Traces of Soldiers Behind Yogyakarta’s Kampung Names

Strolling around Yogyakarta, you might wonder: why do so many neighborhoods here have such unusual names—Wirobrajan, Prawirotaman, Bugisan? They’re not just labels on a map; each carries the legacy of royal soldiers who once lived there.

Since the founding of the Yogyakarta Sultanate, especially under Sultan Hamengku Buwono I and II, the palace maintained a formidable corps of soldiers. There were dozens of units, from royal guards of the crown prince to hunting escorts for the Sultan. They originally lived within the baluwarti fortress—strategically placed to defend the palace directly.

But history shifted dramatically. In 1812, the British stormed Yogyakarta, in what became known as the Geger Sepehi. The fortress fell, the Sultan was dethroned and exiled to Penang, and the colonial government slashed the number of soldiers, stripped their weapons, and reshaped them into mere palace guards.

Under Sultan Hamengku Buwono IV, even their homes were relocated outside the fortress. Imagine the scene: traditional Javanese wooden houses dismantled piece by piece, carried by hand, and rebuilt in new neighborhoods. The clamor of this great move was so striking it was recorded in palace manuscripts.

From there, today’s kampung names were born. For example:

• Wirobrajan, from the Wirabraja regiment, now a full district.

• Prawirotaman, once home to the Prawiratama soldiers, today buzzing with hostels and cafes.

• Bugisan, tied to the Bugis troops integrated into the Sultanate’s army.

• Mantrijeron, from Mantrijero soldiers, now a subdistrict.

• Nyutran, from soldiers gifted by Madura.

• Jageran, from the word jager (Dutch for “hunter”), once royal hunting escorts.

The list goes on: Suronggaman, Surokarsan, Ketanggungan, Patangpuluhan, Dhaengan, and more. Each kampung preserves a fragment of Yogyakarta’s military past.

Today, no palace soldiers live there anymore. The neighborhoods have blended into the wider city. Yet the names remain, along with statues of soldiers on street corners and stories passed down generations.

Toponyms in Yogyakarta are more than geographical markers. They are open-air history books, reminding us that this city has grown, endured, and evolved without losing its cultural roots.