Sasana Wiratama Diponegoro Musuem

Memorize the Spirit of Diponegoro 

This museum was built to memorize a prince named Diponegoro, who led Java War against Dutch which was politically control the Yogyakarta Sultanate in 19th century. In this museum you will be able to see several collections, which is shows the struggle spirit and heroism of Diponegoro.

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Sasana Wiratama Museum or usually known as Pangeran Diponegoro Museum is one of historical museums that are located in Yogyakarta. It's located in HOS Cokroaminoto Street, Tegalrejo Village, Yogyakarta. It's located around four kilometres northwest from Yogyakarta City centre and about twenty minutes car rides from Malioboro Street. 

This museum was built in 1968 to memorize and honour the heroic struggle of a prince named Diponegoro. He was a national hero who led Diponegoro War or usually called Java War against Dutch in Yogyakarta and Central Java. In that war, he was able to make strong resistance against Dutch before he was captured.

Diponegoro War was caused by conflict between Diponegoro and Dutch which was supported by Patih Danureja. Diponegoro was a son of Hamengkubuwono III the third king from Yogyakarta Sultanate Palace which has different political view in the palace. Diponegoro was not happy when he lived in the palace, it was because political policies in palace which were highly influenced by Dutch, so he decided to leave the palace and live in Tegalrejo. In Tegalrejo, he still seen by Dutch as a threat, so there was a plan to force him out from Tegalrejo with road construction that planned to pass his house. The conflicts was more complicated when Patih Danureja ordered put poles as sign of road construction that will begin while Diponegoro was never accepted the road construction plan. This action made him very disappointed and the conflict went higher when Dutch Military involved to force him out from his house and started his war against Dutch.

Diponegoro War was a bloody war, it was started from 1825 and ended in 1830 when Diponegoro was arrested. He used guerrilla war tactic against Dutch, his guerrilla base was in Selarong Cave in Bantul, south of Yogyakarta. In the cave, Diponegoro with his people troops planned attack to several Dutch important places in Central Java and Yogyakarta. The war has significant effect for Dutch, it was cost them more than 15.000 soldiers lost and 200.000 Gulden finance lost. The war finally ended in 1930 when he was tricked by Dutch, then was arrested and expelled to Sulawesi.

Diponegoro Museum complex was established in area that previously used by Diponegoro as residence. The 2,5 hectare wide area, was previously owned by the descendant of Dipenogoro, but then it was given to build the museum.

The museum complex consists of several buildings on it. Those are such as: joglo, library, musholla and barracks. In the museum complex, there is pringgitan, it is a kind of inscription that shows relief of Diponegoro War, the inscription is located near Joglo in the centre of museum complex. In the museum complex, it can be found several objects that belong to Diponegoro period, those are such as: comboran and tembok jebol. Comboran is stone that used as water place for Diponegoro's horses. Tembok jebol is the broken wall from Diponegoro house that was broken due to the attack of Dutch military which was destroyed Diponegoro house. This broken wall was believed made and used by Diponegoro and his family to escape from the Dutch attack.

Inside the museum, there are various collections related to Diponegoro. Those are such as: pikes, arrows, keris, cannon and others weapons that used to fight against Dutch. Those weapons are believed was used by Diponegoro followers in Diponegoro War. In the museum, there are housing equipment, furniture and gamelan set that belongs to Hamengkubuwono II the second king of Yogyakarta Sultanate, which is grandfather of Diponegoro.

At the end, Diponegoro Museum is a nice place to learn history, especially about Diponegoro War. Here, you will be able to see some collections related to the war and know stories about the prince struggle.