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{{Short description|Historical region in East Kalimantan, Indonesia}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2015}}
{{Location map
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| caption    = Location of Kutai on the island of [[Borneo]]
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| label      = Kutai
| position   = right
| lat_deg    = 1.034614
| lon_deg    = 116.995201
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{{History of Indonesia}}
'''Kutai''' is a historical region in what is now the Indonesian province of [[East Kalimantan]] on the island of [[Borneo]]. The region shares its name with the [[Ethnic groups of Indonesia|native ethnic group]] of the region (known as {{lang|id|Urang Kutai}} 'the Kutai people'), with a total population around 300,000, who have their own language known as the [[Kutainese language]] which accompanies their own rich history. Today, the name is preserved in the names of three regencies in [[East Kalimantan]] province which are the [[Kutai Kartanegara Regency]], the [[West Kutai Regency]] and [[East Kutai Regency]] with the major river flowing in the heart of the region known as the [[Mahakam River]]. The Kutai Martadipura Kingdom (399–1635) was the earliest Hindu kingdom in the East Indies. It was later succeeded by the Muslim sultanate of Kutai Kartanegara (1300–1844).

== Kutai Martapura Kingdom ==
[[Image:kutai Prasasti of Mulawarman.JPG|frame|right|An ancient {{tlit|sa|[[Yūpa#Yūpa inscription in Indonesia|yūpa]]}} of Mulawarman, king of Kutai]]
[[Image:Prasasti-Yupa02.jpg|250px|thumb|left|A {{tlit|sa|yūpa}} with inscription in the National Museum of Indonesia in Jakarta]]
The '''Kutai Martapura Kingdom''' (399–1635; locally known as {{lang|id|Kerajaan Kutai Martapura}}) is a 4th-century Hindu kingdom located in the Kutai area, [[East Kalimantan]].<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Sarip|first=Muhammad|date=December 2020|title=Kajian Etimologis Kerajaan (Kutai) Martapura di Muara Kaman, Kalimantan Timur|url=https://jurnal.fkip.unmul.ac.id/index.php/yupa/article/view/264/184|journal=Yupa: Historical Studies Journal|volume=4|issue=2|pages=50–61 |doi=10.30872/yupa.v4i2.264|doi-access=free}}</ref><ref name=Coedes>{{cite book|last= Coedès|first= George|author-link= George Coedès|editor-first= Walter F.|editor-last= Vella|translator-first=Susan|translator-last=Brown Cowing|title= The Indianized States of Southeast Asia|year= 1968|publisher= University of Hawaiʻi Press|isbn= 978-0-8248-0368-1}}</ref>{{rp|52}} Its capital is believed to be the current {{ill|Muara Kaman|id|Muara Kaman, Kutai Kartanegara}} district located in [[Kutai Kartanegara Regency]] and is one of the earliest kingdoms in Indonesian history. Muara Kaman district which is currently one of the many districts in Kutai Kartanegara Regency is proven to be the place where the capital of the kingdom once stood, it is proven by an ancient remnant of a [[megalith]] stone known as [[Lesong Batu]], believed to have been used to make the [[Yūpa#Yūpa inscription in Indonesia|{{tlit|sa|yūpa}} inscriptions]] during the 4th century. The seven stone pillars, or {{tlit|sa|yūpa}} ('sacrificial posts'), have been found in Kutai, Kaman Estuary, near the [[Mahakam River]].<ref name="melayuonline">[http://history.melayuonline.com/?a=Sm0vaUpTL0lMeTRVYzY%3D=&l=kutai-kingdom Kutai Kingdom] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303232249/http://history.melayuonline.com/?a=Sm0vaUpTL0lMeTRVYzY%3D=&l=kutai-kingdom |date=3 March 2016 }} on Melayu Online</ref> The plinths bear an inscription in the Indic [[Pallava script]], reading "a gift to the [[Brahmin]] priests" in [[Sanskrit]]. The style of the script has been dated to the last half the 4th century.<ref name="earlykutai">{{Cite web |url=http://epress.anu.edu.au/austronesians/austronesians/mobile_devices/ch15s02.html |title=The Earliest Indic State: Kutai |access-date=18 July 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131225113933/http://epress.anu.edu.au/austronesians/austronesians/mobile_devices/ch15s02.html |archive-date=25 December 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> It is believed these religions were brought to Indonesia around the 2nd and 4th centuries, respectively, when Indian traders arrived on the islands of [[Sumatra]], [[Java]] and [[Sulawesi]].<ref>{{cite web | title = The Period of Hindu Kingdoms | publisher = Embassy of Republic of Indonesia at Bangkok, Thailand | year = 2006 | url = http://www.kbri-bangkok.com/about_indonesia/history_02.html | access-date = 17 October 2006 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061107080534/http://www.kbri-bangkok.com/about_indonesia/history_02.html | archive-date = 7 November 2006 | df = dmy-all }}</ref>

The names of three rulers are known from the inscriptions. The first ruler mentioned is [[Kudungga]], the 'lord of men' ({{tlit|sa|narendra}}), his son Aśwawarman, styled the 'founder of the dynasty' ({{tlit|sa|vaṇśa-kartṛ}}) and grandson of the first and son of the later, [[Mulavarman]] called the 'lord of kings' ({{tlit|sa|rājendra}}). As the name "Kuṇḍungga" does not seem to be a name of Sanskrit-Hinduistic origin while the other two are, it is presumed he was a leader of local origin ([[Dayak people]]) and it was his son Aśwawarman that adopted the Hinduistic belief.<ref name="earlykutai"/> as Dayak people back then lived in the inner jungle parts of [[Borneo]] not in the coastal areas, while others argued that the name is similar to [[bugis]] name of ''Kadungga'', with several inscriptions similar to what is found in Kutai were found in Sulawesi.<ref name="Yupa Martadipura">Marwati Djoened Poesponegoro & nugroho notosusanto, 1993. ''Sejarah nasional Indonesia II''. Balai pustaka:Jakarta</ref> However, scientists and historians from the Dutch East Indies era to the Republic of Indonesia era concluded that the name Kundungga was the original name of Indonesian people from within Kalimantan, who had not been influenced by Indian culture.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Sarip|first1=Muhammad|last2=Sheilla|first2=Nanda Puspita|date=2024|url=https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/catalog/10021603|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241225155812/https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/catalog/10021603|archive-date=2024-12-25|title=Historipedia Kalimantan Timur dari Kundungga, Samarinda, hingga Ibu Kota Nusantara|location=Samarinda|publisher=RV Pustaka Horizon|isbn=978-623-6805-66-4|url-status=dead}}</ref>

During the reign of King Mūlawarman, he is the one who let the {{tlit|sa|yūpa}} inscriptions be made, and it was believed to be made by the [[Brahmins]] which received alms from Mulavarman. While nothing of the military actions of his two predecessors is known, Raja Mūlawarman is stated to have conquered his neighbors in battle. He is also said to have increased the land of Kutai by a Vedic ritual known as the "[[Ashvamedha]]", a ritual also performed by Indian rulers of the past. This ritual required a horse released to his land. The footsteps of the freely roaming horse were taken as evidence that this land belonged to his kingdom. Mulawarman was also known for his tribute of gold to his God. The name of his kingdom is not mentioned on the inscriptions nor do any other documents in other countries relate to a kingdom at this time in this region. It is not known what became of the kingdom after these pillars had been erected. It may be possible that the name Kutai, as in Tuñjung Kute of the 1365 Javanese [[Majapahit]] poem "[[Nagarakretagama]]" is as ancient and reflects the original name used a thousand years earlier.

[[File:Lesong Batu Muara Kaman.JPG|thumb|220px|The Lesong Batu megalith, located in Muara Kaman district]]
The [[Lesong Batu]] is a [[megalith]] stone located in Muara Kaman district, [[Kutai Kartanegara Regency]] believed to be the remnants to make {{tlit|sa|yūpa}} inscriptions during the 4th century.

== Sultanate of Kutai Kartanegara ==
{{Main|:id:Kesultanan Kutai Kertanegara ing Martapura}}
[[File:Mahkota Sultan Kutai 6.jpg|thumb|left|The golden crown of Kutai Sultan, part of the regalia of Kutai Kartanegara Sultanate. Collection of the National Museum of Indonesia, Jakarta.]]
The '''Kutai Kartanegara Sultanate''' (1300–1844; locally known as {{lang|id|Kesultanan Kutai Kertanegara ing Martadipura}}) was established around the end of the 13th century in the region of [[Tepian Batu]] or [[Kutai Lama]]. The first known ruler is known to be [[Aji Batara Agung Dewa Sakti]], who was thought to have ruled from 1300 to 1325.<ref name="melayuonline"/> Aji Pangeran Sinum Panji Mendapa, who ruled 1635–1650, was able to conquer the kingdom of Kutai Martadipura and merged the two realms thus becoming "Kutai Kartanegara Ing Martadipura".<ref name="melayuonline"/>
[[File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Portret van de kroonprinses van Koetai de vrouw van de latere Sultan Ali Muhammad Alimuddin in bruidskleding TMnr 60042303.jpg|thumb|Portrait of the Crown Princess of Kutai, wife of the later Sultan Ali Muhammad Alimuddin, in bridal wear]]

In 1732, the Kutai Kertanegara Kingdom moved its capital from Old Kutai to Jembayan. This moment functioned Samarinda as a port city or market city of the Kutai Sultanate.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|last= Sarip, Muhammad & Nandini, Nabila |date=2021|url=https://doi.org/10.30872/yupa.v5i2.569|title=Kontroversi Sejarah La Mohang Daeng Mangkona dan Hari Jadi Kota Samarinda: Sebuah Tinjauan Kritis |journal=Yupa: Historical Studies Journal|volume=5 |issue=2 |pages=61–77 |doi=10.30872/yupa.v5i2.569 |issn=2549-8754|doi-access=free }}</ref>

Islam took hold in the region since the 17th century (most of the Bugis were Muslims) and [[Aji Muhammad Idris]], ruling 1732–1739?, was the first ruler to have an Islamic name.

After a civil war, [[Aji Muhammad Muslihuddin]] moved the capital in 1782 from [[Pemarangan]] to [[Tepian Pandan]].<ref name="melayuonline"/> The name of the capital city eventually developed from [[Tangga Arung]] to its present form of Tenggarong.

In 1844, following the repulse of [[James Erskine Murray]]'s expedition and attempt to settle,<ref>{{cite book|title=The Territories of Indonesia (2004)|author=Iem Brown}}</ref> the Dutch defeated the sultan [[Aji Muhammad Salehudin]], forced him into exile, and took direct control of Kutai.

The Japanese invaded the region in 1942 and acknowledged a "Kooti Kingdom", that was a subject of the [[Tenno]]. In 1945 Kutai joined, along with its neighbours, into the East Kalimantan federation.

In 1949, Kutai became part of the [[United States of Indonesia]].

==Contemporary governance==
On 4 October 1999, the territory once belonging to the Sultanate of Kutai Kartanegara, until then composing the single Kutai Regency, was divided between the [[Kutai Kartanegara]], [[East Kutai Regency|East Kutai]] and [[West Kutai]] regencies, and the independent city of [[Bontang]]; on 14 December 2012 the western districts of West Kutai Regency were split off to create a separate [[Mahakam Ulu Regency]]. Each regency was and is headed by a regent (known locally as {{lang|id|Bupati}}) and forms a part of East Kalimantan|East Kalimantan. Meanwhile, the position of Sultan of Kutai Kartanegara still exists and resides in the Kutai Palace (''Kedaton'') in Tenggarong but administratively, the governance is conducted by the regional government of the Republic of Indonesia, not the sultanate. The Sultan{{who?|date=December 2023}} holds an honorary status in Kutai and is highly respected by Kutai people. During the festival of [[Erau]], he will be the guest of honour accompanied by the local government officials such as the governor of East Kalimantan and the Regent of Kutai Kartanegara.

==Kutai people==
[[File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Temenggoeng van Kendisik met familie en notabelen te Kutai Muara Pahu Borneo TMnr 10001688.jpg|thumb|250px|Kutai people]]
The Kutai people, or known locally as {{lang|id|Urang Kutai}} is the ethnic group which their ancestors are believed to be descendants of the Dayak [[Ot Danum people]] that have already embraced Islam and currently live on the banks of the great [[Mahakam River]], East Kalimantan. They are native to the city of Tenggarong, [[Kutai Kartanegara Regency]], the West and the East Kutai regencies. 

== Language ==
{{main|Kutainese language}}
The traditional language of the region is the [[Kutainese language]],<ref>[http://www.ethnologue.com/show_family.asp?subid=91217 Ethnologue] report for Local Malay</ref> such as [[Banjarese language|Banjarese]] to the south, [[Kota Bangun Kutainese]] to the west, [[Berau Malay]] to the north, and other languages spoken in coastal east Borneo.<ref>[http://www.ethnologue.com/show_map.asp?name=IDK&seq=40 Language Map] on www.ethnologue.com</ref> This language belongs to the [[Austronesian language family]].

== See also ==
* [[Kutai National Park]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}
*Kutai Martadipura
** Vogel, J.Ph. 1918 The yūpa inscriptions of King Mūlavarman from Koetei (East Borneo). Bijdragen tot de Taal-, Land- en Volkenkunde 74:216–218.
**Chhabra, B.Ch. 1965 Expansion of Indo-Aryan culture during Pallava rule (as evidenced by inscriptions). Delhi: Munshi Ram Manohar Lal. 50–52, 85–92;
**Casparis, J.G. de 1975 Indonesian palaeography: a history of writing in Indonesia from the beginning to c. A.D. 1500. Leiden: E.J. Brill. 14–18

== External links ==
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxSb4hTVqzI&t Explanation of the Kutai Kingdoms]
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQjl82o-OZ4&t=72s Example of Kutai language]
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ch-CZx5sJQ Kutai traditional music]
* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20160306114202/http://wisatamelayu.com/en/object.php?a=z29sl1u5bwh1mgy==&nav=cat The Museum of Mulawarman]}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110715230417/http://www.rri-online.com/modules.php?name=SLN_English&op=news_detail&id=611 Description of the Erau], a traditional yearly Kutai culture festival.

{{Precolonial states in Indonesia}}
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[[Category:Historical regions]]
[[Category:Former countries in Borneo]]
[[Category:Precolonial states of Indonesia]]
[[Category:Hindu Buddhist states in Indonesia]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in Indonesia]]
[[Category:Hindu states]]