Story

Ciamis Regency is a landlocked regency in West Java, Indonesia, and shares a provincial border with Central Java. Its seat is the town of Ciamis, also the primary urban center. Formerly, the regency included the town of Banjar, which was separated out to become an independent city on 11 December 2002; it also included areas bordering the Indian Ocean, but these southern districts were cut off to form a separate Pangandaran Regency on 25 October 2012. The regency now covers 1,595.94 km2, and had a 2020 census population of 1,229,069, but the official estimate as of mid 2025 was 1,273,158 (comprising 635,483 males and 637,675 females).

Second incarnation of Galuh Kingdom reemerged in 16th century centered in Panaekan. In 1595, under Cipta Permana reign, the kingdom was conquered by Mataram Sultanate. In 1595, appointment of Adipati Panaekan, Cipta Permana's son, as wedana by the Mataram administration marked the region's new status as a subordinate territory of the Mataram Sultanate.

Adipati Panaekan moved the administrative center to Gara Tengah. He was then killed in 1625 by his brother-in-law, Adipati Kertabumi, after a dispute over strategy for attacking the VOC. Panaekan favored an immediate assault, whereas Kertabumi argued for consolidating forces first. Kertabumi then informed Sultan Agung—falsely—that Panaekan had conspired with Adipati Ukur to detach Ukur from the Mataram realm. Panaekan was replaced by his son, who bore the title Adipati Imbanagara.

Imbanagara himself was killed in 1636 by Mataram troops due to a misunderstanding. A figure named Patih Wiranangga attempted to claim succession by concealing the legitimate letter of appointment for the new ruler. When this was discovered, he was executed. The next ruler was Imbanagara's son, who received the title Adipati Panji Aria Jayanegara. He was installed on 5 Rabiul Awal, corresponding to 6 August 1636. Under his rule, Galuh was renamed Galuh Imbanagara.

Jayanagara moved the administrative center from Gara Tengah to Barunay. In 1641, the territory of Galuh Imbanagara was reduced after the areas of Bojong Lopang, Utama, Kawasen, and Banyumas were separated to form a new regency.

Under the agreement of 19–20 October 1677, Galuh, together with Limbangan, Sukapura, and Cirebon, was incorporated into the territories transferred by Mataram to the VOC. The ruler of Galuh at the time, R. Anggapraja—the eldest son of Jayanagara—refused to cooperate with the VOC, resulting in the leadership being passed to his younger brother, R. A. Angganaya. At that time, the population of Galuh was recorded at 708 inhabitants.

Leadership subsequently passed to R. A. Sutadinata in 1693. He became the first regent to serve under VOC authority, following the formalization of Galuh's status under the VOC in the agreement of 5 October 1705, granted as compensation for the VOC's support of Prince Puger in claiming the throne from Amangkurat III. During Sutadinata's administration, the VOC implemented the Prianganstelsel and an indirect rule system.

VOC records list Galuh's population as 1,333 in 1684, 398 in 1686, and 1,700 in 1706.

In 1706, R. A. Kusumadinata I succeeded his father, Sutadinata. During this period, the VOC appointed Prince Aria of Cirebon as an opziener (overseer). Coffee cultivation began in the Kawali area in 1720.

Kusumadinata II succeeded his father, Kusumadinata I, in 1727. He died young and left no heirs, resulting in the regency passing to his sister's son, R. A. Kusumadinata III. In fact, Kusumadinata II had two younger brothers, Danumaya and Danukriya, but they were not recognized by the VOC because they were born to a different mother.

At the beginning of Kusumadinata III's tenure, his rule was exercised through three guardians—essentially a supervisory council—led by R. T. Jagabaya. During this interim leadership, unrest occurred in the Ciancang area, prompting the VOC to transfer that territory into Galuh Imbanagara. Kusumadinata III began to govern directly in 1751.

R. A. Natadikusuma succeeded his father, Kusumadinata III, in 1801. He was dismissed from office after being accused of insulting the Dutch official Van Bast and, in 1806, replaced by R. T. Surapraja, who was not a descendant of Natadikusuma. He was even detained in Cirebon. As a consequence of the incident, Banyumas and Dayeuhluhur were removed from Galuh's jurisdiction, although Utama and Cibatu were added. Around this period, the name Galuh Imbanagara was formally reverted to Galuh.

In 1811, R. T. Jayengpati Kartanagara from Cirebon became regent. During his administration, Galuh Regency was required to pay a debt of 23,000 rds. He moved administrative center to Cibatu.

Jayengpati was succeeded by Natanagara in 1812. Natanagara proposed relocating the administrative center to Randengan, but the colonial government rejected the plan. He was dismissed in the same year and replaced by Sutawijaya of Cirebon after failing to suppress an uprising in Nusa Kambangan.

Sutawijaya was assisted by three patih: Wiradikusuma, who oversaw Imbanagara; Jayakusuma, responsible for Cibatu; and Wiratmaka, who managed Utama. He later moved the capital to Burung Diuk, a location closer to Dayeuh Anyar, an area then being developed as the next administrative center.

After Sutawijaya returned to Cirebon, he was succeeded by Wiradikusuma in 1815. Wiradikusuma again relocated the capital, this time to Ciamis. In 1819 he requested retirement and was replaced by R. A. Adikusuma.

During Adikusuma's administration, Kawali and Panjalu were incorporated into Galuh. The regency was reorganized into four districts: Ciamis, Kepel, Kawali, and Panjalu. His tenure also coincided with the implementation of the cultuurstelsel, under which the mandatory crops included coffee, rice, sugarcane, and tarum (indigo).

R. A. A. Kusumadiningrat succeeded Adikusuma in 1839. His administration oversaw the construction of several dams in Nagawangi, Wangundireja, Cikatomas, and Nagawiru, as well as the establishment coconut oil mill and coffee-processing facility. Masjid Agung Galuh (Great Mosque of Galuh) was also built during his tenure. He additionally secure approval from the colonial government for a railway line to pass through Ciamis. In his administration, several formal schools called sakola kabupaten (regency school) were established. These schools initially were reserved for the family of regent and regency officials, but over time they were opened to the general public.

R. A. A. Kusumasubrata, son of Kusumadiningrat, succeeded him in 1886. He received formal schooling in addition to traditional Islamic pesantren education as preparation for his future post. None of his descendants later held the regent position as they were known for opposing the Dutch colonial rule, including his son R. Otto Gurnita Kusumasubrata.

Kusumasubrata was succeeded by R. A. A. Sastrawinata in 1914. During his tenure, the name Galuh Regency was officially changed to Ciamis Regency in 1916. In 1926, Ciamis, Garut, and Tasikmalaya regencies were consolidated into the Priangan Timur (Eastern Priangan) afdeeling. His period in office also saw a local communist uprising in Ciamis, which was successfully suppressed, as well as the conversion of marshland into rice fields in Cisaga.

Lambang Kabupaten Ciamis di sebuah Monumen Perbatasan Kabupaten Ciamis (Kecamatan Cihaurbeuti) dengan Kabupaten Tasikmalaya (Kecamatan Rajapolah) Pemandangan Teluk Pangandaran pada tahun 1930-an Sebagian besar wilayah Kabupaten Ciamis berupa pegunungan dan dataran tinggi, kecuali dibagian selatan Perbatasan dengan Kabupaten Cilacap, Jawa Tengah. Semenjak ada pemekaran Kabupaten Pangandaran, maka saat ini wilayah Kabupaten Ciamis tidak memiliki pesisir pantai.

Wilayah Kabupaten Ciamis berbatasan langsung dengan beberapa wilayah kabupaten/kota berikut:

Wilayah Kabupaten Ciamis beriklim monsun tropis (Am) dengan dua musim yang dipengaruhi oleh pergerakan angin monsun. Ketika angin monsun baratan berlangsung, wilayah Ciamis mengalami musim penghujan dengan curah hujan >200 mm per bulan pada periode Oktober hingga April. Sementara saat angin monsun tenggara berlangsung, wilayah Ciamis mengalami musim kemarau dengan curah hujan kurang dari 150 mm per bulan pada periode Juni hingga September. Oleh karena wilayahnya yang punya topografi yang beragam, suhu udara di wilayah Ciamis bervariasi antara 20° hingga 32 °C.