One of the first Islamic states of West Java, founded by Sunan Gunungjati, whose 1482 letter proclaimed Cirebon's independence from the Hindu Sunda kingdom of Pajajaran. A north-coast port and centre of Islamic learning that also seeded Banten, Cirebon thrived through the 16th-17th centuries until, weakened under Mataram and Dutch pressure, it was formally split into three courts in 1677.
Divided in 1677 into three (later four) royal houses (Kasepuhan, Kanoman, Kacirebonan/Panembahan), ending the unified sultanate; the successor kratons fell under VOC/Mataram overlordship.
Covers the Sunan Gunungjati milieu and the Cirebon-Banten Islamisation of West Java.
Contextualises the north-Java pasisir sultanates and their Islamisation (Open Library /works/OL4973622W).