Majapahit's Bhre Kertabhumi: The King Who Lost an Empire

Majapahit: The Empire That Once Ruled Indonesia — Fexingo History · May 23, 2026 · 6m · transcript

In this episode, we explore the reign of Bhre Kertabhumi, the last king of Majapahit, often called Brawijaya V. His rule saw the empire's rapid decline: the Paregreg civil war, the growing power of the Muslim pasisir lords, and the rise of Demak under Raden Patah. We examine the Babad Tanah Jawi's account of his death at the hands of his own son, the historical debates around that story, and the archaeological evidence from Trowulan showing a city in crisis. Along the way, we discuss the role of the Wali Songo, the spread of Islam in Java, and how the empire's final years…