Rara Mendut: The Resistance of the Commoners Against the Authority of Mataram’s Rulers

The story of Rara Mendut and Pranacitra is often referred to as the Romeo and Juliet of Java. Their story is written in Babad Tanah Jawi. Aside from their relationship, Rara Mendut is also acknowledged for her expertise in tobacco blending skill during the era of the Mataram Kingdom. Rara Mendut became a Javanese figure closely associated with the history of kretek in the archipelago.

Rara Mendut lived during the reign of Sultan Agung Hanyokrokusumo. She resided in a fisherman village called Teluk Cikal, located in the region between Kadipaten Pati and governed by Adipati Pragola II. Rara Mendut was just a commoner living on the northern coastal shore of Java. However, she was known for her beautiful face. Many men fell for her. Yet, only one man had succeeded to conquer her heart. That was Pranacitra, the son of a wealthy merchant named Nyai Singabarong. Rara Mendut and Pranacitra had the same feelings for each other. Unfortunately, they were born in different social classes. Pranacitra was the only child of Nyai Singabarong. She wished that her son would marry a woman from the same social class. 

Social class differences became a barrier for them to be together, yet Rara Mendut remained undeterred. Her feelings toward Pranacitra were strong. She didn’t have any desire to be with another man. Rara Mendut had rejected many proposals, including from Adipati Pragola II who was the ruler of her region. Adipati Pragola II wanted to propose Rara Mendut to become one of his concubines. However, Rara Mendut firmly declined his proposal. Adipati Pragola II dispatched his guards to abduct Rara Mendut, bringing her to his palace and compelling her to abandon her aspirations of marrying Pranacitra.

Residing in Adipati Pragola II’s palace, Rara Mendut encountered Ni Semangka and Genduk Duku, her maids who endeavored to guide her in adopting the manners of a noblewoman. Nevertheless, Rara Mendut remained indifferent and stubborn, posing a challenge for her maids in their efforts to instill grace and obedience akin to that of noblewomen in general.

In that period, Kadipaten Pati rebelled against Mataram, enraging Sultan Agung and prompting him to strategize against Kadipaten Pati and defeat Adipati Pragola II. Consequently, Adipati Pragola II met his demise at the hands of Mataram forces, leading to the annexation of Kadipaten Pati by Mataram. The soldiers of Mataram pillaged the possessions of Adipati Pragola II, seizing his wives, concubines, including Rara Mendut and her maids, and transporting them to Mataram.

Rara Mendut was then introduced to Tumenggung Wiraguna who was the military commander of Mataram. Rara Mendut’s cold and stubborn manner made Tumenggung Wiraguna fall in love with her. Tumenggung Wiraguna was also intended to make Rara Mendut one of his concubines. Despite Tumenggung Wiraguna’s intent, Rara Mendut firmly rejected his proposal, unwavering in her desire to be with Pranacitra. Her insistence on marrying the man she loved, even in a societal context where women had limited decision-making rights, remained resolute. Upon learning of his rejected proposal by a commoner considered mere spoils from a conquered territory, Tumenggung Wiraguna erupted in fury. 

Despite holding a prominent position in Mataram where he could have compelled Rara Mendut to marry him, Tumenggung Wiraguna, desiring to assert his prestige, opted for a different approach to win her heart. He devised a strategy by imposing a tax obligation on Rara Mendut, with the condition that this obligation would be lifted if she agreed to become his concubine.

The implementation of the tax policy compelled Rara Mendut to seek ways to generate income. Accompanied by Ni Semangka and Genduk Duku, she ventured into selling hand-rolled cigarettes at a traditional market, known for its association with cockfighting. Rara Mendut showcased her exceptional skill in blending cigarette sauce, and notably, she used her saliva to seal the hand-rolled cigarettes. Endowed with beauty, she attracted a competitive male clientele eager to purchase her hand-rolled cigarettes, enticed by the opportunity to taste her unique and sweet saliva. The combination of her cigarette sauce expertise and an element of eroticism contributed to the widespread popularity of Rara Mendut’s hand-rolled cigarettes, resulting in a flourishing tobacco business that effortlessly covered her tax obligations.

Tumenggung Wiraguna wasn’t willing to give up easily. He then raised the tax rates, making it impossible for Rara Mendut to afford if she only sold cigarettes in the market. Rara Mendut was forced to increase the price of her cigarettes. This led to a decline in her business as not many people could afford to buy her hard-rolled cigarettes. Despite the imposition of this regulation, Rara Mendut remained steadfast in her principles. Tumenggung Wiraguna’s crafty tactics only served to fortify her resolve, convincing her not to submit herself to a man like Tumenggung Wiraguna.

Amidst the turmoil in her mind, Rara Mendut finally encountered the young man she had eagerly awaited for so long. Pranacitra appeared in the market where she sold cigarettes, arriving during her difficult times. Rara Mendut opened up to Pranacitra about her struggles, and he, feeling sympathy for her plight, devised a plan to liberate his beloved from the clutches of Tumenggung Wiraguna. Ni Semangka, Genduk Duku, and even Tumenggung Wiraguna’s concubines, moved by pity for her fate, lent their support to their cause.

As they prepared to execute their plan to escape from Mataram, Tumenggung Wiraguna caught wind of the rumors surrounding the relationship between Pranacitra and Rara Mendut, sparking fury within him. In a fit of anger, he commanded his guards to eliminate Pranacitra, who tragically perished and was laid to rest in Ceporan. Seizing upon Pranacitra’s demise, Tumenggung Wiraguna saw an opportunity to persuade Rara Mendut to become his concubine. Skeptical of the claim, Rara Mendut did not believe it. Tumenggung Wiraguna took her to Pranacitra grave. Rata Mendut was crying and refused to go home. Sorrow and anger were raging within her, leading her to decide to take Tumenggung Wiraguna’s keris and stab herself. She died next to her lover’s grave. 

This story serves as evidence of the resistance of the commoners against the authority of Mataram’s rulers. Rara Mendut, a humble woman hailing from a fisherman village, exemplified remarkable courage by rejecting advances from high-ranking figures such as Adipati Pragola II and Tumenggung Wiraguna, earning her the label of a defiant and rebellious woman. In reality, she was merely striving for her rights to make choices in life based on her will and without compulsion. Rara Mendut became a feminist fighter in the era of Mataram Sultanate and eventually aroused the courage for women of that time. Despite her courage in challenging the patriarchal world in Java, Rara Mendut was also a skilled tobacco blender. Her cigarette sauce mixture became a legend that endures to this day.