The Principality of Pakualaman (also written Paku Alaman; Dutch-spelling: Pakoe-alaman) is a minor Javanese princely state within the Sultanate of Yogyakarta.

Due to Paku Alam VIII's role in the Indonesian independence movement, a law was passed to allow the position of vice-governor of the Yogyakarta Special Region to be filled hereditarily by the reigning Prince Paku Alam at any particular time, while the Sultans of Yogyakarta fills the role of Governor on a hereditary basis.

Starting from the Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat dispute under Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono II against the government of the Governor-General Herman Willem Daendels of the French-Netherlands (under French influence during King Louis Bonaparte of French-Holland).

Sultan Hamengkubuwono II's half-brother, Prince Notokusumo, and his son Notodiningrat, who supported the rebellion were also captured by the Dutch in Semarang and taken to Batavia.

It formed a joint government with the Yogyakarta Sultanate until 1950, when officially they were given the status of a Daerah Istimewa (special region) inside Indonesia.