Klungkung Regency (; , Kabupatén Klungkung) is the smallest regency (kabupaten) in the province of Bali, Indonesia. It has an area of 315 km2 and had a population at the 2024 census of 223,720."Badan Pusat Statistik 2025">Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, February 28, 2025, Kabupaten Klungkung Dalam Angka 2025 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.5105) It is bordered by Bangli Regency to its north, Gianyar Regency to its west, Karangasem Regency and the Lombok Strait to its east, and the Badung Strait and the Indian Ocean to its south. Its regency seat is the town of Semarapura.
The official estimate as of mid-2024 was 223,720 (107,177 males 106,815 and females in 2022).
Semarapura town is easily reached from Gianyar via the highway. The regency is famous for its classic Balinese paintings which mostly depict the story of epics such as Mahabharata or Ramayana. These classical style paintings come from the frescoes of the Balinese palaces and can also be found at Klungkung Palace in the downtown area. Semarajaya Museum is also located in the area.
Some 64.4% of the land area of Klungkung is made of the offshore islands of Nusa Penida, Nusa Ceningan, Nusa Lembongan and eleven smaller islands, which together form Nusa Penida District, of which the town of Sampalan is the administrative centre; the other three districts lie on the island of Bali itself, in its southeast corner.
History
Klungkung Regency is the successor of the (Kloengkoeng in older spelling), one of several kingdoms on Bali that traces its founding to before European arrival in Southeast Asia. The realm, while small in comparison to its neighbors, is actually the most important one. Its rulers, titled Dewa Agung (), are long considered by other lords as high king of Bali with both spiritual and temporal powers.
The royal house of Klungkung is direct descendant of the kings of Gelgel, a kingdom which ruled over the entire island, first as vassal kingdom of Majapahit, and later as an independent kingdom with influence over eastern Java and nearby Nusa Penida, Lombok, and Sumbawa. According to Babad Dalem, a breakdown in royal authority following a palace coup sometimes in the 16th century resulted in regional lords attaining greater autonomy. While the royal family managed to resumed control in Klungkung, they were in no position to assert any lost authority over the now-independent rajahs. However, the rajah of Klungkung is still considered senior in rank to other rajahs.
The arrival of European ships on Balinese ports introduced the isolated island to global trade. Especially the Dutch, missions to establish economic relations soon turn into military colonial expeditions:
First Dutch punitive expedition in Northern Bali (1846); Second Dutch punitive expedition in Northern Bali (1848); Dutch intervention in Buleleng, Karangasem, and Klungkung (1849); Dutch intervention in Bali (1858); Dutch intervention in Lombok War (1894); Dutch conquest of Badung and Tabanan (1906); and Dutch conquest of Klungkung (1908).
Following the fall of Klungkung as the last independent native realm on Bali, Dutch colonial administration either ruled the island indirectly (rulers of Karangasem and Gianyar as stedehouder, "viceroy") or directly administered public administration in the absence of local rulers. However in 1920s, living relatives of former royal houses deemed acceptable by the Dutch were appointed as regents in their fallen realms. By 1938, Paruman Agung, a council of rajahs of Bali was established, and the regents and viceroys were consecrated as kings (including Klungkung) reestablishing the kingdoms as "self-governing realms" within the Netherlands East Indies.
Gelgel and Klungkung Kingdom period During the kingdom period, Klungkung became the center of government of the Balinese kings. Ida I Dewa Agung Jambe was the Founder of the Klungkung Kingdom in 1686 and was the successor to the Gelgel Dynasty. At that time, the Gelgel Kingdom was the center of the kingdom in Bali and the golden age of this kingdom was created during the reign of Dalem Waturenggong. The King of Klungkung was the direct heir and descendant of the Kresna Kepakisan Dynasty. Therefore, the history of Klungkung is closely related to the kings who ruled in Samprangan and Gelgel.
In 1650, there was a rebellion by a Prime Minister of the Kingdom named I Gusti Agung Maruti which caused the collapse of the Gelgel Kingdom which at that time was ruled by Dalem Di Made. Gusti Agung Maruti took over the Kingdom from Dalem Di Made, the last king who ruled the Gelgel kingdom. At that time, Dalem Di Made saved himself by fleeing to Guliang Village in the Bangli Kingdom area accompanied by the loyal Patih Agung named Rakriyan Gusti Ngurah Kubontubuh Kuthawaringin (Kyayi Jumbuh). One of his sons, Ida I Dewa Agung Jambe, with his War Commander Patih Agung Rakriyan Gusti Ngurah Kubontubuh Kuthawaringin (Kyayi Jumbuh) then succeeded in recapturing the Gelgel kingdom from the grip of I Gusti Agung Maruti in 1686 AD. Since then, Gelgel was no longer a royal place. In the northern area of Gelgel, which was later named Klungkung, that's where Ida I Dewa Agung Jambe built a palace to live. This palace was later named Semarapura or Semarajaya and Jero Agung Kepatihan Pekandelan Kyayi Jumbuh to the west. Since then the title "Dalem" was no longer used for the kings who ruled in the Klungkung Kingdom. The title held hereditarily by the kings of Klungkung was called "Dewa Agung".
During the reign of the Kepakisan Dynasty in Bali, there were two relocations of the center of the kingdom (1350–1908): First: from Samprangan to Gelgel by occupying the Swecalingarsapura palace ex Puri Sira Arya Kuthawaringin which was presented by his son named Kyayi Klapodhyana (Pre-Gusti Kubontubuh), and took place peacefully (1383 AD) with the ruling kings: Dalem Ketut Nglesir, Dalem Waturenggong, Dalem Bekung, Dalem Segening, and Dalem Dimade. Second: the center of the kingdom moved from Gelgel – Swecalingarsapura to the center of the Klungkung Kingdom – Semarajaya, with the Grand Patih Kyayi Jumbuh, between the 17th–20th centuries with King Dewa Agung Jambe, Dewa Agung Made, Dewa Agung Di Madya, Sri Agung Sakti, Sri Agung Putra Kusamba, and Dewa Agung Istri Kanya.
The Klungkung Kingdom of Bali has succeeded in reaching the peak of its glory and golden age in the fields of government, customs and arts and culture in the 14th–17th centuries under the rule of Dalem Waturenggong with the center of the kingdom in the Gelgel Palace – Swecapura has a territory of power up to Lombok and Blambangan. The Puputan Klungkung war occurred when the center of the Klungkung kingdom was already in the Semarapura palace.
Several kings have ruled hereditarily in the Klungkung Kingdom, and the last was Ida I Dewa Agung Gede Jambe (Ida I Dewa Agung Putra IV), the same name as the king who founded the Klungkung Kingdom. The Klungkung Kingdom did not last long, the kingdom's territory was divided into small kingdoms such as the Badung, Gianyar, Karangasem, Buleleng, Bangli, Tabanan, Jembrana, Denpasar kingdoms and the Klungkung kingdom itself.
During the reign of the last Klungkung king, Ida I Dewa Agung Gede Jambe, on April 28, 1908, a shocking event occurred in the Klungkung Kingdom. Dutch soldiers under the command of General M.B.Rost Van Tonningen had attacked the Klungkung Kingdom. King Ida I Dewa Agung Jambe accompanied by the Bahudanda (Royal Dignitaries) and all his loyal people tried to put up a fierce resistance against the attack of the Dutch troops, but in vain. The king and his followers died on the Puputan field. While on the Dutch side, although there were also some who were killed and injured, it did not mean anything to the integrity of the Dutch troops, but it was enough to give a psychological blow to the Dutch. This incident is known as "Puputan Klungkung". Since then, the Klungkung Kingdom has been a Dutch colony.
Kusamba War (May 24, 1849)
Kusamba, a relatively large village east of Semarapura until the 18th century, is better known as an important port of the Klungkung Kingdom. Geographically, Kusamba Village hasstrategic position as the main port of the Klungkung Kingdom. Kusamba Village has an important historical trace in the history of Bali. The name Kusamba Village is taken from the root word kusa (grass) because at that time many of these plants were found in the area that we currently know as Kusamba Village. Kusamba Village became increasingly well-known in the history of Balinese politics when King I Dewa Agung Putra built a palace in the village located on the coast. In fact, I Dewa Agung Putra ran the government from the palace which was later named Kusanegara. Until then, Kusamba practically became the second center of government of the Klungkung Kingdom. The relocation of the center of government inevitably helped to advance Kusamba as a port that at that time was equal to other royal ports in Bali such as Kuta.
The name Kusamba soared even more when political tensions intensified between Dewa Agung Istri Kanya as the ruler of Klungkung and the Dutch in the mid-19th century. Until finally an important war event broke out in the history of Balinese heroism, Kusamba War, which resulted in a landslide victory by successfully killing the Dutch general, General AV Michiels.
The heroic drama began with the stranding of two skoners (boats) belonging to G.P. King, a Dutch agent based in Ampenan, Lombok at the Batulahak harbor, around the Pesinggahan area. This ship was then seized by the residents of Pesinggahan and Dawan. The King of Klungkung himself considered the presence of the ship whose crew was mostly Sasak people as a troublemaker so he immediately ordered to kill it.
By Mads Lange, a Danish businessman living in Kuta who was also a Dutch agent was reported to the Dutch representative in Besuki. The Dutch resident in Besuki strongly protested Klungkung's actions and considered it a violation of the May 24, 1843, agreement on the abolition of the Tawan Karang law. The Dutch's anger increased with Klungkung's attitude in helping Buleleng in the Jagaraga War, April 1849. Therefore, the Dutch wanted to attack Klungkung.
The Dutch expedition, which had just finished facing Buleleng in the Jagaraga War, was immediately deployed to Padang Cove (now Padang Bai) to attack Klungkung. It was decided that May 24, 1849, would be the day of the attack.
Klungkung itself was already aware of the Dutch attack. Therefore, the defense at Pura Goa Lawah was strengthened. Led by Ida I Dewa Agung Istri Kanya, Anak Agung Ketut Agung and Anak Agung Made Sangging, Klungkung decided to defend Klungkung at Goa Lawah and Puri Kusanegara in Kusamba.
A tense war broke out at Pura Goa Lawah. However, because of the unequal number of troops and weapons, the Klungkung troops were forced to retreat to Kusamba. Even in this port village, the Klungkung troops were powerless. That afternoon, Kusamba fell into the hands of the Dutch. The Klungkung troops retreated westward by burning villages bordering Kusamba to prevent the Dutch army from attacking Puri Klungkung.
The fall of Kusamba enraged Dewa Agung Istri Kanya. That night a strategy was drawn up to retake Kusamba which gave birth to the decision to attack Kusamba on May 25, 1849, in the early hours of the morning. Incidentally, that night, the Dutch army set up camp at Puri Kusamba because they were feeling exhausted.
This was taken full advantage of by Dewa Agung Istri Kanya. A few hours later at around 03.00, led by Anak Agung Ketut Agung, the Sikep and Pemating Klungkung ambushed the Dutch army in Kusamba. The Dutch army who were resting were immediately in a panic. In the dark situation and not understanding the situation at Puri Kusamba, they were in a panic.