System of Government

At the beginning, the system of government in Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat Sultanate consisted of two divisions, namely Parentah Lebet (internal affairs) or Parentah Ageng Karaton and Parentah Njawi (external affairs) or Parentah Nagari. The sultan topped both divisions. On everyday work, he was aided by a pepatih dalem (prime minister). In the early period each structure had four Kanayakan (departments). Parentah Lebet, thus, consisted of:

1. Kanayakan Keparak Kiwo (handling building maintenance)
2. Kanayakan Keparak Tengen (handling general works)
3. Kanayakan Gedhong Kiwo (handling the income)
4. Kanayakan Gedhong Tengen (handling the finance)

As for Parentah Njawi, it comprises:

1. Kanayakan Siti Sewu (handling land and property matters)
2. Kanayakan Bumijo (handling government political affairs)
3. Kanayakan Panumping
4. Kanayakan Numbak Anyar

Kanayakan Panumping and Numbak Anyar handled the defense affairs.

Every kanayakan was helmed by a Bupati Nayaka, who also held the position of military commander that would lead the sultanate troops in wartime.

For religious matters, there was a special body called Kawedanan Pengulon. This body dealt in particular with worship, royal mosques’ maintenance, royal religious ceremonies, and royal judicial affairs in the court of Islamic jurisdiction. Territory outside the capital was split into several administrative regions each governed by a senior officer entitled Bupati. They were then coordinated by a Pepatih Dalem, whose duties covered local administration, laws and judicial administration, tax collection, and crop distribution with the help of his subordinates, the Demangs and Bekels.

The status of Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat Sultanate, de facto, until 1792 was an independent state and the VOC came as partner in an equal relationship. The VOC assigned a resident (a Dutch official who heads a residency) in Yogyakarta to assure his position while at the same time, look out Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat Sultanate. The position of a resident was equal to that of a Pepatih Dalem. When Daendels occupied the seat of Governor General of Dutch-Indies, the position of resident was replaced by a minister who served as vice governor and representative of King or Queen of Holland.

The British’ arrival in 1812 had an immediate impact on the course of government. Through their representative, Governor General Raffles, the British issued a prohibition for the sultan to make any contacts with other states. Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat Sultanate itself, as a state, became a subject to British colonial government. Pepatih Dalem and Sultanate officials were assigned and ousted in accordance with the British’ needs. Sultan’s authority in administration was diminished to make way for the Pepatih Dalem, who was already under the control of the British.

A big change in the government took place after Sultan HB IX ascended to the throne in 1940, especially during Japanese occupation (1942-1945). The sultan slowly formed new ruling bodies to handle administrative duties the Japanese resigned. The bodies were called Paniradya and each unit was led by a paniradyapati, who was responsible not to the pepatih dalem, but directly to the sultan. This made it possible for the sultan to recover his power as the head of government.

Sultan HB IX halved the sultanate bureaucracy into internal affairs division and external affairs division. Internal affairs division was managed by a parentah ageng karatoni, who would coordinate all the bodies and offices within the palace. A relative or son of the sultan was usually the one who ruled and became head of this board. Sultan HB IX himself took charge of the external affairs office, which was formerly held by the pepatih in Kepatihan building (now Yogyakarta Governor office). However, to stay in control of the coordination and communication, the sultan moved the pepatih office from Kepatihan to the Royal Palace. The functions of the pepatih that had formerly been assigned to one person only were delegated to seven paniradya (ministries) directly responsible to the sultan.

In independence era, as a consequence of its decision to integrate with the Republic of Indonesia, Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat Sultanate’s status, position, and administration must comply with Indonesian constitution. The sultanate changed into a special administrative region with the sultan as the head. The sultanate has become part of the Unitary State of Republic of Indonesia ever since.

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