The Figure of Indonesia's First Thug, Feared and Dominating East Java

Thuggery continues to cause unrest in society. The actions of thugs are said not only to disrupt public order but also to hinder the business climate, as entrepreneurs are haunted by the fear of becoming victims of extortion by thuggish elements.

Although the word ‘preman’ only emerged in the 17th century from the Dutch word ‘vrijman’, meaning a free man, acts of thuggery have been committed since the era of ancient kingdoms thousands of years ago. One of the first or earliest thug figures in Indonesian history is Ken Arok (also known as Ken Angrok).

In the classic 16th-century Pararaton tale, Ken Arok is said to have been born to a farmer. He was then abandoned by his mother and taken in by a thief. It was this thief who raised Ken Arok. However, the thief did not raise Ken Arok like a typical parent who provides positive lessons. Instead, the thief taught Ken Arok to follow in his footsteps in the criminal underworld. As a young child, Ken Arok simply obeyed the orders of his adoptive parent.

From this, he engaged heavily in gambling, theft, highway robbery, and murder. All of this repeatedly made him a target for arrest by the ruler of Tumapel, Tunggul Ametung, who was troubled by his actions, which in a modern context would be called thuggery. All of Ken Arok’s actions as a tough made him highly respected. So much so that Tunggul Ametung made him a trusted confidant. From this point, Ken Arok’s name became known throughout Tumapel as a fearsome thug who supported the ruling power.

As recounted in Sejarah Nasional Indonesia (1993), his great popularity then made Ken Arok ambitious to rule. His method was to marry Tunggul Ametung’s wife, Ken Dedes, because Ken Arok received a whisper that marrying this woman would make him the ruler of Java. From here, he then asked Empu Gandring for a kris. This kris was to be used to kill Tunggul Ametung.

However, due to impatience, Ken Arok’s thuggish nature emerged. The unfinished kris was used to kill Empu Gandring. Afterwards, the man handed the kris to a Tumapel nobleman, Kebo Ijo. The reason for handing over the kris was to deceive. Because, some time later, Ken Arok killed Ametung using the same kris. At this point, Ken Arok was safe because everyone thought the kris belonged to Kebo Ijo. Kebo Ijo was arrested. Meanwhile, Ken Arok, thanks to his cunning, successfully became the ruler of Tumapel from 1222 onwards.

Later, Tumapel became known as the Singasari Kingdom, with Ken Arok as its first king. The ambition of the man born in 1182 did not stop there. He was eager to control the entire East Java region. Thus, he launched an attack on the Kediri Kingdom (1042-1222). In short, the attack was successful. The Kediri Kingdom collapsed and Ken Arok’s territory expanded, making him the ruler of the East Java region in the early 13th century. The Pararaton states that Ken Arok’s reign, who was once a thug or ancient Javanese champion, lasted for more than 20 years, from 1222 to 1247 AD.

Ken Arok’s life reportedly ended in 1247. He was killed by an assassin sent by Anusapati, the biological son of Tunggul Ametung, the man Arok had murdered. Thus, Anusapati exacted his revenge and succeeded in becoming king, just like his father.