It is said that Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono VIII was named GRM Sujadi as a child. He was born on March 3, 1880 (Rebo Wage Rabingulawal Wawu Je 1809). GRM Sujadi was a descendant of Hamengku Buwono VII from a concubine named GKR Hemas. GRM Sujadi ascended the throne on February 8, 1921 (Tuesday Kliwon, 29 Jumadilawal Alip 1850). Hamengku Buwono VIII had 8 wives, 24 sons, and 17 daughters. Hamengku Buwono VIII was known as a king who was oriented towards cultural advancement and democratization. He once employed a famous painter and pianist from Germany (Walter Spies) as Kapellmeister (master band orchestra) at the Mandalasana hall, before moving to Ubud (Bali) to work as a painter.

Hamengku Buwono VIII ascended the throne to replace his 83-year-old father. He was crowned with the permission of the Dutch. The king was not yet officially married at that time, but he already had several children. The Dutch considered the king to be mostly secluded in the palace. During Hamengku Buwono VIII's reign, the palace was inhabited by around 15,000 people. The majority were members of the royal family, carpenters, gardeners, gold and silver smiths, batik makers, and other workers who served the palace. The main building in the palace during the Hamengku Buwono VIII period was occupied by the Sultan and his queen. Several rooms were used for honored guests, such as the Dutch Resident when visiting. The Sultan was called “Pangeran Merdeka” (Prince of Freedom), but he had to share the throne with the Dutch (resident) in governing the kingdom.

The kingdom in Vorstenlanden in the early 20th century had similarities in terms of development and modernization to what happened in Europe in the 16th and 17th centuries. The palace with its circle of aristocrats and cultural romanticism was very beautiful to Europeans. Even so, many princes were useful to society (in the field of government) because they had studied Western education. Not all aristocrats in Yogyakarta were educated in the West and fluent in Dutch. This was in contrast to the young aristocrats in Surakarta who were fluent in Dutch, and even some of the older generations who could speak Dutch and obtained jobs in government offices. The blue-blooded aristocrats and royal servants of the Yogyakarta Palace sat cross-legged or bowed in the peaceful courtyard of the palace, filling their free time by studying dance with perfection and detail. They were eager to learn Javanese culture and blend in with traditions in order to preserve the noble palace culture. Hamengku Buwono VIII did not question this situation, given his democratic attitude of allowing the nobility to choose between serving the palace or pursuing higher education. The aristocrats chose to serve, and unsurprisingly, the arts at the Yogyakarta Palace flourished.