Pitaloka

Pitaloka is a term in Indonesian historiography associated with a Sundanese princess and a site connected to the Bubat tragedy, a notable event in the history of the Sunda Kingdom and the Majapahit Empire. The most common figure linked to the name is Dyah Pitaloka, a Sundanese princess who, according to chronicles, accompanied her father to the Majapahit court as part of a proposed marriage alliance with King Hayam Wuruk.

Historically, the encounter occurred during Majapahit expansion in the 14th century. The plan for a peaceful dynastic union was overshadowed by conflict at the Majapahit capital, leading to the massacre of the Sunda delegation at a location associated with Bubat. Dyah Pitaloka is frequently cited as a victim in these accounts, and the incident is known in Indonesian history as the Bubat tragedy, with lasting implications for Sunda–Majapahit relations.

The exact location of the events is a matter of scholarly debate. Several sites in West Java, particularly in the Citarum basin and surrounding areas, have been proposed as the Bubat place, and by extension as the probable area of the Pitaloka memorial narrative. Because contemporary records vary and local toponyms shift over time, there is no definitive geographic consensus. The name Pitaloka persists in historical references, inscriptions, and local folklore, reflecting its significance in the storytelling of Java’s medieval diplomacy.

See also: Bubat Incident, Dyah Pitaloka, Nagarakretagama, Pararaton.