TAKHTA YANG TERBELAH: Dua Raja di Keraton Solo

TRIBUNSOLO.COM - The Kasunanan Surakarta Palace was once again engulfed in a "civil war" following the death of its king, Sinuhun Pakubuwono XIII. Royal families clashed for the throne. The origin of this feud remained the same: the old conflict from 2004. Between Pakubuwono and Tedjo Wulan. The split between the two factions of brothers also stemmed from the death of the then king, PB XII, in June 2004. This was because, at that time, no crown prince had been appointed by PB XII before his death. The situation became a vacuum. Due to the vacuum, most of the extended families of the palace held a meeting, mediated by the traditional council (LDA). The LDA, led by PB XIII's younger sister, GKR Wandansari, then decided that Hangabehi had the right to become PB XIII. The reason was that he was the eldest son of the king's concubines. However, Hangabehi's status as a concubine's son, not the son of the queen, was questionable. Another concubine's son didn't accept this. He was KGPH Tedjo Wulan. Tedjo Wulan was younger than Hangabehi. However, his mother was an older concubine than Hangabehi's mother. He felt he was the most deserving. KGPH Tedjo Wulan finally declared himself Pakubuwono XIII on November 9, 2004. The protracted conflict prompted the government to intervene to try to reconcile. Government pressure and compromise forced Tedjo Wulan to give in. In exchange, he was given the position of Maha Menteri, or Prime Minister, second only to the King in the palace. Over? No. A new problem arose. The LDA now protested the king's and government's decision. According to the LDA, Tedjo Wulan should have been subjected to customary punishment first, for defying the legitimate king. He should not have been allowed to hold any official position in the palace. The LDA, which had initially aligned with Hangabehi and even appointed him as PB XIII, turned against each other. The LDA, which had previously supported the king, now turned against the LDA because it disagreed with Tedjo Wulan's appointment as a supreme minister. The conflict escalated after Hangabehi appointed his third wife, Asih, as queen consort. According to the LDA, Asih was not traditionally eligible to be queen consort because she married as a widow, not a single woman. Furthermore, the king also appointed his son, Purboyo, as crown prince. The LDA considered this a violation of palace custom, as the next king must be born to a mother with the status of permisuri. The long feud between the two sons of PB XII dragged on until the end of Hangabehi's life, or PB XIII's. Now, as PB XIV vies for the throne, the landscape of the Keraton conflict has shifted once again. The LDA and Tedjowulan, initially on opposite sides, have now aligned. They both disagree with Purboyo, whom PB XII has appointed as crown prince, becoming the next king. The LDA has nominated another son of PB XIII, Mangkubumi. When will the conflict in the Solo Keraton end?