He was the fifth son of Pakubuwana II, born to his queen consort, Kanjeng Ratu Mas, on February 25, 1732, at Kartasura Palace. His parents were first cousins; his mother was the youngest daughter of Pangeran Adipati Purbaya, younger brother of Amangkurat IV. His birthname was Raden Mas Gusti Suryadi, also known as Raden Mas Surat, Uret, and Sembada, later named Raden Mas Gusti Suryakusuma, then Kanjeng Gusti Pangeran Adipati Anom. He succeeded his father at the age of eighteen in 1749.
Pakubuwana III ascended the throne on 15 December 1749, succeeding his father, who was critically ill at the time. His appointment followed a controversial deathbed mandate from Pakubuwana II, which granted the Dutch East India Company (VOC) the authority to determine the royal succession. Consequently, he was formally installed as monarch by the VOC Governor, Baron von Hohendorff.
Rebellions
Resistance of Prince Mangkubumi
Upon his accession, Pakubuwana III inherited a fractured kingdom embroiled in a rebellion led by his uncle, Prince Mangkubumi, which had persisted since 1746. On 12 December 1749, the rebels had already proclaimed Mangkubumi as the rival "Pakubuwana III" at their stronghold, appointing Pangeran Sambernyawa as his grand vizier (patih).
By 1752, a rift developed between Prince Mangkubumi and Pangeran Sambernyawa. The Dutch East India Company (VOC) exploited this division by offering a separate peace to Mangkubumi.
Negotiations culminated in the Treaty of Giyanti on 13 February 1755. Under this landmark agreement, Mangkubumi was recognized as a sovereign ruler over half of Pakubuwana III's territories. Although Mangkubumi had previously claimed the title of Susuhunan, the treaty forbade him from using it. Following a memorandum of understanding on 23 September 1754, he officially adopted the title of Sultan with the regnal name Hamengkubuwana I and established the Yogyakarta Sultanate.
Consequently, the Mataram Sultanate was formally divided into two principalities: the Surakarta Sunanate under Pakubuwana III and the Yogyakarta Sultanate under Hamengkubuwana I.
Resistance of Pangeran Sambernyawa
Following the Treaty of Giyanti, Pangeran Sambernyawa felt betrayed by Mangkubumi and continued his resistance against both Pakubuwana III and Hamengkubuwana I. However, as his forces weakened, he agreed to negotiate with the VOC starting in 1756.
In March 1757, Sambernyawa declared his loyalty to the VOC, Surakarta, and Yogyakarta through the Treaty of Salatiga. He assumed the title of Mangkunegara I and was granted a portion of territory by Pakubuwana III, establishing the autonomous Mangkunegaran Regency (Kadipaten Mangkunagaran).
End of reign
The political weaknesses of Pakubuwana III caused tensions to rise across the island of Java. Rebel factions emerged, seeking to exert control over his administration. This volatile atmosphere persisted until his death on September 26, 1788.
Pakubuwana III was succeeded by his son, who reigned as Pakubuwana IV. The successor was regarded as a more capable and assertive ruler, particularly in his political decision-making.
Personal life
In 1673 AJ, by the time he was a crown prince, his father arranged him to marry Raden Ajeng Wuku, daughter of Adipati Cakraningrat, Regent of Madura. She was his first queen consort, styled as Gusti Kanjeng Ratu Kencana, and her mother was his paternal aunt, Gusti Kanjeng Ratu Madurêtna. Later, she was dismissed and sent back to Madura.
He was skilled in music, including being able to play bonang agêng. When there was a bedhaya performance, he often attended to play himself. He was captivated by a dancer, Bok Lara Bêruk or Mas Rara Bêruk, whom he elevated to the new queen consort, also named Gusti Kanjeng Ratu Kencana. The reason was that since her youth, her body was said to appear radiant every Friday and Tuesday Kasih nights, the glow was like a burnished gold (kencana). She was a commoner-born daughter of Kyai Ngabehi Jagaswara, later elevated to Tumenggung Wirareja.
Family
Queen consort, Gusti Kanjeng Ratu Kencana, maiden name Raden Ajeng Wuku
Raden Mas Gusti Suleman
Queen consort, Gusti Kanjeng Ratu Kencana, later queen dowager styled as Gusti Kanjeng Ratu Hageng
Gusti Kanjeng Ratu Madurêtna
Raden Mas Gusti Subadya, titled Kanjeng Gusti Pangeran Adipati Anom, later Pakubuwana IV
Raden Ajeng Gusti Supiyah
Married Raden Mas Slamet, titled Kanjeng Pangeran Harya Purbanegara, son of Mangkunegara I
Raden Mas Gusti Tala, titled Kanjeng Gusti Pangeran Harya Mangkubumi
Raden Mas Gusti Sayidi, titled Kanjeng Gusti Pangeran Harya Buminata
Raden Ajeng Gusti Salimah, titled Gusti Kanjeng Ratu Timur
Concubine, Mas Ajeng Rêtna Asmara or Mas Ajeng Dhurak
Bendara Raden Ajeng Botor, titled Gusti Kanjeng Ratu Alit
Married Kanjeng Pangeran Harya Prabu Hamijaya, son of Mangkunegara I
Concubine, Mas Ayu Rêtna Di
Bendara Raden Ajeng Sêntul
Married Raden Sumawijaya, elevated to Raden Mas Tumenggung Harya Kusumadiningrat
Concubine, Mas Ayu Rêtnasari
Bendara Raden Mas Dhubêl, titled Bendara Kanjeng Pangeran Hangabehi
Bendara Raden Ajeng Jumilah
Married Martapura
Married Kyai Kasan Besari
Married Kanjeng Pangeran Harya Padmanagara
Concubine, Mas Ayu Rêsminingsih
Bendara Raden Ajeng Jêmprit
Married Raden Sumadiwirya, elevated to Raden Mas Tumenggung Harya Wiryadiningrat, Bupati of Ponorogo
Concubine, Mas Ayu Rêtnadiwati
Bendara Raden Ajeng Kabibah
Married Kanjeng Raden Adipati Jayaningrat
Concubine, Mbok Ajeng Wiled
Bendara Raden Mas Sukarya, titled Bendara Kanjeng Pangeran Harya Pamot, elevated to Bendara Kanjeng Pangeran Panembahan Jurumartani
↑Frederick & Worden 1993, The Dutch on Java, 1619–1755: "The war continued until 1755, when the Treaty of Giyanti was signed, recognizing Pakubuwana III (r. 1749–88) as the ruler of Surakarta and Mangkubumi (who took the title of sultan and the name Hamengkubuwana) as the ruler of Yogyakarta."
Frederick, William H.; Worden, Robert L., eds. (1993). "The Dutch on Java, 1619—1755". Indonesia: A Country Study. Washington: GPO for the Library of Congress.
Miksic, John N. (general ed.), et al. (2006) Karaton Surakarta. A look into the court of Surakarta Hadiningrat, central Java (First published: 'By the will of His Serene Highness Paku Buwono XII'. Surakarta: Yayasan Pawiyatan Kabudayan Karaton Surakarta, 2004) Marshall Cavendish Editions Singapore ISBN981-261-226-2
