Hamengkubuwono VIII

Hamengkubuwono VIII (3 March 1880 – 22 October 1939), also spelled as Hamengkubuwana VIII, was the 8th sultan of Yogyakarta, reigning from 1921 until he died in 1939. During his reign, he carried out the rehabilitation of the Kraton Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat building, as well as several other structures. He was also one of the first to support Kyai Haji Ahmad Dahlan in the formation of the Muhammadiyah organization.^[1]

Hamengkubuwono VIII
8th Sultan of Yogyakarta
Reign	8 February 1921 – 22 October 1939
Coronation	8 February 1921
Predecessor	Hamengkubuwono VII
Successor	Hamengkubuwono IX
Born	Gusti Raden Mas Sujadi (1880-03-03)3 March 1880 Yogyakarta, Dutch East Indies
Died	22 October 1939(1939-10-22) (aged 59) Yogyakarta, Dutch East Indies
Burial	Saptarengga Mausoleum, Pajimatan Imogiri Tombs
Spouse	Kanjeng Raden Ayu Adipati Anom Hamengkunegara
Issue	Hamengkubuwono IX
House	Mataram
Father	Hamengkubuwono VII
Mother	Gusti Kanjeng Ratu Hemas

Early life and education

Early life

Hamengkubuwono VIII, born as Gusti Raden Mas Sujadi, was born on 3 March 1880. His father was the Sultan of Yogyakarta, Hamengkubuwono VII, while his mother was the first queen consort styled as Gusti Kanjeng Ratu Hemas^[2] or Her Highness Queen Hemas in English.

Reign

Infrastructure

During the leadership of Hamengkubuwono VIII, Yogyakarta experienced rapid progress in the fields of education and health. In the field of architecture, the sultan overhauled the current physical form of the palace.^[3]

Culture

In the field of culture, several dances were created during his leadership, including the Srimpi dance. It was also at this time that the standardization of classical Yogyakarta-style dance standards began.^[3]

Appointment of heir

In 1939, he recalled his son, Raden Mas Dorodjatun (later known as Hamengkubuwono IX), who was studying in the Netherlands. In Batavia, the Sultan handed over the kris of Kyai Ageng Joko Piturun to Gusti Raden Mas Dorojatun as a sign of royal succession, as well as a sign that it was Gusti Raden Mas Dorojatun who would later succeed as Sultan.^[3]

Death and grave

He died on 22 October 1939, at Panti Rapih Hospital, Yogyakarta. He is buried in Astana Saptarengga, Pajimatan Imogiri.^[3]