History Of Banyuwangi

Referring to existing historical data along the history of Blambangan, 18 December 1771 was the oldest historical and therefore was decide as the birth day of Banyuwangi. Before the peak event Puputan Bayu war (Banyuwangi local language meaning the completed war in Bayu now Kecamatan Songgon), there was a heroic war, when Blambangan warriors lead by prince Puger (the Son Wong Agung Wilis) attacked VOC force in Banyualit in 1768.


However, unfortunately such event was not completely recorded in term of time (date), and there was an impression that attack resulted in the total defeat, while the enemy did not lose at all. In this incident, prince Puger died and after Lateng was destructed Wong Agung Wilis was sounded and cached and then thrown to Banda island. Based on Historical data, the name of Banyuwangi cannot be separated from Blambangan Kingdom. Since the era of prince Tawang Alun (1655-1691), prince Sasranegara, prince Mancanapua, prince Danureja (1691-1736) prince Danuningrat (1736-1763) and event when Blambangan occupied by Bali (17631767), VOC had never been interested in entering and managing power in Blambangan.

In 1743, Eastern part of Java (including Blambangan) was surrendered by Pakubuwono II to VOC, VOC felt that Blambangan had been belong to them. But for temporarily it was a “stock good ” that would be sometimes exploited when needed. Event when Danuningrat wanted the aid (VOC for escaping himself from Bali) VOC was still not interested in Blambangan in a lisle part of Banyuwangi (at that time it was called Tirtaganda, Tirtoarum, or Tuyoarum), then VOC suddently tried to annex banyuwangi as soon as possible and to secure all Blambangan Kingdom. Generally during the five year war (1767-1772), VOC attempted to annex Banyuwangi when at the time was developed as a trade center in Blambangan Kingdom dominated by British.

Finally, it is clear that the birth of a place, later on well known as Banyuwangi,
was a start from the big Puputan Bayu war. If British didn’t occupy Banyuwangi in
1766, perhaps VOC would not expand to Blambangan in 1767, and because of it, the Puputan Bayu war would not be happen ( at is concluded that there was a strong correlation between the Puputan Bayu war and birth of a place then called
Banyuwangi. In other words, the Puputan Bayu war is apart of the birth process of
Banyuwangi. Therefore, the determination of December 18, 1771 as the birthday of Banyuwangi is very reasonable.

The Legend Of Banyuwangi

The ruler of Blambangan Kingdom, raden Banterang, used to occupy his / neighboring countries in order to expand his territory, including to conquer Klungkung Kingdom of’ Bali. The outbreak of the Klungkung war had destroyed such a small country. The king of Klungkung was killed in the battlefield, yet his daughter and son were able to escape and hide in the jungle.

One day, Raden Banterang and his commanders were inspecting his district while going hunting. It was in the jungle that Raden Banterang met with a beautiful lady named Ida Ayu Surati. Then she was taken to Blambangan to be made his wife. Raden Banterang and Ida Ayu Surati used to enjoy happy life in the palace.

When Raden Banterang was going hunting, the lonely princess was surprised by the arrival of dirty beggar asking for her pity. ‘What a surprise the princess was to find that the beggar was no longer her older brother, Agung Bagus Mantra. She promptly squatted and embraced her brother’s legs. However, her great respect on her brother was not well accepted. Instead, she was tortured for she supposed to have betrayed her noble family.

Agung Bagus Mantra asked his sister to kill Raden Banterang, but such a request was rejected. At last, he was very much angry with her, and so that he had a sly idea to slander Raden Banterang

At first, Raden Banterang did not believe that his wife had made a scandal with other man. Yet because of Agung’s convincing words, he was finally very much influenced and therefore, his wife was dragged down to a small lake. Asking for compassion, Ida ayu Surati tried to tell the truth and denied her husbands accusation. Hearing his wife’s explanation, the king even became angrier and angrier. As a proof of her sacred love, she asked her husband to kill her. In her last request, she asked her husband to throw her dead body into river. She said that if the water in the river smelled no good, it means that she had ever been sinful, but it it smelled fragrant it means that she was innocent.

Raden Banterang who was no more able to control his emotion, soon stabbed his crease into his wife’s chess. She died instantly

The dead body of Ida Ayu Surati was quickly thrown down into the dirty river.
How shocked Raden Banterang was to find him self that the dirty water of the river suddenly changed to become clean, as plain as a glass, and smelled fragrant.
Raden Banterang screamed crazily and regretted his deed. He walked unsteadily
and fell down in one side of the river. Unconsciously he said, “Banyuwangi…
Banyuwangi , Banyuwangi !

Another legend of Banyuwangi was taken from the story of Sri Tanjung
Sidopekso. Once upon a time, a local ruler, King Sulahkromo, had a patih, R.Sidopekso. The wife of the patih, Sri Tanjung was so beautiful that the King desires her. In order to be able to seduce Sri Tanjung, the King ordered his patih on a mission that would take a long time to accomplish. During his absence, the King tried to court Sri Tanjung, without success. When R. Sidopekso returned, he went first to his ruler. The King, angry that his scheme had not succeeded, told the patih that during his absence his wife had been unfaithful to him. Sidopekso went home and confronted his wife with her alleged adultery. Her denial did not convince him of the contrary, and he announced that he was going to kill her. Sidopekso brought Sri Tanjung to a bank of the river, before he stabbed her to death, she prophesied that her innocence would be proven. And indeed, after haying slabbed his wife to death, thrown the dead body into the dirty river, and immediately the river became clean and began to spread a wonderful fragrant. Sidopekso said, Banyu … Wangi….. Banyuwangi, mean “Fragrant Water “. BANYUWANGI was born from the proof of Noble and Sacred Love.