kingdom · Maritime Southeast Asia

Kingdom of Gianyar

1770 CE – 1900 CE (approx.) · capital Gianyar

Central Balinese kingdom that chose Dutch protection in 1900 and whose princes at Ubud fostered Bali's modern arts.

Origins

Gianyar was founded around 1770 by a branch of the Dewa Manggis family, nobles linked to the senior court of the Kingdom of Klungkung, who established a palace at Gianyar in the fertile valleys between the Ayung and Pakerisan rivers. The kingdom expanded through the 18th and 19th centuries at the expense of its neighbours.

Rule and society

Gianyar was densely populated and rich in irrigated rice land, temples and craftsmen. Power was shared with branch lineages such as the princes of Ubud and Peliatan. In the 1880s it was shattered by wars with Klungkung and other courts, and its raja was briefly held captive by Klungkung before the kingdom was restored.

Decline and legacy

Seeking security, Gianyar accepted Dutch protection in 1900, retaining its dynasty as regents. Under colonial rule Ubud became the centre of a famous artistic revival, and Gianyar royals, including Ide Anak Agung Gde Agung, became Indonesian statesmen. It is now a regency of Bali.

Connections (1)

More states of Maritime Southeast Asia →

Cite this page
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). Kingdom of Gianyar. In The Epoch Institute States Register. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/kingdom-of-gianyar
MLA
“Kingdom of Gianyar.” The Epoch Institute States Register, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/kingdom-of-gianyar. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “Kingdom of Gianyar.” The Epoch Institute States Register. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/kingdom-of-gianyar.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Kingdom of Gianyar’, The Epoch Institute States Register. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/kingdom-of-gianyar (Accessed: ).

Last reviewed October 2026Random state ↻