Indonesia's Yogyakarta may be the first female sultan; the royal family teeters between tradition and change

[Jakarta Current Affairs] Indonesia's Yogyakarta Special Region has had a sultanate (Islamic princely state) system for over 270 years. It is believed that the current Sultan, Hamengkubwono X (80), intends to break the tradition of male succession and have his eldest daughter succeed him. Although there are pros and cons, similar to the debate over Japan's imperial family, there is a possibility that the first female sultan will be born in the future.

The state has had a royal family for ten generations since 1755, when the Kingdom of Yogyakarta was established. Hamengkubuwono X, the only sultan in the country who also serves as a provincial governor, also met with His Majesty the Emperor when he visited Yogyakarta in 2023.

Until now, men have succeeded to the throne, but King Hamengkubwono X seems to have positioned his eldest of his five daughters, Princess Mankubumi (54), as his successor. In 2015, the government is preparing for the birth of a female sultan, removing words that are considered male from the title of sultan, and giving the title previously reserved for the heir to the throne to her eldest daughter.

The younger brothers of King Hamengkubuwono X insist that tradition should be preserved and insist on the succession to the throne to a male child. According to local media, the relationship continues to be tense due to what appears to be a ``family turmoil'', with the couple missing a ceremony to bestow a title on their eldest daughter and visiting the graves of royal ancestors to criticize the sultan.

"The country doesn't differentiate between men and women. Why should I?" King Hamengkubuwono X emphasized this at an event held at the Royal Palace in October last year. He said that patriarchal traditions are a thing of the past, and was interpreted as a statement of his intention to pass the throne to his eldest daughter.

Bayu Dardias Kurniadi, a lecturer at Gadjah Mada University who is an expert on royal issues, said there is a possibility that the eldest daughter will inherit the throne, but points out that the conflict is deepening as her younger brothers strongly oppose the throne. "If things continue like this, a conflict during the succession to the throne will be inevitable. The government may have to intervene," he said.