Tidore
Encyclopedia
Tidore is a city, island, and archipelago in the Maluku Islands
of eastern Indonesia
, west of the larger island of Halmahera
. In the pre-colonial era, the kingdom of Tidore was a major regional political and economic power, and a fierce rival of nearby Ternate
, just to the north.
which rises from the seafloor to an elevation of 1730 m (5,676 ft) above sea level
at the conical Kiematabu Peak on the south end of the island. The northern side of the island contains a caldera
, Sabale, with two smaller volcanic cones within it.
Soasio is Tidore's capital. It has its own port, Goto, and it lies on the eastern edge of the island. It has a mini bus terminal and a market. The sultan's palace was rebuilt with completion in 2010.
, another sultanate.
The sultans of Tidore ruled most of southern Halmahera, and, at times, controlled Buru
, Ambon
and many of the islands off the coast of New Guinea
. Tidore established a loose alliance with the Spanish
in the sixteenth century, and Spain had several forts on the island. There was much mutual distrust between the Tidorese and the Spaniards, but for the Tidorese the Spanish presence was helpful for resisting the incursions of the Ternateans and their ally, the Dutch
, who had a fort on Ternate. For the Spanish, backing an independent Tidore state helped check the expansion of Dutch power that threatened their nearby Asia-Pacific interests and provided a useful base right next to the centre of Dutch power in the region.
Before the Spanish withdrawal from Tidore and Ternate in 1663, the Tidore sultanate established itself as one of the strongest and most independent states in the region. After the Spanish withdrawal it continued to resist direct control by the Dutch East India Company
(the VOC). Particularly under Sultan Saifuddin (r. 1657–1689), the Tidore court was skilled at using Dutch payment for spices for gifts to strengthen traditional ties with Tidore's traditional peripheral territories. As a result he was widely respected by many local populations, and had little need to call on foreign military help for governing the kingdom, unlike Ternate which frequently relied upon Dutch military assistance.
Tidore long remained an independent state, albeit with growing Dutch interference, until the late eighteenth century. Like Ternate, Tidore allowed the Dutch spice eradication program (extirpatie) to proceed in its territories. This program, intended to strengthen the Dutch spice monopoly by limiting production to a few places, impoverished Tidore and weakened its control over its periphery.
In 1781 Prince Nuku left Tidore and declared himself Sultan of the Papuan Islands. This was the beginning of a guerilla war which lasted for many years. The Papuans sided with the rebellious Prince Nuku. The British had sponsored Nuku as part of their campaign against the Dutch in the Moluccas. Captain Thomas Forrest
was intimately connected with Nuku and represented the British as ambassador.
The sultanate was abolished in the Sukarno
era and re-established in 1999 with the 36th sultan. Tidore was largely spared from the sectarian conflict of 1999
across the Maluku Islands.
. The municipality covers an area of 1550 square kilometres (598.5 sq mi) and had an estimated population of 78,617 in July 2003.
The municipality covers 2 larger islands, Oba
and Tidore. It is divided into 5 sub-districts (kecematan), namely Oba, Oba Utara, Tidore, South Tidore, and North Tidore.
Maluku Islands
The Maluku Islands are an archipelago that is part of Indonesia, and part of the larger Maritime Southeast Asia region. Tectonically they are located on the Halmahera Plate within the Molucca Sea Collision Zone...
of eastern Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
, west of the larger island of Halmahera
Halmahera
Halmahera is the largest island in the Maluku Islands. It is part of the North Maluku province of Indonesia.Halmahera has a land area of 17,780 km² and a population in 1995 of 162,728...
. In the pre-colonial era, the kingdom of Tidore was a major regional political and economic power, and a fierce rival of nearby Ternate
Ternate
Ternate is an island in the Maluku Islands of eastern Indonesia. It is located off the west coast of the larger island of Halmahera, the center of the powerful former Sultanate of Ternate....
, just to the north.
Geography
Tidor Island consists of a large stratovolcanoStratovolcano
A stratovolcano, also known as a composite volcano, is a tall, conical volcano built up by many layers of hardened lava, tephra, pumice, and volcanic ash. Unlike shield volcanoes, stratovolcanoes are characterized by a steep profile and periodic, explosive eruptions...
which rises from the seafloor to an elevation of 1730 m (5,676 ft) above sea level
Sea level
Mean sea level is a measure of the average height of the ocean's surface ; used as a standard in reckoning land elevation...
at the conical Kiematabu Peak on the south end of the island. The northern side of the island contains a caldera
Caldera
A caldera is a cauldron-like volcanic feature usually formed by the collapse of land following a volcanic eruption, such as the one at Yellowstone National Park in the US. They are sometimes confused with volcanic craters...
, Sabale, with two smaller volcanic cones within it.
Soasio is Tidore's capital. It has its own port, Goto, and it lies on the eastern edge of the island. It has a mini bus terminal and a market. The sultan's palace was rebuilt with completion in 2010.
History
Tidore was a spice-funded sultanate that was founded in 1109, and spent much of its history in the shadow of TernateTernate
Ternate is an island in the Maluku Islands of eastern Indonesia. It is located off the west coast of the larger island of Halmahera, the center of the powerful former Sultanate of Ternate....
, another sultanate.
The sultans of Tidore ruled most of southern Halmahera, and, at times, controlled Buru
Buru
Buru is the third largest island within Maluku Islands of Malay Archipelago. It lies between the Banda Sea to the south and Seram Sea to the north, west of Ambon and Seram islands. The island belongs to Maluku province of Indonesia and includes the Buru and South Buru regencies...
, Ambon
Ambon Island
Ambon Island is part of the Maluku Islands of Indonesia. The island has an area of , and is mountainous, well watered, and fertile. Ambon Island consists of 2 territories: The main city and seaport is Ambon , which is also the capital of Maluku province and Maluku Tengah Ambon Island is part of the...
and many of the islands off the coast of New Guinea
New Guinea
New Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
. Tidore established a loose alliance with the Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
in the sixteenth century, and Spain had several forts on the island. There was much mutual distrust between the Tidorese and the Spaniards, but for the Tidorese the Spanish presence was helpful for resisting the incursions of the Ternateans and their ally, the Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, who had a fort on Ternate. For the Spanish, backing an independent Tidore state helped check the expansion of Dutch power that threatened their nearby Asia-Pacific interests and provided a useful base right next to the centre of Dutch power in the region.
Before the Spanish withdrawal from Tidore and Ternate in 1663, the Tidore sultanate established itself as one of the strongest and most independent states in the region. After the Spanish withdrawal it continued to resist direct control by the Dutch East India Company
Dutch East India Company
The Dutch East India Company was a chartered company established in 1602, when the States-General of the Netherlands granted it a 21-year monopoly to carry out colonial activities in Asia...
(the VOC). Particularly under Sultan Saifuddin (r. 1657–1689), the Tidore court was skilled at using Dutch payment for spices for gifts to strengthen traditional ties with Tidore's traditional peripheral territories. As a result he was widely respected by many local populations, and had little need to call on foreign military help for governing the kingdom, unlike Ternate which frequently relied upon Dutch military assistance.
Tidore long remained an independent state, albeit with growing Dutch interference, until the late eighteenth century. Like Ternate, Tidore allowed the Dutch spice eradication program (extirpatie) to proceed in its territories. This program, intended to strengthen the Dutch spice monopoly by limiting production to a few places, impoverished Tidore and weakened its control over its periphery.
In 1781 Prince Nuku left Tidore and declared himself Sultan of the Papuan Islands. This was the beginning of a guerilla war which lasted for many years. The Papuans sided with the rebellious Prince Nuku. The British had sponsored Nuku as part of their campaign against the Dutch in the Moluccas. Captain Thomas Forrest
Thomas Forrest (navigator)
Thomas Forrest was an English navigator who worked for the British East India Company.-Life:He appears to have served for some time in the Royal Navy, and to have been a midshipman in 1745. Passages in his own writings show that he was employed in Indian waters from 1753 almost continuously...
was intimately connected with Nuku and represented the British as ambassador.
The sultanate was abolished in the Sukarno
Sukarno
Sukarno, born Kusno Sosrodihardjo was the first President of Indonesia.Sukarno was the leader of his country's struggle for independence from the Netherlands and was Indonesia's first President from 1945 to 1967...
era and re-established in 1999 with the 36th sultan. Tidore was largely spared from the sectarian conflict of 1999
Maluku sectarian conflict
Sectarian conflict in the Maluku Islands of Indonesia between 1999 and 2002 killed thousands of people and displaced over 1/2 million.In the late 1990s, Indonesia was experiencing the devastating economic and political effects of the East Asian Financial Crisis which affected Indonesia more than...
across the Maluku Islands.
Administration
The island constitutes a municipality (kotamadya) within the province of North MalukuNorth Maluku
North Maluku is a province of northeastern Indonesia. It covers the northern part of the Maluku Islands, which are split between it and the province of Maluku. Maluku province used to cover the entire group...
. The municipality covers an area of 1550 square kilometres (598.5 sq mi) and had an estimated population of 78,617 in July 2003.
The municipality covers 2 larger islands, Oba
OBA
Oba or OBA may refer to:* Oba , an African ruler or king* Oba , in Yoruba mythology* Oba, an island in the North Maluku province of Indonesia* Oba-Igbomina, a town in Nigeria...
and Tidore. It is divided into 5 sub-districts (kecematan), namely Oba, Oba Utara, Tidore, South Tidore, and North Tidore.