Sultanate of Gowa

Quick Facts: Who was Sultanate of Gowa?

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Sultanate of Gowa

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A powerful historical sultanate in Southern Sulawesi, central to Indonesian maritime history.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

The Sultanate of Gowa was one of the great kingdoms in the history of Indonesia and the most successful kingdom in the South Sulawesi region. People of this kingdom come from the Makassarese people who lived in the south end and the west coast of southern Sulawesi. Before the establishment of the kingdom, the region had been known as Makassar and its people as Makassarese. The history of the kingdom can be divided into two eras: pre-Islamic kingdom and post-Islamic sultanate. The epic poem the Nagarakretagama, in praise of King Rajasanagara of Majapahit, lists Makassar as one of the kingdom's tributaries in 1365.

Career & Major Achievements

The first queen of Gowa was Tomanurung Baine. Not much is known about the exact time when the kingdom was established nor about the first queen, and only during the reign of the 6th king, Tonatangka Kopi, have local sources noted about the division of the kingdom into two new kingdoms led by two Kopi's sons: Kingdom of Gowa led by Batara Gowa as its 7th king covering areas of Paccelekang, Pattalasang, Bontomanai Ilau, Bontomanai 'Iraya, Tombolo and Mangasa while the other son, Karaeng Loe ri Sero, led a new kingdom called Tallo which included areas of Saumata, Pannampu, Moncong Loe, and Parang Loe. For years both kingdoms were involved in wars until the kingdom of Tallo was defeated. During the reign of King of Gowa X, Tunipalangga (1512-1546), the two kingdoms were reunified to become twin kingdoms under a deal called Rua Kareng se're ata (dual kings, single people in Makassarese) and enforced with a binding treaty. Since then, any king of Tallo also became the king of Gowa.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Many historians then simply call these Gowa-Tallo twin kingdoms as Makassar or just Gowa. Traces of Islam in southwest Sulawesi existed since the 1320's upon the arrival of the first Sayyid, Jamaluddin al-Akbar Al-Husaini, who was the grandfather of the Wali Songo. The conversion of Tallo-Gowa to Islam is traditionally dated to September 22, 1605, when Karaeng Matowaya Tumamenaga Ri Agamanna, the 14th king, converted to Islam, later changing his name to Sultan Alauddin and establishing the kingdom as the Sultanate of Gowa. He ruled the sultanate from 1591 to 1629. His conversion to Islam is associated with the arrival of three ulama from Minangkabau: Datuk Ri Bandang, Datuk Ri Tiro and Datuk Ri Pattimang.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1320: 1320 Milestone — Traces of Islam in southwest Sulawesi existed since the 1320's upon the arrival of the first Sayyid, Jamaluddin al-Akbar Al-Husaini, who was the grandfather of the Wali Songo.
2. 1365: 1365 Milestone — The epic poem the Nagarakretagama, in praise of King Rajasanagara of Majapahit, lists Makassar as one of the kingdom's tributaries in 1365.
3. 1512: 1512 Milestone — During the reign of King of Gowa X, Tunipalangga (1512-1546), the two kingdoms were reunified to become twin kingdoms under a deal called Rua Kareng se're ata (dual kings, single people in Makassarese) and enforced with a binding treaty.
4. 1591: 1591 Milestone — He ruled the sultanate from 1591 to 1629.
5. 1605: 1605 Milestone — The conversion of Tallo-Gowa to Islam is traditionally dated to September 22, 1605, when Karaeng Matowaya Tumamenaga Ri Agamanna, the 14th king, converted to Islam, later changing his name to Sultan Alauddin and establishing the kingdom as the Sultanate of Gowa.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Sultanate of Gowa

True or False: “The Sultanate of Gowa was established immediately after the decline of the Majapahit Empire in the 14th century.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While Makassar was noted as a tributary in 1365, the formal establishment as an Islamic sultanate is traditionally dated to 1605.

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