It Began with Alas Mentaok

From a small community of poor court servants, Kotagede grew into the jewel of the Land of Java. The quake puts paid to it all.

August 8, 2006

LITERALLY, Kotagede means a big city, growing out of a small forest called Alas Mentaok. It was Ki Ageng Pemanahan who turned Alas Mentaok into a rich and prosperous city.

The story goes that Sultan Hadiwijaya, the ruler of Kerajaan Pajang, a Hindu kingdom in East Java, gave Alas Mentaok to Pemanahan at the end of the 16th century, as a gift for helping quell the rebellion of Arya Penangsang, Adipati (Regent) of Tuban.

Together with his son Sutawi

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