kingdom · Maritime Southeast Asia
Singhasari
Origins
Ken Arok, a commoner turned ruler of Tumapel, overthrew Kertajaya of the Kediri Kingdom at the Battle of Ganter in 1222 and founded a new dynasty under the name Rajasa. The Pararaton chronicle tells a violent story of murders over the following generations, until Wisnuwardhana restored order in the mid-13th century.
Rule and society
Its last king Kertanegara pursued an ambitious overseas policy: the Pamalayu expedition of 1275 brought Sumatran Dharmasraya into his orbit, and he claimed influence over Bali and Madura. He patronised a blend of Tantric Buddhism and Shaivism, and his reign produced temples such as Candi Jago and Candi Singhasari. In 1289 he humiliated an envoy of Kublai Khan.
Decline and legacy
In 1292 Jayakatwang of Kediri killed Kertanegara and set up Gelang-gelang. Kertanegara's son-in-law Raden Wijaya used the Mongol fleet sent by Kublai Khan to defeat Jayakatwang in 1293, then drove the Mongols out and founded Majapahit.
Lineage
On the connections map
Open the full map →Connections (4)
- Dharmasraya paid tribute to Singhasari1275 CE – 1292 CE
- Bedulu Kingdom was a vassal of Singhasari1284 CE – 1292 CE
- Singhasari was conquered by Gelang-gelang1292 CE
- Gelang-gelang was a vassal of Singhasari1292 CE
More states of Maritime Southeast Asia →
Cite this page
- APA
- The Epoch Institute. (2026). Singhasari. In The Epoch Institute States Register. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/singhasari
- MLA
- “Singhasari.” The Epoch Institute States Register, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/singhasari. Accessed .
- Chicago
- The Epoch Institute. “Singhasari.” The Epoch Institute States Register. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/singhasari.
- Harvard
- The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Singhasari’, The Epoch Institute States Register. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/singhasari (Accessed: ).
Last reviewed October 2026Random state ↻