Hamengkubuwono X


Hamengkubuwono X is the Sultan of the historic Yogyakarta Sultanate in Indonesia. Since 1998, he has also served as Governor of the Special Region of Yogyakarta.
Hamengkubuwono X succeeded his father, Hamengkubuwono IX, as the Sultan of Yogyakarta when Hamengkubuwono IX died on 3 October 1988. Hamengkubuwono X was formally installed as Sultan on 7 March 1989. However, the position of the Governor of the Yogyakarta Special Region did not go to Hamengkubuwono X. Vice Governor Sri Paku Alam VIII, prince of the subordinate enclave of Paku Alaman within Yogyakarta, was instead controversially elevated to the position of governor. This was contrary to the agreement made at the time of Indonesia's independence in recognition of Hamengkubuwono IX's support and role in the Indonesian War of Independence. Under the agreement, the Sultan holds the position of governor in the Yogyakarta Special Region, and the Paku Alam holds the position of vice governor.
On 30 August 2012, following a decade of talks between Yogyakarta and the central government, the national legislature of Indonesia formally enshrined in law the convention that the Sultan inherited the position of governor.

Biography

Hamengkubuwono X's parents were Sultan Hamengkubuwono IX and his wife Raden Ajeng Siti Kustina. He was a graduate of Public Administration at the Faculty of Law, [Gadjah Mada University|Faculty of Law] of Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta. He was active as Chairman of the Indonesian [Chamber of Commerce and Industry] of the Special Region of Yogyakarta, Chairman of the Sports Committee of the Special Region of Yogyakarta, chairman and managing director of PT Punokawan Construction, and President of the PG Madukismo Commissioner. In July 1996, he was appointed Chairman of the Special Region of Yogyakarta Expert Council to the Governor.
Hamengkubuwono X followed the tradition of his late father, Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono IX, in the spirit of Indonesian nationalism over self-interest. He participated in street protests in support of the May 1998 student demonstrations opposing Suharto's rule, and like his father, wanted to be a pioneer in the Yogyakarta Reformation Movement, albeit in a non-violent manner. He was also one of the four key figures in the early reform period that sparked the Ciganjur Declaration, urging the government to hold elections as soon as possible. This was because President B. J. Habibie had neither constitutional nor legal rights to take over the presidency from Suharto, who had just resigned.
Hamengkubuwono X has stated his vision for his region and the Sultanate is the development of science and technology, agriculture, tourism, and world-famous cultural industries, thus providing a fair and prosperous life to all his citizens. He was nominated, by popular choice, to the Golkar Yogyakarta Assembly as a presidential candidate for the 2009 Indonesian presidential election campaign. Hamengkubuwono X, though widely respected across all parties and nationwide as neutral, honest, and uncorrupted, was ultimately unable to garner support outside Central Java and attain a first-round voting position.
In 2010, he formed Nasional Demokrat together with Surya Paloh, which later became the NasDem Party. Hamengkubuwono X later left the organization before the political inception, unhappy with its transformation into a political party.

Personal life

Hamengkubuwono X has discontinued the polygamist tradition of Javanese monarchs having several wives and possibly multiple concubines, as per his late father's wishes to modernize the royal system. He is married to Queen Hemas. Together, they have five daughters: Crown Princess Mangkubumi, Princess Condrokirono, Princess Maduretno, Princess Hayu, and Princess Bendoro. His decision to appoint his eldest daughter as heir presumptive ended the previously agnatic primogeniture succession and has become subject to controversy.
Hamengkubuwono X resides in the Keraton Yogyakarta complex and uses the Governor's mansion solely for political affairs.

Titles and honours

Titles

In Javanese Kraton, the names of individuals change with respect to a change in status:
  • From birth until marriage: Bendoro Raden Mas Herjuno Darpito
  • Post-nuptial until appointment as Crown Prince: Kanjeng Gusti Pangeran Harya Mangkubumi
  • As Heir Apparent Crown Prince: Kanjeng Gusti Pangeran Adipati Anom Hamengku Negara Sudibya Raja Putra Nalendra Mataram.
  • As Sultan: Ngarsa Dalem Sampeyan Dalem Ingkang Sinuwun Kangjeng Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono Senapati ing Ngalogo Ngabdurrokhman Sayidin Panatagama Khalifatullah ingkang jumeneng kaping X
His style and title in full English: 'His Majesty The Sultan Hamengkubuwono the Tenth, Commander-in-Chief in war, Servant of the Most Gracious, Cleric and Caliph that Safeguards the Religion'''''

National honours

Foreign honours