 | |
| Source: NUS Press. Book cover for Soul Catcher. |
Mangkunagara I (1726-1795) was one of the most flamboyant figures of 18th-century Java in Indonesia. A rebel from 1740 to 1757 and one of the foremost military commanders of his age, he won the loyalty of many followers.
He was also a devout Muslim of the Mystic Synthesis style and Javanese culture supporter. The 'halal bihalal' tradition of asking others for forgiveness during Eid in Indonesia is attributed to him.
His enemies—the Surakarta court, his uncle the rebel and later Sultan Mangkubumi of Yogyakarta and the Dutch East India Company (VOC)—were unable to subdue him, even when united against him.
In 1757 he settled as a semi-independent prince in Surakarta, pursuing his objective of as much independence as possible by means other than war.
Professor Ricklefs refers to sources in Dutch and Javanese—among them Mangkunagara I’s autobiographical account of his years at war, the earliest autobiography in Javanese so far known—to bring him to life. In doing so, he sheds much light on Java’s civil war of the mid-18th century, Islam and culture in Java.
"The Prince Sambĕr Nyawa is a very familiar name among Indonesians. However, our knowledge on his life and role as member of the Mataram royal family is very limited. The story of his character circulated is more of myths than a historical figure. This book convincingly provides readers a very rich biography of this flamboyant man based on first hand Javanese primary sources, including Sĕrat Babad Pakunĕgaran, and the VOC archives," said Oman Fathurahman,Professor of Philology at the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University of Jakarta, Indonesia.
"MC Ricklefs’ Soul Catcher is a rich and deeply textured portrait of Mangkunagara I (1726–95), a man who played a crucial role in in the history of 18th-century Java. Rickefs’ magisterial biography traces this prince’s life story, with an especially detailed history of the 15-year long military campaign he waged against the forces of the Dutch along with those of his various royal Javanese rivals.
"Ricklefs’ captivating narrative vividly displays his unparalled command and careful use of primary sources from both the Dutch colonial and the royal Javanese archives," added Nancy Florida, Professor of Javanese and Islamic Studies, University of Michigan.
This title is also part of the Asian Studies Association of Australia series.
Details:
Buy the book
Paperback, 432 pages
S$48