Who s Raden Patah s Identity? Searching Early Demak History.

Source: Tirto ID.

Who s Raden Patah? Is it true he is Demak  Sultanate s founder? Or he only fiction character? Is it true he is son from King Of Majapahit? I trust, are questions often out in Javanese History Study, but I try answer are questions with primary source.

In primary source, Suma Oriental,  that written by Portuguese messenger, Tome Pires when he visit Java, at 1513 AD, tell the ruller of Demak named Pate Rodin, an Javanese knight and nobleman, his grandfather is slave from Gresik who serve Duke Of Demak, and Duke Of Demak send him to seize Cirebon,  Tome Pires record, Pate Rodin has 40 junk  and he succeded conquer Sindang Laut ( today Jepara, Central Java)

Historian Hanafi Wibowo suspect, Pate Rodin and Raden Patah is same person, but, according legend, include Babad Tanah Jawi,  Raden Patah is son from King Of Majapahit, Brawijaya and his wife from China, and, in Suma Oriental, Tome Pires doesn’t tell, who s Pate Rodin s father, only his grandfather.

Manuscript Of Sajarah Banten  (1662/1663 AD) tell a character who identic with Pate Rodin, Cu Cu Sumangsang/ Arya Sumangsang. He is son from Chinese father and he pointed as viceroy at Demak, Central Java. Emperor Of Majapahit send him to attack Ki Dilah, ruler of Palembang who rebel to Emperor Of Majapahit, and he succeded defeat Ki Dillah in duel, Emperor Of Majapahit give him his daughter for married by him.

According Sajarah Banten, Demak attack Kingdom Of Majapahit and kill King Of Majapahit, It is aproriate with primary source Suma Oriental, that tell Demak and his aliance including Jepara and Tidunan fight againt remnant of Majapahit Empire, Dayo, Dayo lead by his king, Batara Virgiajaya and Guste Pateh Amdura as prime minister.

Majapahit  has collapsed in 16 TH Century and replace by Hindu Kingdom Of Dayo ( Daha).  But, Dayo still Majapahit descedant, according Inscription of  Petak ( 1486 AD), Majapahit destroyed by Girindrawardhana Dyah Ranawijaya.  Majapahit collepse because rampant civil war, Girindrawardhana seize Majapahit from King Bhre Kertabumi at 1400 Saka, In manuscript Of Pararaton ( according Historian Heri Purwanto maybe written at 1481 AD, at era of Girindrawardhana Dyah Ranawijaya, Bhre Kertabumi is die at his palace, if connected by Inscription Of Jiyu, most likely Girindrawardhana Dyah Ranawijaya attack Bhre Kertabumi and kill him, and he found a new kingdom at Daha.

In my opinion, King Of Majapahit who become  Arya Sumangsang s in law maybe Bhre Kertabumi and Bhre Kertabumi ousted by Dyah Ranawijaya, who in Suma Oriental  called  Batara Virgiajaya,  Arya Sumangsang, Raden Patah, and Pate Rodin is many name for one person and I trust he is son law from Majapahit King, not his son, because Babad Tanah Jawi written too far from incident, according  Historian Adi Deswijaya, written in era of Pakubuana III, at 18 th century.

If we follow Suma Oriental and Sadjarah Banten, Raden Patah is not Demak s founder, only one of rullers, and he is son in law from Majapahit King, who became Duke Of Demak and he doesn’t accept his in law ousted tyranically.

Whatever it is, Early Demak History need more archaeologist proof to answer question who s Demak founder and why Demak s condition before Islamic Kingdom Age? But, from there, we know, Raden Patah in primary source, Suma Oriental,  and Sadjarah Banten  more different from Babad Tanah Jawi  s version.

Recommendation book/journal:
Riclefs, M.C.: Sejarah Indonesia Modern 1200-2004,  Penerbit Serambi, 2005 M.

Graaf, H.J, dan T.H.Pigeaud: Kerajaan Islam Di Jawa, Penerbit Grafiti, 1983 M.

Anonim, Pararaton , AAKG Culture.

Mardiansyah, Arian dan Nasution: Dinasti Girindrawardhana Dyah Ranawijaya Dalam Kajian Prasasti Petak Tahun 1486 M, Jurnal Avatara, Volume 11, No.1, Tahun 2021 M.

Juriah, Yuyun: Menelusuri Jejak Islamisasi Di Tatar Sunda Melalui Naskah Kuno, Jurnal Al-Tsaqafa, Volume 3, No.1, Januari, 2016 M.

Tjahjono, Basuki Daru: Majapahit Pun  Runtuh Karena Ulah Elit Politiknya, Berkala Arkeologi  Vol.24 No.1 , tanpa tahun.

Benarkah Babad Tanah Jawi Fiksi? - Historia, accesed 9 February 2024 , 08: 51 PM.