Kingdom of Karangasem

The **Kingdom of Karangasem** was a Hindu kingdom that developed in the year 1600 on the side of Bali. During its heyday, this kingdom had a vast territory up to the island of Lombok. After losing the war with the Netherlands in 1894, Karangasem came under the control of the Dutch East Indies government. After the independence of the Republic of Indonesia, Karangasem became Karangasem Tier II regent under the Bali Provincial government of Indonesia.

## History 
### Origin of name 
The name Karangasem actually comes from the words "Karang Semadi". Several notes containing the origins of the name **karangasem** are as expressed in the Sading C Inscription found in Geria Mandara, Munggu, Badung. It was further revealed that Mount Lempuyang in the northeast of Amlapura, was originally named *Adri Karang* which means Mount Coral.

In the inscription it is said that in the year *1072 Saka*, *the 12th of the half-bright month*, *Wuku Julungwangi in the month of Cetra*, Bathara Guru ordered one of his sons Sri Maharaja Jayasakti or Hyang Agnijaya to descend to Bali. The task carried out as quoted in the inscription reads "*...gumawyeana Dharma rikang Adri Karang maka Rahayuan ing Jagat Bangsul...*", which means "coming to Adri Karang to make a temple (Dharma) to provide inner and outer safety for Bali".

Hyang Agnijaya is said to have come together with his brothers, namely Sambhu, Brahma, Indra, and Vishnu at Adri Karang (Mount Lempuyang to the northeast of Amlapura city). Mount Lempuyang was chosen by Bathara Guru as a place to spread His love for the salvation of mankind.

In historical research into the existence of the temple, *Lempuyang* is connected with the words *lampu* which means chosen, and *Hyang* which means God (Bathara Guru, Hyang Parameswara). It was in Adri Karang that Hyang Agnijaya made Lempuyang Luhur Temple a place for meditation
(*Karang Semadi*). Gradually the name "Karang Semadi" changed to "Karangasem".

### Establishment of the Karangasem Kingdom 
In the 16th to 17th centuries, Karangasem was under the rule of Gelgel Kingdom, with the king I Dewa Karangamla who was based in Selagumi (Balepunduk). I Dewa Karangamla married the widow of I Gusti Arya Batanjeruk, the royal governor who staged a rebellion and was killed in Bungaya Village, with the condition that after their second marriage, the widow Batanjeruk's children would be the ruler. These conditions were agreed to and then I Dewa Karangamla's family moved from Selagumi to Batuaya. I Dewa Karangamla also had a son from another wife named I Dewa Gde Batuaya. The handover of power to the son of the widow Batanjeruk marked the beginning of the founding of the Karangasem Kingdom which was held by the Batanjeruk Dynasty.

### Expansion to Buleleng, Jembrana and Lombok and conquest of Karangasem by the Dutch 
 culture has also developed in Lombok.

### Colonial period 
#### Dutch occupation period 
 when receiving a visit from Governor General Dirk Fock in 1925.]]
 with his wife. The furniture at Puri Agung Karangasem that appears in the photo was a gift from Queen Wilhelmina from The Netherlands.]]
After the entry of the Netherlands, it also had an influence on government bureaucracy. In 1906 in Bali there were three types of government, namely:
* *Rechtstreeks bestuurd gebied* (direct government) covers Buleleng, Jembrana and Lombok
* *Zelfbestuurend landschappen* (self-government) are Badung, Tabanan, Klungkung and Bangli
* The *stedehouder* (representative of the Dutch government) are Gianyar and Karangasem

Thus, in the Kingdom of Karangasem, successive people who became *Stedehouder* (ruler) were I Gusti Gede Jelantik in 1894-1908, and *Stedehouder* I Gusti Bagus Jelantik who had the title Anak Agung Agung Anglurah Ketut Karangasem (Dewata in Maskerdam) in the years 1908-1950, who supervised 21 Punggawa, namely Karangasem, Seraya, Bugbug, Ababi, Abang, Culik, Kubu, Tianyar, Pesedahan, Manggis, Antiga, Ulakan, Banyakdem. By Decree Governor Generals of the Dutch Indies dated 16 December 1921 No. 27 Stbl. No. 756 of 1921, starting from January 1 1922, Karangasem's *Gouvernements Lanschap* was abolished, transformed into an autonomous region, directly under the Government of the Dutch East Indies, forming Karangasem *Raad* ' which is chaired by *Regent* I Gusti Bagus Jelantik, while as Secretary is held by *Controleur* Karangasem.

 while at Balai Maskerdam, main building of Puri Agung Karangasem, year 1949.]]
As *Regent*, I Gusti Bagus Jelantik still uses the title *Stedehouder*. The number of Punggawa which previously numbered 14 was reduced again to 8, namely: Rendang, Selat, Sidemen, Uangdem, Manggis, Karangasem, Abang, Kubu. By Decree Governor General of the Dutch Indies dated 4 September 1928 No. 1, the title *Stedehouder* was replaced with the title Anak Agung Agung Anglurah Ketut Karangasem. By Decree Governor General of the Dutch Indies dated 30 June 1938 No. 1 starting from 1 July 1938 he was appointed as *Zelfbestuur* Karangasem (head of self-help). Simultaneously with the formation of Karangasem's Zelfbestuur, starting from July 1, 1938, Zelfbestuur was also formed throughout Bali, namely Klungkung, Bangli, Gianyar, Badung, Tabanan, Jembrana and Buleleng, where the rulers of the self-swapraja (*Zelfbestuur*) were incorporated into a federation of kings called Paruman Agung.
* Anak Agung Agung Gede Putra Agung (as head of the large family of Puri Agung Karangasem, 2009-2023)

## Gallery 

File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM De stedehouder van Karang Asem zit samen met de regenten van Gianjar en Bangli TMnr 10001919.jpg|Anak Agung Agung Anglurah Ketut Karangasem with the king of Gianyar and Bangli.
File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Het waterpaleis bij Oedjoeng TMnr 60045218.jpg|Taman Ujung Sukasada in the year 1935. This park was built in 1909 on the initiative of Anak Agung Agung Anglurah Ketut Karangasem.
File:Ujung Water Palace - Main Building.JPG|Taman Ujung Sukasada in 2014, which has now become one of the mainstay tourist attractions of Bali Province.

## Related pages 
* Karangasem Regency

## References
## Other websites 
* Bali Provincial Government Site  
* History of the City of Amlapura as the Capital of the Karangasem Kingdom  
* Puri Karangasem Historical Society