Special Region of Kutai

The Special Region of Kutai (Indonesian: Daerah Istimewa Kutai) was a regency-level special region within East Kalimantan, Indonesia, that existed from 1953 until 1960. Throughout its existence, it was led by the 19th sultan of Kutai, Aji Muhammad Parikesit.

Its capital was originally located at Samarinda, although by late 1956, it was moved back to its traditional capital of Tenggarong by the local government. The Special Region of Kutai was formed on 7 January 1953 from earlier Kutai Self-Governance (Indonesian: Swapraja Kutai), and it was one of few second-level special regions to have existed in Indonesia, along with the Special Region of Berau and the Special Region of Bulongan, all of them were located in Kalimantan.

However, at the time, its system of government was rejected by the locals, seen as being feudalistic and autocratic. The Special Region of Kutai was slated to be dissolved under the law number 27 of 26 June 1959, nine days before the enactment of President Sukarno's 1959 Decree, which splits the region into Kutai Regency (and its successor Kutai Kartanegara Regency), Balikpapan, and Samarinda. However, its dissolution could only be effective on 21 January 1960, with its head Aji Muhammad Parikesit officially handed over his powers to the three successors at the sultanate of Kutai palace, now the Mulawarman Museum.

The Special Region of Kutai bordered (in anticlockwise direction) the special regions of Berau and Bulongan, the Crown Colony of Sarawak (part of the British Empire), Kapuas Hulu, Barito, and Kotabaru. Due to multiple historical administrative changes, the territory of the Special Region of Kutai now includes East Kutai, Kutai Kartanegara, Mahakam Ulu, and West Kutai regencies; Balikpapan, Bontang, Nusantara and Samarinda cities; and Penajam—Sepaku districts of Penajam North Paser regency, all of them consist around 79% of the current area of East Kalimantan.