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Mongol invasion of Java

During the Mongol era, a large invasion fleet was sent to Java with over 20,000 soldiers by Mongol emperor Kublai Khan. This was a punitive expedition against Singhasari King Kertanegara who had disrespected the Mongols by tatooing on a Mongol messenger's face and refusing to pay tribute.

After defeating Srivijaya in Sumatra in 1290, Singhasari became the most powerful kingdom in the area. But Jayakatwang, the Adipati (Duke) of Kediri, a vassal state of Singhasari, had usurped and killed Kertanagara. Most of his relatives and former royal family members hated him. After being pardoned by Jayakatwang with the aid of Madura's regent, Arya Wiraraja; Raden Wijaya, Kertanegara's son-in-law, was given the land of Tarik timberland. He then opened that vast timberland and built a new village there. The village was named Majapahit, which was taken from a fruit name that had bitter taste in that timberland (maja is the fruit name and pahit means bitter).

When Mongolian Yuan army sent by Kublai Khan arrived, Wijaya allied himself with the army to fight against Jayakatwang. Once Jayakatwang was destroyed, Raden Wijaya forced his allies to withdraw from Java by launching a surprise attack. Yuan's army had to withdraw in confusion as they were in hostile territory. It was also their last chance to catch the monsoon winds home; otherwise, they would have had to wait for another six months on a hostile island.

RESOURCES:

• David Bor - Khubilai khan and Beautiful princesses of Tumapela 2006

SEE ALSO:

Yuan dynasty

Mongols

Kublai khan

Majapahit Empire

Java