sultanate · Maritime Southeast Asia
Cirebon Sultanate
Origins
Cirebon grew as a port on the border between Javanese and Sundanese lands. Tradition says Prince Walangsungsang, son of the Sunda king, founded a settlement there around 1430 and embraced Islam. His nephew Syarif Hidayatullah, known as Sunan Gunung Jati, ruled from the late 15th century and broke away from the Sunda Kingdom.
Rule and society
Sunan Gunung Jati, one of the Wali Songo, allied with Demak and helped take Banten and Sunda Kalapa from Sunda. Cirebon's courts blended Javanese, Sundanese, Chinese and Islamic culture, visible in the Kasepuhan palace and its batik with cloud motifs. The port traded rice, timber and textiles.
Decline and legacy
In the 17th century Cirebon fell under the influence of the Mataram Sultanate. In 1677, with Banten's help, the realm was split between princes into the courts of Kasepuhan and Kanoman, which soon accepted Dutch protection. The palaces and their sultans survive as cultural institutions today.
Lineage
On the connections map
Open the full map →Connections (2)
- Cirebon Sultanate was a vassal of Sunda Kingdom1430 CE – 1482 CE
- Cirebon Sultanate was a vassal of Mataram Sultanate1617 CE – 1677 CE
More states of Maritime Southeast Asia →
Cite this page
- APA
- The Epoch Institute. (2026). Cirebon Sultanate. In The Epoch Institute States Register. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/cirebon-sultanate
- MLA
- “Cirebon Sultanate.” The Epoch Institute States Register, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/cirebon-sultanate. Accessed .
- Chicago
- The Epoch Institute. “Cirebon Sultanate.” The Epoch Institute States Register. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/cirebon-sultanate.
- Harvard
- The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Cirebon Sultanate’, The Epoch Institute States Register. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/cirebon-sultanate (Accessed: ).
Last reviewed October 2026Random state ↻