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Yogyakarta Sultanate

Indonesian Princely State

image by Ivan Sache, 8 Sep 2001
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Indonesia

A documentary on Java, broadcasted by the French-German channel Arte,gave interesting information on the Sultanate of Yogyakarta.
When Indonesia became independent, all former princely states were suppressed, except the Sultanate of Yogyakarta. The Sultan, father of the current one, had joined the anti-Dutch resistance, and was therefore allowed to keep his title. Jogjakarta has now the status of Special Administrative Region, as well as Aceh (for the same reason). The current Sultan seems to have a great moral authority and joined the first street demonstrations who caused the fall of president Suharto.
The documentary showed an official ceremony held in the Sultan´s palace. During the military parade, a few flags were rapidly seen. The first one was white with a coloured emblem, apparently mainly red, but I am not able to be more specific. The second one was a black rectangle with a yellow disc in the middle.
Ivan Sache, 8 Sep 2001

image by Rob Raeside, 4 June 2010
based on a sketch by John McMeekin

The Royal Standard (yellow with a red star - seen on TV when Queen Elizabeth II visited Sultan Hamengku Buwono IX in the 1970s).
John McMeekin, 4 June 2010

Gulo Klopo

image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 7 Oct 2026
image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 7 Oct 2026

Dirk Rühl provides the following information regarding both flags:
The flag on the left was adopted in 1932. It features a white field with a red, eight-pointed star in the centre and red droplets—described by Rühl as "comma-shaped" in the corners. These actually represent scallops (Indonesian: kejong), though they serve merely as decorative elements to fill the corners. The Javanese may have adopted the symbolism of the number eight from the Hindus. The number eight is the characteristic symbol for the eight cardinal directions; likewise, Javanese tradition recognizes eight serpents (Sanskrit: Nagas) associated with these directions. The red, 8-pointed star symbolises the conquering energy (Sanskrit: Shakti) of the prince; an energy that he, as a Shakravartin (ruler of the world), can project in all eight directions. The term "Gulo Klopo" (also Gula Kelapa or Gula Klapa) originates from Javanese and literally translates to "sugar and coconu". In Indonesian and Javanese culture this expression symbolises the colours red and white. Traditional palm or cane sugar ("Gulo") represents the colour red/brown, while the white flesh of the coconut ("Klopo" represents the colour white. This term was applied to the two-coloured flag of Yogyakarta. The flag featuring the red star (see left image above) corresponds to the version described by Dirk Rühl. The flag featuring a white star within a red rectangle (see left image above) is based on a drawing by Marcel van Westerhoven. The latter image is still used today as a ceremonial flag.
Sources:
1. pp.138-139
2. Marcel van Westerhoven: "The Flags of Princely States of the Dutch East Indies", in "Proceeedings of the ICV25", Rotterdam 2013, pp.14/5 Klaus-Michael Schneider, 7 Oct 2026

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