The reign of Mangkunegara V was relatively brief and primarily characterized by efforts to maintain the various royal enterprises established by his father and predecessor, Mangkunegara IV.
Mangkunegaran financial crisis
The reign of Mangkunegara V was marked by significant financial distress. This crisis stemmed from several factors, including internal mismanagement by court officials seeking personal enrichment and a mounting debt burden. Externally, the Mangkunegaran’s export-oriented economy suffered from European restrictions on sugar imports. [2]
The financial situation was further exacerbated by Mangkunegara V’s limited oversight of palace affairs. By delegating administrative authority to the head of palace affairs, Prince Gondoatmojo, the treasury suffered from irresponsible management and a lack of financial control, which facilitated widespread corruption among court officials. [3]
During this period, the state-owned sugar refineries, PG Colomadu and PG Tasikmadu, faced severe budget deficits that threatened the continuity of the industry. The global financial crisis of the 1880s, combined with the outbreak of the "sereh" disease in sugarcane plantations, crippled production. [4] Because the Mangkunegaran's plantations were export-oriented, they were highly vulnerable to fluctuations in global market prices. Protectionist economic policies in Europe prevented plantation yields from being sold at maximum capacity. Additionally, the lavish lifestyle of the royal family deepened the deficit, eventually resulting in the palace being unable to pay its employees' salaries for nine consecutive months. [3]
To address the bankruptcy, Mangkunegara V turned to the Dutch East Indies government for assistance. In response, the colonial administration established a supervisory commission known as the Raad van Toezicht Belasmet de Regeling van de Mangkoenegorosche Landen en Bezettingen. This board was granted the authority to oversee all financial matters, land management, and assets belonging to the Mangkunegaran, effectively allowing the colonial government to intervene in the principality’s internal economic affairs. [3]
Development of the arts
Despite the economic downturn, the arts—particularly traditional dance—flourished within the Mangkunegaran Palace during this era. Mangkunegara V was a devoted patron of the performing arts, supported by skilled dance instructors and choreographers who had been active since the reign of Mangkunegara IV.
Many classic dances of the Surakarta-Mangkunegaran style that remain popular today were choreographed during his reign, including the Gatutk
