Mangkunegara IV

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, a daughter of Kanjeng Raden Adipati Sindureja, prime minister of Surakarta. ^[1] 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), cared for him like his eldest son.

The Pangeran Riya who was proclaimed as heir by the title Kanjeng Pangeran Harya Prabu Prangwadana, arranged his marriage at the age of 22 to Raden Ajeng Semi (born in 1744 AJ), six years his junior. She was his first cousin, the second daughter of Kanjeng Pangeran Harya Surya Mataram, son of Mangkunegara II by his concubine, Mas Ajeng Pujawati. By then, he was given the honorific name Raden Mas Harya Gandakusuma. She died upon birthing their fourteenth child, a daughter. Later, he was elevated by the princely title of Kanjeng Pangeran Harya Gandakusuma and took three concubines after her death.

Upon the death of his elder cousin, Mangkunegara III, in March 1853, he was named the heir by the name of Kanjeng Pangeran Harya Prangwadana IV, and later succeeded as Kanjeng Gusti Pangeran Adipati Arya Mangkunegara IV. He received a letter sent by Governor-General Albertus Jacobus Duymaer van Twist, dated April 16, 1853, granting his request to marry the daughter of the late Mangkunegara III born to his primary consort. In 1781 AJ, he wed her as his primary consort, titled as Kanjeng Bendara Raden Ayu Adipati Mangkunegara IV. Her maiden name was Gusti Raden Ajeng Dunuk (born in 1758 AJ), twenty years his junior. She was the mother of his successors, 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).^[2] 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.^[3]

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 (1802–1873), 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.^[4]

He is also credited with the composition of several ketawang, a gamelan musical form,^[5] including Puspawarna, which was included in the Voyager Golden Record sent to outer space in the 1970s.