Prince Mangkunegara IV, 4th Duke of Mangkunegaran (3 March 1811 â 2 September 1881) was the fourth ruler of Mangkunegaran, a principality based in Surakarta, Java, ruling from 1853 to his death in 1881. He was son-in-law of Mangkunegara III. His title before ascending was Prince Adipati Prangwedana III.
He was born on Sunday (Ahad) Legi, 8 Sapar Jimakir 1738 AJ as Bendara Raden Mas Sudira, seventh (third son) of Kanjeng Pangeran Harya Hadiwijaya. His mother was Gusti Raden Ayu Hadiwijaya (née Gusti Raden Ajeng Sekeli), younger daughter of Mangkunegara II born to his primary consort, Kanjeng Bendara Raden Ayu Adipati Mangkunegara II. He was taken by his grandfather, Mangkunegara II and nursed by his concubine, Mbok Ajeng Dayaningsih. By the age of 10, he was given to be raised by his elder cousin, the Pangeran Riya (the future Mangkunegara III).
He first marriage was to Raden Ajeng Semi, second daughter of Kanjeng Pangeran Harya Surya Mataram, son of Mangkunegara II by his concubine, Mas Ajeng Pujawati. She was then named as Raden Ayu Gandakusuma. She died upon birthing to their fourteenth child. At that time, he was still a commander in the Legiun Mangkunegaran by the name of Bendara Raden Mas Harya Gandakusuma.
A year after his ascension, he married for the second time to Gusti Raden Ajeng Dunuk, a daughter of Mangkunegara III by his primary consort. She was styled as Kanjeng Bendara Raden Ayu Adipati Mangkunegara. She was the mother of Mangkunegara V and Mangkunegara VI.
During his reign, the foundations of estate agriculture producing coffee and sugar were established, he became the first non-European to own sugar factories (De Tjolomadoe and Tasikmadu factory). The profits from the system were reinvested in the domains, instead of being sent abroad, as happened in many colonial situations; however, as typical for a less-developed economy, the inhabitants were dependent on the world price of these cash crops. He abolished the appanage system of compensating his retainers and officials and instead paid them salaries. Nevertheless, Mangkunegara IV had to deal with the Kingdom of Netherlands as well as the other rulers in central Java of the period. In 1857 and 1877, he was unable to reclaim land leased to European planters.
Mangkunegara IV's court is especially known for its contributions to the traditional arts. He himself was a prominent poet who collaborated with Raden Ngabei Ranggawarsita (1802âÂÂ1873), said to be the last of the great court poets. Mangkunegara IV's most famous poem is Wedhatama ("Exalted Wisdom"), which praises morality consistent with the mystical Islam of Java, in contrast to the more self-consciously Orthodox Islamic community.
He is also credited with the composition of several ketawang, a gamelan musical form, including Puspawarna, which was included in the Voyager Golden Record sent to outer space in the 1970s.