The Legend of Baturraden

Suta is a servant in a kingdom in Central Java. His duty is to look after the king's horses. After completing his chores, Suta enjoys taking a walk to relax.

One day, while walking near a lake, Suta hears a woman screaming. Alarmed, he hurries to find the source of the scream. Finally, he arrives near a big tree and sees the king's daughter, the princess, terrified and screaming. Above her, a giant snake is poised to strike.

Suta is frightened, but his concern for the princess overcomes his fear. He grabs a big stick and, with all his strength, hits the snake on its head. The snake hisses in pain and eventually dies.

"Thank you, Suta! You've saved my life," says the princess, her voice trembling with relief.

"No thanks are needed, Princess. It's my duty as your father's servant to protect you," Suta replies humbly.

Since that day, Suta and the princess become close friends, spending more time together. Over time, their friendship blossoms into love. One day, the princess speaks to Suta.

"Suta, we cannot hide our feelings any longer. You must go to my father and ask for his permission to marry me," she says, looking into his eyes.

"But Princess, what if the king refuses? I am just a servant," Suta says, worried.

"Don't worry, Suta. We must try. Our love is true, and that's what matters," the princess insists.

With hope in his heart, Suta goes to the king and asks for permission to marry the princess. The king is furious when he hears Suta’s request.

"Suta, you are merely a servant, while she is my daughter, a princess! It is unacceptable for a servant to marry a princess!" the king shouts, his face red with anger.

The princess, standing beside Suta, pleads with her father. "Father, please, our love is genuine. Why should our stations in life matter?"

But the king will not listen. "This is outrageous!" he roars. "Guards, take Suta away and throw him in jail!"

The princess is heartbroken. Despite her tears and protests, Suta is dragged to the dungeon. There, he is left without food or water.

Desperate, the princess comes up with a plan. Late one night, she sneaks into the jail and whispers to Suta through the bars, "Suta, I will not let you suffer. We must escape and start a new life together."

With the princess’s help, Suta manages to break out of jail. They flee the kingdom, running far away until they find a secluded spot near a river where they can rest.

"This is where we will start our new life," the princess says softly. "Let us marry here, away from my father’s reach."

And so, under the open sky by the river, Suta and the princess get married. They start a family and build a life together.

The place where Suta and the princess raise their family becomes known as Baturraden. 'Batur' means servant, while 'Raden' means noble. Today, Baturraden is a popular tourist spot located at the foothill of Mount Slamet in Purwokerto, Central Java.