The Surakarta palace soldiers are those who dedicate themselves as soldiers and security guards of the Kasunanan Surakarta palace. The palace soldiers are also called abdi dalem soldiers who submit to the highest leader, namely Sri Susuhunan Paku Buwana. In the present day, the Surakarta palace soldiers are tasked with helping to maintain the security of the Surakarta palace area, as well as functioning as preservers of the palace culture, one of which is by helping to guard the procession – parade and palace events. The presence of palace soldiers in the procession events held by the Kasunanan palace has proven to be a special attraction, because it helps to depict the glory and greatness of the Kasunanan palace in the past.
The palace soldiers consist of various units and their respective functions. As soldiers of war and palace defense guards, they are equipped with various skills in using weapons, such as spears, swords, guns, arrows and so on.
Although not a maritime kingdom, Kasunanan Surakarta is recorded to have had a Navy, which was born since Kasunanan Surakarta had a “in-law” Adipati Tjakraningrat, the leader of the Duchy of Sumenep, Madura between 1788-1820. The name of the unit was Bregada Rajamala. Since Sinuhun Pakubuwana IV mundhut garwa two daughters of Adipati Tjakraningrat, since then a naval force was formed, tasked with escorting the empress of Sinuhun Pakubuwono IV on voyages, if there was a need to Sumenep, Madura.
Some of the names of the military units of the Kasunanan Surakarta palace that are still preserved today include:
1. Music Corps Soldiers – Bregada Tamtama Musik.
Serving as a signal or war signal, in the present day this brigade is always involved in every major ceremony at the palace. This unit often appears in the procession or soldier parade held by the Kasunanan Surakarta Palace. This unit has a black uniform with a red border. This unit will parade in the front row of other brigades by playing trumpets, drums and flutes.
2. Private Brigade.
Private soldiers consist of various selected soldiers who are responsible for the safety of the Sunan or king. The uniform of the Private Brigade is a black beskap and wears a jarik (cloth) with a pereng sub motif. The residence of the Private soldiers is still known as the Tamtaman area which is still within the Baluwarti fort.
3. Jayeng Astra Soldiers.
The Jayeng Astra Brigade is tasked with preparing the soldiers’ weapons during war. Wearing a blue beskap uniform and pereng jarik. The area now called Jayengan in Surakarta, used to be the area where the Jayeng Astra soldiers lived.
4. Prawiro Anom Soldiers.
This is a unit of young officers as the palace’s proud artillery unit. Prawiro Anom cavalry troops are always relied on for ambushes and fast long-distance battles. These soldiers are trained to ride horses and use swords. In the present era, Prawiro Anom soldiers always appear in parades – kirab without horses. The uniform worn is a green beskap and jarik pereng.
5. Sara Geni Soldiers.
This unit consists of selected soldiers who are the mainstay of the palace. This unit wears a red uniform with jarik (cloth) in the dodotan model. The word Sara means arrow, while geni means fire, the word Sarageni means fire arrow or rifle. This unit is usually armed with rifles. The area where the Sara Geni soldiers live is now known as the Saragenen area.
6. Jayasura Soldiers.
The Jayasura soldier unit is placed in the outermost power of the palace. Armed with swords, these soldiers patrol the outermost side of the Kasunanan Surakarta palace. The Jayasura soldiers’ clothing is a black uniform and jarik with poleng submotif. The place where the Jayasura unit lives is known as Jayasuran.
7. Doropati Soldiers.
The Doropati troops are a combat unit tasked with preparing the logistical needs of soldiers. The role of this unit is very vital, because it can influence victory during battle. Many war strategies in the past attacked this unit first. The uniform of the Doropati unit is a green beskap with a “pereng” jarik but wearing a “krop” hat.
8. Bregada Baki.
This unit is on duty in several locations on the inside of the palace. The main weapons of the Baki soldiers are long spears, klewang and shields. The uniform of the Baki soldiers is a red beskap and blue lurik – poleng jarik.
9. Bregada Jaya Antaka or Jayantaka.
Also known as the death squad – Tohpati, because of its totality in protecting the palace. This unit already uses rifles as its weapons. The name of the Joyotakan area immortalizes it as the place where this unit used to live.
10. Penyutro Soldiers.
Wearing a yellow-green vest (pare-anom) with a red sash and armed with a bow and arrow is the characteristic of Bregada Penyutro. Using a headband as a decoration. Dal
