Kutai Kartanegara

Kutai Kartanegara was the coastal rival and eventual heir of old Martapura, founded around 1300 at Kutai Lama near the mouth of the Mahakam river in eastern Borneo. Its first ruler, Aji Batara Agung Dewa Sakti, and his successor Aji Batara Agung Paduka Nira bore Hindu-Javanese titles. Court legend traced Paduka Nira to the river princess Putri Karang Melenu, remembered in the Erau coronation festival.

The kingdom grew wealthy on the Mahakam river trade. Islam became the official faith in 1575 under Raja Aji Mahkota.

In 1635 its ruler Pangeran Sinum Panji Mendapa sent troops upriver, killed the Martapura maharaja Dermasatia after seven days of fighting, and united the two Kutai realms. The court later moved its capital to Jembayan in 1732 and to Tenggarong in 1782.