Mongols In The Nusantara

Today I am thinking of events nearer to home associated with the Mongols....

When the Kediri Kingdom fell in 1222, Singosari became the new powerhouse in Java. In 1286, Prince Kertanegara, son of Vishnuvardhana, became king. He was well aware of the Mongol threat and reckoned that a united "Nusantara" was one way of facing the threat.

AS usual, Kublai Khan had sent a deligation to Kertanegara requesting acceptance of Mongol lordship. However, as the Mongols had just lost in Japan,Tongking and Champa, in 1289, Kertanagara siezed the Mongol delegates and returned them with wounded faces.

This had caused the wrath of Kubilai Khan and hence the Mongols made preparations for war. At the same time Kertanagara had just completed his "Pamalayu" expedition to extend his kingdom to the Malay Peninsular and West Borneo. He had rather expected the Mongol's response.

However, Kertanagara's power in Java had been toppled and the territories that were once his vassals took the opportunity to revolt. Kertanagara was eventually killed and by the time the Mongol armada reached Tuban, the enemy was no more!

Kertanagara left no son and the new crown prince was his son-in-law, Vijaya. Vijaya took the opportunity to acquire Mongol's assistance to retake the throne of Singosari by promising to accept Kublai Khan's lordship. The ploy worked. When the Mongol forces were broken up to perform new duties, Vijaya attacked the various groups one by one. The rest escaped and returned to China

King Vijaya later went on to establish the Majapahit Empire..........