Pakubuwono X

Pakubuwono X (also transliterated Pakubuwana X, sometimes abbreviated PB X; Surakarta, 29 November 1866 – Surakarta, 22 February 1939) was, despite his regnal name, the ninth Susuhunan (Monarch) of Surakarta. He reigned from the 1893 to 1939, making him the longest reigning Sunan in the history of Surakarta.

He officially succeeded his father, the eighth Sunan, as monarch two weeks after his father died on March 30, 1893.

He was designated a National Hero of Indonesia for his role in the independence movement.

Birth
His birth name (asma timur) was Raden Mas Sayyidin Malikul Kusna, son of Pakubuwono IX and his wife Kanjeng Raden Ayu Kustiyah.

Politics
His reign corresponded with the political changes happening in the Dutch East Indies at the time, in particular the growth of local indigenous political organizations such as Budi Utomo and Sarekat Islam of which he and the royal family were patrons.

Family
Pakubuwono X was known to have many concubines, but his main consort was GKR Hemas, the daughter of Sultan Hamengkubuwono VII of Yogyakarta. He was also known major contributor to improvements at the Royal Graveyard of Imogiri, where he is buried.

Royal consorts

 * 1) Gusti Kanjeng Ratu Pakubuwana born as Gusti Bendara Raden Ajeng Sumarti, daughter of Mangkunegara IV by his principal consort, Kanjeng Bendara Raden Ayu Mangkunegara IV (Bendara Raden Ajeng Dunuk).
 * 2) Gusti Kanjeng Ratu Hemas born as Gusti Raden Ajeng Mursudariyah, daughter of Hamengkubuwana VII by his principal consort, Gusti Kanjeng Ratu Kencana.

Notable royal concubines

 * 1) Kanjeng Raden Ayu Adipati Sedahmirah
 * 2) Kanjeng Raden Ayu Himbarukmi
 * 3) Kanjeng Raden Ayu Riya Suwanda I
 * 4) Kanjeng Raden Ayu Mandayaratna
 * 5) Kanjeng Raden Ayu Ratnapurnama
 * 6) Kanjeng Raden Ayu Riya Mandayarana
 * 7) Kanjeng Raden Ayu Kiranarukmi I
 * 8) Kanjeng Raden Ayu Pradaparukmi
 * 9) Kanjeng Raden Ayu Kiranarukmi II
 * 10) Kanjeng Raden Ayu Riya Suwanda II
 * 11) Kanjeng Raden Ayu Riya Ruyastuti
 * 12) Kanjeng Raden Ayu Suprabhurukmi
 * 13) Kanjeng Raden Ayu Widiastuti
 * 14) Kanjeng Raden Ayu Adipati Tasik Wulan

Notable Sons

 * 1) Bendara Raden Mas Antasena son of KRAy. Mandayaratna, styled as Kanjeng Gusti Pangeran Harya Hangabehi, then Pakubuwana XI.
 * 2) Bendara Raden Mas Abimanyu son of KRAy. Ratnapurnama, styled as Kanjeng Gusti Pangeran Harya Kusumayudha. Married to Gusti Kanjeng Ratu Hangger, daughter of Hamengkubuwana VII by his principal consort, Gusti Kanjeng Ratu Hemas.
 * 3) Bendara Raden Mas Sudhira son of KRAy. Pradaparukmi, styled as Gusti Pangeran Harya Suryahamijaya.
 * 4) Bendara Raden Mas Subandana son of KRAy. Kiranarukmi II, styled as Gusti Pangeran Harya Jatikusuma. He was the first Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Army.

Notable Daughter

 * 1) Gusti Bendara Raden Ajeng Menuk Kinasih daughter of KRAy. Ratnapurnama, styled as Gusti Bendara Raden Ayu Ratna Purwasa then Gusti Bendara Raden Ayu Adipati Paku Alam. Married to Paku Alam VII of Yogyakarta.
 * 2) Gusti Raden Ajeng Kustiyah daughter of GKR. Hemas, styled as Gusti Kanjeng Ratu Pembayun.

Motorcar
The monarch loved motorcars. In 1894 His Majesty purchased a Benz Victoria Phaeton for a staggering 10,000 guilders, which for comparison purpose, the same amount of money was at the time, could only be obtained by a common manual labourer in three centuries time of labor. This, while proving himself as one of the richest monarch of the land at the time, made him the first person to own a car within the territory of Dutch East Indies, preceding by two years from the first car ownership in the Netherlands.

the first public sight of the car is said, due to the car's ability to move by itself without being drawn by horses, left the general mass in such state of fear and awe, that it was nicknamed Kereta Setan (literal translation demonic carriage). The iconic benz still survives to this day, but was taken out of the country for Amsterdam Motor Show in 1924, presumably after the monarch relinquished the ownership, where it remains in the country to this day as part of an exhibition in a Museum,

This in effect made the monarch regarded as a pioneer of the automobile industry in Indonesia, all the while His Majesty continued to expand the growing collection of motorcars, often luxury limousines with big seating capacities to accommodate his big families and entourages while travelling, with some cars is said to still survive in the royal garage, though the condition remains to be a mystery.

Death and funeral train


After PB X's death, his coffin was transported between Surakarta and Yogyakarta by a NIS train. The remaining journey between Yogyakarta and Imogiri was by royal carriage. His coffin's trip to Imogiri was one of the most photographed royal funeral processions of rulers of his era.