Lost imperial crowns: Monarchy and decolonisation
The wave of anticolonialism and nationalism that swept the world after the Second World War brought about the independence of many former colonies. The old imperial monarchs lost their crowns, but what form of government would prevail in the newly emancipated states? Few of them, it turned out, restored pre-colonial monarchies, but that did not mean that old royal, princely and aristocratic families immediately lost the privileges and influence that some had even retained under colonial rule.
With Dr Bayu Dardias Kurniardi of Gadjah Mada University, we look at the case of the 278 sultans and rajas of the colonial Dutch East Indies and their fate in the independent Republic of Indonesia proclaimed in 1945. Somewhat surprisingly, in the present-day Republic of Indonesia, the Sultan of Yogyakarta continues to reign – and also to hold the position of hereditary governor of his province.
Image - Picture of Yogyakarta (Creative Commons)
Image Link
With Dr Bayu Dardias Kurniardi of Gadjah Mada University, we look at the case of the 278 sultans and rajas of the colonial Dutch East Indies and their fate in the independent Republic of Indonesia proclaimed in 1945. Somewhat surprisingly, in the present-day Republic of Indonesia, the Sultan of Yogyakarta continues to reign – and also to hold the position of hereditary governor of his province.
Image - Picture of Yogyakarta (Creative Commons)
Image Link
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Host
Associate Professor Cindy McCreery
Historian, Associate Professor @sydney_uni | British Royal Family | #succession| Monarchy | Maritime History | Colonialism | Views my own
