The Beautiful Lady From Java Island, Roro Mendut

Roro Mendut

In Cikal Bay (Teluk Cikal), there lived a fisherman's daughter named Rara Mendut. She was a beautiful girl. Rara Mendut was also known as a girl with a firm stand. She did not hesitate to reject the men who came to propose to her because she already had a future husband, a handsome village boy named Pranacitra, the son of Nyai Singabarong, a wealthy merchant.

One day, news of Rara Mendut's beauty was heard by Adipati Pragolo II. The Duke of Pati intended to make her his concubine. He persuaded her many times, but Rara Mendut still refused. Feeling let down, Adipati Pragolo II sent some of his guards to kidnap Rara Mendut.

That day, while Rara Mendut was drying fish on the beach by herself, a deputy from Adipati Progolo came.

"Come on, pretty girl, come with us to the palace!" the guards exclaimed as they pulled Rara Mendut's hands roughly.

"Let go of me!" cried Rara Mendut as she struggled, "I don't want to be Adipati Pragolo's concubine. I already have a lover!"

The guards didn't care about Rara Mendut's whimpering. They continued to drag the girl onto the horse and take her to the palace. As a potential concubine, Rara Mendut was kept in the Pati Palace under the care of a court lady named Ni Semangka with the assistance of a younger court lady named Genduk Duku.

While Rara Mendut was in seclusion, there was turmoil in the Kadipaten of Pati. Sultan Agung accused Adipati Pragolo II of being a rebel for refusing to pay tribute to the Mataram Sultanate. Sultan Agung led the attack on the Kadipaten of Pati.

Sultan Agung was unable to injure Adipati Pragolo II because the Duke of Pati wore a kere waja (armor) that was impervious to any weapon. Seeing this, the Sultan's umbrella-wielding servant Ki Nayadarma said,

" Pardon, Gusti Prabu. Please allow me to face Adipati Pragolo!" Ki Nayadarma pleaded as he bowed.

"Alright, Abdiku. Use this spear of Baru Klinting!" said the Sultan.

Armed with the heirloom spear Baru Klinting, Ki Nayadarma immediately attacked Adipati Pragolo II. However, his attack was repelled by Adipati Pragolo II. When the duke was caught off guard, Ki Nayadarma quickly stabbed the Baru Klinting heirloom into the part of the duke's body that was not protected by armor. Duke Pragolo II was killed instantly.

Meanwhile, the soldiers commanded by the Mataram warlord, Tumenggung Wiraguna, immediately seized the assets of the Kadipaten of Pati, including Rara Mendut. Tumenggung Wiraguna was immediately mesmerized when he saw Rara Mendut's beauty. He took Rara Mendut to Mataram to be his concubine.

Tumenggung Wiraguna repeatedly persuaded Rara Mendut to become his concubine, but she always refused. In fact, in front of the commander, she dared to openly declare that she already had a lover named Pranacitra. Rara Mendut's stubbornness angered Tumenggung Wiraguna. Tumenggung Wiraguna threatened Roro Mendut.

Rara Mendut was not deterred by the threat. She would rather pay the tax than become Tumenggung Wiraguna's concubine. Because she was still under the surveillance of Mataram soldiers, Rara Mendut then asked permission to sell cigarettes in the market. Tumenggung Wiraguna agreed. As it turned out, her cigarettes sold well, and people were eager to buy Rara Mendut's puffed cigarette butts.

One day, while selling at the market, Rara Mendut met Pranacitra who had come to look for her lover. Pranacitra tried to find a way to escape Rara Mendut from Mataram. Upon arriving at the palace, Rara Mendut told Princess Arumardi, one of Wiraguna's concubines, about her meeting with Pranacitra in the hope of helping her get out of the palace. Rara Mendut knew very well that Putri Arumardi did not agree with Wiraguna adding another concubine.

Putri Arumardi and Wiraguna's other concubine Nyai Ajeng devised a plan to get Rara Mendut out of the palace. Together with Pranacitra, Rara Mendut tried to return to her hometown in Kadipaten Pati.

Unfortunately, Rara Mendut and Pranacitra's escape was discovered by Wiraguna. The couple was finally found by Wiraguna's soldiers. Rara Mendut was brought back to Mataram, while secretly, Wiraguna ordered his trusted servants to kill Pranacitra. As a result, Rara Mendut's lover was killed and buried in a remote forest in Ceporan, Gandhu Village, located approximately 9 kilometers east of Yogyakarta City.

After Pranacitra's death, Tumenggung Wiraguna again persuaded Rara Mendut to become his concubine. However, his efforts remained in vain, the beautiful girl still refused. The Commander did not run out of ideas. He then told Rara Mendut about Pranacitra's death.

How surprised Rara Mendut was when she arrived at the place where Pranacitra was buried. She screamed hysterically in front of her lover's grave.

"Kanda, don't leave Dinda!" cried Rara Mendut.

"Never mind, Mendut! There's no point in mourning the dead," said Wiraguna, "Come on, let's leave this place!"

Rara Mendut got up and followed Tumenggung Wiraguna while continuing to cry. Before they left the cemetery, Rara Mendut was furious and threatened to report Wiraguna's actions to the King of Mataram, Sultan Agung.

"You are very bad. I will report your actions to the King of Mataram so that you will be punished accordingly!" threatened Rara Mendut.

Instantly, Tumenggung Wiraguna became very angry. He then grabbed Rara Mendut's hand to take her home. However, the girl refused and struggled to break free. Once her hand was free, she pulled Tumenggung Wiraguna's kris that was tucked into her waist. Rara Mendut then ran towards her lover's grave. The commander tried to catch up with her.

"Stop, Mendut!" he shouted.

Arriving at Pranacitra's grave, Rara Mendut intended to commit suicide. However, it was too late. Rara Mendut had stabbed his stomach with the kris he was carrying. Her body immediately collapsed and died beside her lover's grave. Seeing this, Tumenggung Wiraguna felt very sorry for his actions.

Regret was useless because everything had already happened. To make amends, Tumenggung Wiraguna buried Rara Mendut in the same grave as Pranacitra. Such is the story of Rara Mendut's struggle to maintain her pride and loyalty.

-End-