Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono IX (April 12, 1912 - October 1988) was the first Governor of the Yogyakarta Special Region, the ninth Sultan of Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat Sultanate (the Sultanate of Yogyakarta) and the second Vice President of Indonesia.
In 1931, Hamengkubuwono IX left Indonesia to attend the Leiden University in the Netherlands. He returned to Indonesia in 1939. With the death of Hamengkubuwono VIII in October 1939, Hamengkubuwono ascended to the throne with a coronation ceremony on March 18, 1940.
Directly after the declaration of Indonesian independence at 17 August 1945, Hamengkubuwono IX together with Paku Alam VIII, the Sultan of Solo decided to support the newly formed Republic. In addition, Hamengkubuwono IX served as Yogyakarta's Military Governor and was also Minister of the State from 1945-1949.
Hamengkubuwono IX served as Minister of Defense and Homeland Security Coordinator, Chairman of the State Apparatus Supervision, Chairman of the State Audit Board, and Coordinating Minister for Development while concurrently holding the position of Minister of Tourism. After (soon to be President) Suharto had received Supersemar in March 1966, Hamengkubuwono IX was appointed Minister of Economics, Finance, and Industry and charged with rectifying Indonesia's Economic problems. He served as Vice President of Indonesia from 1973 to 1978. (Read more...)