Dalem Ketut
Encyclopedia
Dalem Ketut was a king of Bali
who ruled at an uncertain time during the age of the Javanese Majapahit Empire (1293-c. 1527). While first a vassal ruler under the Majapahit kings, he later emerged as the king of a separate island realm. He was also known under the names Sri Smara Kepakisan or Tegal Besung.
According to the 18th-century chronicle Babad Dalem
, Dalem Ketut was the youngest son of the immigrant Javanese Sri Aji Kresna Kepakisan
, who was established as Majapahit vassal after the Javanese conquest of Bali in 1343. When his father died he was succeeded in his palace in Samprangan
by his eldest son Dalem Samprangan
, while Ketut spent his time as a gambler. Since Dalem Samprangan quickly proved incompetent to rule, Ketut was persuaded to take royal titles and establish a new palace (puri
) in Gelgel
, close to the south coast. The old Samprangan palace lapsed into obscurity, while the power and prestige of Gelgel rose.
The Babad Dalem chronicle relates that Dalem Ketut twice visited Majapahit, at the first occasion meeting the king Hayam Wuruk
(1350–1389). The account is anachronistic, since it is also asserted that Dalem Ketut was alive at the time when Majapahit collapsed, an event historically dated in the early 16th century. Through this event, Bali remained as a daughter kingdom of Majapahit, a condition which still has a deep symbolic significance for the self-perception of the Balinese
. At the end of his life Dalem Ketut was visited by a Brahmin
from Kling (India
) who recognized the face of the king as the same as the countenance of Mahadewa, the God of the mountain Gunung Agung. The priest prophesized the death of Dalem Ketut, which occurred in a supernatural way; the king disappeared without leaving a trace. He left six sons, of whom Dalem Baturenggong
succeeded to the throne. The anachronisms in the traditional accounts makes it difficult to establish his historical status, but if he survived the fall of Majapahit he would have flourished in the early 16th century.
Bali
Bali is an Indonesian island located in the westernmost end of the Lesser Sunda Islands, lying between Java to the west and Lombok to the east...
who ruled at an uncertain time during the age of the Javanese Majapahit Empire (1293-c. 1527). While first a vassal ruler under the Majapahit kings, he later emerged as the king of a separate island realm. He was also known under the names Sri Smara Kepakisan or Tegal Besung.
According to the 18th-century chronicle Babad Dalem
Babad Dalem
Babad Dalem is a historical account from Bali, Indonesia, which exists in a large number of versions of varying length. The title may be translated as "Chronicle of Kings", although the Balinese babad genre does not quite accord to Western-style chronicles...
, Dalem Ketut was the youngest son of the immigrant Javanese Sri Aji Kresna Kepakisan
Sri Aji Kresna Kepakisan
Sri Aji Kresna Kepakisan was a king of Bali who governed the island under the suzerainty of the Javanese Majapahit Empire . He is supposed to have ruled in the mid-14th century, and to be the ancestor of the later kings of Bali...
, who was established as Majapahit vassal after the Javanese conquest of Bali in 1343. When his father died he was succeeded in his palace in Samprangan
Samprangan
Samprangan, also spelt Samplangan, is a historical site on Bali, Indonesia. It is situated about one kilometer to the east of Gianyar town. According to Balinese historical tradition, it was the first residence of the dynasty of kings of Bali who descended from the Javanese Majapahit Empire, being...
by his eldest son Dalem Samprangan
Dalem Samprangan
Dalem Samprangan was a king of Bali who governed under the suzerainty of the Javanese Majapahit Empire , and belonged to a dynasty of immigrants from Java...
, while Ketut spent his time as a gambler. Since Dalem Samprangan quickly proved incompetent to rule, Ketut was persuaded to take royal titles and establish a new palace (puri
Puri
Puri is district headquarter, a city situated about south of state capital Bhubaneswar, on the eastern coast of the Bay of Bengal in the Indian state of Orissa. It is also known as Jagannath Puri after the Jagannath Temple . It is a holy city of the Hindus as a part of the Char Dham pilgrimages...
) in Gelgel
Gelgel
Gelgel may refer to:*Gelgel, Chad, a city in Chad*Gelgel, Indonesia, a village on the island of Bali, and a former kingdom...
, close to the south coast. The old Samprangan palace lapsed into obscurity, while the power and prestige of Gelgel rose.
The Babad Dalem chronicle relates that Dalem Ketut twice visited Majapahit, at the first occasion meeting the king Hayam Wuruk
Hayam Wuruk
Hayam Wuruk, also called Rajasanagara, , was a Javanese King and the fourth monarch of Majapahit empire. Together with his prime minister Gajah Mada, he reigned the empire at the time of its greatest power. He was preceded by Tribhuwana Wijayatunggadewi and succeeded by his son in law...
(1350–1389). The account is anachronistic, since it is also asserted that Dalem Ketut was alive at the time when Majapahit collapsed, an event historically dated in the early 16th century. Through this event, Bali remained as a daughter kingdom of Majapahit, a condition which still has a deep symbolic significance for the self-perception of the Balinese
Balinese people
The Balinese population of 3.0 million live mostly on the island of Bali, making up 89% of the island's population. There are also significant populations on the island of Lombok, and in the eastern-most regions of Java The Balinese population of 3.0 million (1.5% of Indonesia's population) live...
. At the end of his life Dalem Ketut was visited by a Brahmin
Brahmin
Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
from Kling (India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
) who recognized the face of the king as the same as the countenance of Mahadewa, the God of the mountain Gunung Agung. The priest prophesized the death of Dalem Ketut, which occurred in a supernatural way; the king disappeared without leaving a trace. He left six sons, of whom Dalem Baturenggong
Dalem Baturenggong
Dalem Baturenggong, also called Waturenggong or Enggong, was a King of Bali who is believed to have reigned in the mid 16th century. He is in particular associated with the golden age of the Balinese kingdom of Gelgel, with political expansion and cultural and religious renovation...
succeeded to the throne. The anachronisms in the traditional accounts makes it difficult to establish his historical status, but if he survived the fall of Majapahit he would have flourished in the early 16th century.