Following historical data concerning the background of Blambangan, Banyuwangi was shaped over the 18th of December, 1771. Before this Puputan Bayu War (Banyuwangi neighborhood language, meaning that the war fought at Bayu, today Kecamatan Songgon), there had been epic warfare, when Blambangan warriors lead with Prince Puger (the son of Wong Agung Wilis) assaulted the VOC induce in Banyualit at 1768.
Unfortunately, the date of the event was not listed, and there was a belief that the attack resulted in defeat. Still, the enemy didn’t lose in any respect. Historical records of the event are vague. It is known that during that battle, Prince Puger died. Wong Agung Wilis, taken and had been captured into Banda Island, following Lateng was destroyed. Based on historical data, the title Banyuwangi cannot be separated from the Blambangan Kingdom. Since the era of Prince Tawang Alun (1655-1691), Prince Sastranegara, Prince Mancanapua, Prince Danurejan (1691-1736), Prince Danuningrat (1736-1763) and also the time of occupation by Bali (1763-1767), the VOC had not been considering entering and controlling Blambangan.
In 1743, the eastern part of Java (Blambangan) had been surrendered by Pakubuwono II into the VOC. The VOC believed the Blambangan belonged to them. It has been temporarily regarded as a “stock great” that will be tapped when required. When Prince Danuningrat needed the assistance of the VOC contrary to Bali, the VOC was not considering Blambangan or the little part of Banyuwangi (at the time it was called Tirtaganda, Tirtoarum, or Toyoarum). Then abruptly fastened the kingdom of Blambangan, and the VOC tried to annex Banyuwangi. Throughout the year war (1767-1772), the VOC tried to annex Banyuwangi when it was a thriving center of commerce from the Blambangan Kingdom dominated by the British.
In the end, it is apparent that this place’s arrival, known eventually as Banyuwangi, started with the Puputan Bayu War. Possibly the VOC wouldn’t have annexed Blambangan in 1767 if the British had Banyuwangi at 1766, and the Puputan Bayu War wouldn’t have occurred. Thus, the 18th of December, 1771, is recognized as Banyuwangi’s birthday.
To enlarge his territory, Raden Banterang, the ruler of this kingdom of Blambangan, employed to occupy the neighboring areas. This Klungkung War’s epidemic ruined such a country. The king of Klungkung was killed in the battle. However, his son and daughter manage to escape and hide in the jungle.
One day, Raden Banterang and his commanders inspected his district while searching. It was the moment when Raden Banterang met a beautiful woman. She was shot to be his spouse. Ida Ayu Surati and Raden Banterang appreciated life in the palace.
The princess was amazed by the arrival of a beggar, asking for her shame if Raden Banterang searched one day. The princess was amazed to see that the beggar was her older brother, Agung Bagus Mantra. She embraced her brother’s legs and immediately squatted. However, her great respect for her brother was not well recognized. Instead, she had been tortured because she supposedly betrayed her family.
Agung Bagus Mantra requested his sister to kill Raden Banterang, but this type of request was refused. He was upset and came up with the idea that is sly to slander Raden Banterang.
Initially, Raden Banterang didn’t think his wife was involved in a scandal with another man. Yet because of Agung’s convincing words, he was eventually affected. His wife had been hauled down into a little lake. Asking for empathy, Ida Ayu Surati refused her husband’s accusation and tried to tell the facts. Hearing his spouse’s excuse, the king became angrier and angrier. As proof of her romance, she asked her husband. As a request, she requested her husband to throw her body into the lake. She explained that if the water in the river was dreadful, it meant that she had been, but if it smelled blossom, it meant that she was naive.
Raden Banterang, who had been unable to restrain his emotions, soon stabbed his keris (dagger) into his wife’s chest. She died instantaneously. The lifeless body of Ida Ayu Surati was thrown into the river. Raden Banterang was amazed to observe the river suddenly become clean, clear as glass with a smell. Raden Banterang regretted his deed and screamed. He hobbled and dropped into the river crying, “Banyuwangi, Banyuwangi, Banyuwangi!”
Still, another legend of Banyuwangi has been shot in Sri Tanjung Sidopekso’s narrative. This patih’s spouse, Sri Tanjung, was so beautiful that the king wanted her. Having the ability to seduce Sri Tanjung, his patih was ordered by the king. The king attempted with no success to courtroom Sri Tanjung. After R. Sidopekso returned and he went to his ruler. The king, upset that his strategy had not triumphed, told the patih that his wife was cheating during his absence. Sidopekso faced his wife and went to his residence. He wasn’t convinced, and he declared he was planning to kill her. Sidopekso attracted Sri Tanjung into this river’s bank. She prophesied her innocence could be shown before he chased her to death. The body then getting thrown to the river, and after having chased his wife, the lake started to disperse an odor and became sterile. Banyuwangi”. This means “bottled water.” Banyuwangi was created from the evidence of the love that was sacred and noble.
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