Pakubuwono X

Pakubuwono X (also transliterated Pakubuwana X, sometimes abbreviated PB X; Surakarta, 29 November 1866 – Surakarta, 22 February 1939), despite his regnal name, was the ninth Susuhunan (Monarch) of Surakarta. He reigned from the 1893 to 1939, making him the longest reigning Sunan in the history of Surakarta.

He officially succeeded his father, the eighth Sunan, as monarch two weeks after his death on March 30, 1893.

He was designated a National Hero of Indonesia for his role in the independence movement.

Birth

His birth name () was Gusti Raden Mas Sayyidin Malikul Kusna, son of Pakubuwono IX by his queen consort, Gusti Kanjeng Ratu Pakubuwana. By the age of three years old, he was appointed as heir-apparent by the title of Kanjeng Gusti Pangeran Adipati Anom Hamengkunegara Sudibya Rajaputra Narendra ing Mataram.

Politics

His reign corresponded with the political changes happening in the Dutch East Indies at the time, in particular the growth of local indigenous political organizations such as Budi Utomo and Sarekat Islam of which he and the royal family were patrons.

Family

Pakubuwono X was known to have many concubines, but his main was GKR Hemas, the daughter of Sultan Hamengkubuwono VII of Yogyakarta. He was also known major contributor to improvements at the Royal Graveyard of Imogiri, where he is buried.

Royal consorts

Gusti Kanjeng Ratu Pakubuwana maiden name as Gusti Bendara Raden Ajeng Sumarti, daughter of Mangkunegara IV by his principal consort, Kanjeng Bendara Raden Ayu Mangkunegara.
Gusti Kanjeng Ratu Hemas maiden name Gusti Raden Ajeng Mursudariyah, daughter of Hamengkubuwana VII by his principal consort, Gusti Kanjeng Ratu Kencana.

Notable royal concubines

Kanjeng Raden Ayu Adipati Sedahmirah
Kanjeng Raden Ayu Himbarukmi
Kanjeng Raden Ayu Riya Suwanda I
Kanjeng Raden Ayu Mandayaratna daughter of Raden Mas Panji Sumotaruno, great-grandson of Pakubuwana III.
Kanjeng Raden Ayu Ratnapurnama daughter of Raden Mas Ngabehi Sutodiprojo, great-grandson of Pakubuwana III.
Kanjeng Raden Ayu Riya Mandayarana
Kanjeng Raden Ayu Kiranarukmi I
Kanjeng Raden Ayu Pradaparukmi
Kanjeng Raden Ayu Kiranarukmi II
Kanjeng Raden Ayu Riya Suwanda II
Kanjeng Raden Ayu Riya Ruyastuti
Kanjeng Raden Ayu Suprabhurukmi
Kanjeng Raden Ayu Widiastuti
Kanjeng Raden Ayu Adipati Tasik Wulan

Notable Children

Gusti Bendara Raden Ajeng Kusniyah daughter of KRAy. Sedahmirah, the eldest daughter, styled as Gusti Kanjeng Ratu Alit.
Bendara Raden Ajeng Antawati married to Raden Mas Harya Purwadiningrat.
Bendara Raden Mas Antasena son of KRAy. Mandayaratna, styled as Kanjeng Gusti Pangeran Harya Hangabehi, then Pakubuwana XI.
Bendara Raden Mas Abimanyu son of KRAy. Ratnapurnama, styled as Kanjeng Gusti Pangeran Harya Kusumayudha. Married to Gusti Kanjeng Ratu Hangger, daughter of Hamengkubuwana VII by his principal consort, Gusti Kanjeng Ratu Hemas.
Bendara Raden Mas Sayyid Samun styled as Bendara Kanjeng Pangeran Harya Natapura
Bendara Raden Ajeng Kusrahmaniyah daughter of KRAy. Ratnapurnama. Married to Kanjeng Raden Adipati Jayanegara, the Patih Dalem.
Bendara Raden Mas Sutandar died young.
Bendara Raden Mas Sudyanta styled as Bendara Kanjeng Pangeran Harya Natabrata.
Bendara Raden Mas Indrajit styled as Bendara Kanjeng Pangeran Harya Hadiwijaya.
Bendara Raden Ajeng Pergiwati died young.
Bendara Raden Ajeng Menuk Kinasih daughter of KRAy. Ratnapurnama, styled as Gusti Bendara Raden Ayu Ratna Puwasa then Gusti Bendara Raden Ayu Adipati Paku Alam. Married to Paku Alam VII of Yogyakarta.
Bendara Raden Ajeng Ratna Fatimah Married to Raden Mas Harya Suryadiningrat.
Bendara Raden Ajeng Siti Khadijah Married to Raden Mas Harya Purwanegara.
Bendara Raden Mas Sudhira son of KRAy. Pradaparukmi, styled as Gusti Pangeran Harya Suryahamijaya.
Bendara Raden Mas Subandana son of KRAy. Kiranarukmi II, styled as Gusti Pangeran Harya Jatikusuma. He was the first Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Army.
Gusti Raden Ajeng Kustiyah daughter of GKR. Hemas, styled as Gusti Kanjeng Ratu Pembayun.

Motorcar

The monarch loved motorcars. In 1894 His Majesty purchased a Benz Victoria Phaeton for a staggering 10,000 guilders, which for comparison purpose, the same amount of money was at the time, could only be obtained by a common manual labourer in three centuries time of labor. This, while proving himself as one of the richest monarch of the land at the time, made him the first person to own a car within the territory of Dutch East Indies, preceding by two years from the first car ownership in the Netherlands mainland.

the first public sight of the car is said, due to the car's ability to move by itself without being drawn by horses, left the general mass in such state of fear and awe, that it was nicknamed Kereta Setan (literal translation demonic carriage). The iconic benz still survives to this day, but was taken out of the country for Amsterdam Motor Show in 1924, presumably after the monarch relinquished the ownership, where it remains in the country to this day as part of an exhibition in Louwman Museum.

This in effect made the monarch regarded as a pioneer of the automobile industry in Indonesia. All the while His Majesty continued to expand the growing collection of motorcars, often luxury limousines with big seating capacities to accommodate his big families and entourages while travelling, with some cars is said to still survive in the royal garages in Surakarta, though the condition remains to be a mystery.

Death and funeral train

After PB X's death, his coffin was transported between Surakarta and Yogyakarta by a NIS train. The remaining journey between Yogyakarta and Imogiri was by royal carriage. His coffin's trip to Imogiri was one of the most photographed royal funeral processions of rulers of his era.