in 1942. The Legiun Mangkunegaran was able to survive until the era of Mangkunegara VII, stretching from 1916-1944.
Becoming a French-Dutch Javanese Military Service
When a war broke out in Europe, and the Netherlands fell to France, Napoleon Bonaparte sent Herman Willem Daendels to defend the Dutch East Indies, especially Java, from the British. Daendels endeavored in various ways to protect Java. He built many war installations, such as forts, barracks, ammunition depots and roads connecting cities on the north coast of Java. In addition, Daendels gathered troops from small kingdoms in Java, one of which was Mangkunegaran.
Bhre said that through a decree or besluit on July 29, 1808, the Legiun Mangkunegaran was founded, inspired by Napoleon Bonaparte’s modern army, the Grande Armee (Grand Army). “The decree stipulated that the Legiun Mangkunegaran would be part of the joint military service of French-Dutch-Javanese to fight the British, and appointed KGPAA Mangkunegara II to become a legion leader, with the rank of colonel,” he elaborated.
While receiving the Dutch East Indies colonial government’s patronage, the Legiun Mangkunegaran played two roles: an auxiliary unit for the Royal Netherlands East Indies Legion (KNIL) and a tool to maintain security in the Mangkunegaran region. “At that time, the Legiun Mangkunegaran’s forces included 1,150 soldiers, divided into 800 infantries (fusiliers), 200 cavallerie en (equestrian), 100 jagers (invaders) and 50 rijdende artillerie (cannon) soldiers,” said Bhre.
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Javanese-European Acculturation
Mangkunegaran Palace thrived through a golden era, due to the production of Tjolomadu and Tasikmadu Sugar, which successfully dominated the world export market during the KGPAA Mangkunegaran IV administration in 1853-1881. The economic development resulted in the quality and quantity improvement of the Legiun Mangkunegaran. This can be seen from the formation of the Soldad Sekul or Soldier School in 1855, which applied European military traditions by translating various instructions into Javanese. The instructions were recorded in a book called “Layang Pranatan Soldad Sekul”.
There was one figure contributing to the translation of the soldier’s manual, Carl Friedrich Winter; he was a close friend of KGPAA Mangkunegaran IV from a young age. Based on the instructions, the Legiun Mangkunegaran Legion Troops exercised a training system similar to the European military curriculum. The Legiun Mangkunegaran even invited Dutch and French military officers to specifically train his troops to use sharp weapons, such as swords, spears, firearms and cannons. They used to train at a purpose built field for marching, arms and equestrian training. Headquarters were also built in the cavallerie-artillerie building.
Instructions for the soldiers used the Javanese language, with borrowings from Dutch. For example, purwares mares (voorwarts mars) means to forward march; geswindepas (gezwinde pas) means to quick march; and gewonepas (gewone pas) to march at normal speed. These indigenous soldiers were also introduced to the European system of awards and ranks, such as fusilier, corporal, major and sergeant.
At that time, acculturation occurred from the transfer of knowledge and military technology. The Legiun was not only associated with traditional weapons but was also influenced by knowledge and the ability to learn about modern weapons in the era,” said Bhre.
Acculturation in the Legiun Mangkunegaran also occurred in combat strategies or tactics introduced by European instructors. Previously, the mainstay combat tactic was to form two lines of infantry soldiers, functioning as an opening attack by discharging weapons at the enemy forces in turns. These soldiers then retreated to be replaced by cavallerie en soldiers as the main attackers.
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“With the European influence, the rijdende artillerie attack was used as part of the opening attack, especially if the enemy forces were larger in numbers. Cavallerie en became the decisive attack to separate, encircle and pursue the enemy. Then, infantry troops would be used when the enemy started to approach. This strategy was effective in reducing casualties and increasing fighting efficiency,” said Bhre.
Regardless of European influence and modernization, Bhre asserted that the soldiers still upheld the values of nationalism, by obeying their leaders’ orders and prioritizing their duties and solidarity with their fellow soldiers. Nationalism here refers to the land where the legion is stationed, the Duchy of Mangkunegaran.
“Also, the esprit de corps originated from Mulat Sarira Angrasa Wani, meaning introspection. Every soldier of the Legiun Mangkunegara was trained to have valor and reflect on his strengths and weaknesses. Courage and self-reflection are noble qualities that should be set as an example amid the bustle of today’s life,” encouraged Bhre.
Meanwhile, Heri added that Mangkunegara IV created the book Serat Tripama, a Javanese language book about the story of wayang characters. The book indoctrinated the Legiun’s soldiers into building patriotism and a sense of pride in the Mangkunegaran people.
“The learning is through marching, but their hearts must be convinced. They would think that marching was only physical. Yet, the Javanese scrips targeted their hearts and minds to have love and nationalism for Mangkunegaran through wayang characters. Again, this demonstrated Mangkunegara IV’s intellect to approach the Legiun through their hearts and minds. Mangkunegaran also cared not only about the soldiers but also their families. When they retired, they would receive a pension allowance and monthly pension payment. The welfare of military personnel in that era was already well taken care of,” said Heri. (Bunga Permata & Ricardo Ronald)