The Kingdom of Singasari
Daha was ultimately brought down by a rebellious province. Ken Arok, was an upstart who gained the power over Tumapel, a fiefdom east of Kawi, and then gradually extends it by gobbling up parts of the old Janggala kingdom. As he consolidated his power he rebelled against Kediri and proceeded to ask its obeisance. Ken Arok takes power as king Rajasa, and with him starts the Singasari dynasty. The last king of Singasari, Kertanagara was to change Javanese foreign policy. He entered into an alliance with Champa and sails against Srivijaya in 1275. Kertanagara's troops remained West for many years, making the Kingdom vulnerable to attack. When, in 1293, Kertanagara's troops returned home they had not succeeded in bringing down Srivijaya, but did gain a vassal in the old kingdom of Melayu which at the time was said to have revived. Kertanagara's kingdom was attacked out of Kediri while his troops were away, and Kertanagara abdicated.
Before his abdication, Kertanagara had rejected the advances from Kublai Khan who demanded obedience from
Kertanagara. To illustrate his point, Kertanagara had defaced the Khan's envoy. In return, Kublai Khan sent a punitive expedition, but it was said to be ill-fated. Of the 1,000 vessels sent, few arrived, and the sailors were starved and low on morale. The vessels had not been allowed to moor in
Champa, an ally of Singasari. When the Chinese troops did reach Java, Prince
Wijaya, a descendant of Kertanagara sent them on Jayakatwang, the usurper from
Kediri. Prince Wijaya had apparently been allowed by Kediri to establish himself near Surabaya having promised them allegiance. However, the faith was to be misplaced.
Prince Wijaya's Kingdom was to become known under the name Majapahit. Wijaya became its first ruler with the name
Kertarajasa.