- Type
- Fortress
- Origins
- 1545 · 16th century per Wikidata: founding, first mention or construction
- Location
- South Sulawesi, Indonesia
- Visiting
- probably – Wikidata lists it as a museum or gives tickets, opening hours or visitor numbers; check before you go
- Coordinates
- -5.1344°, 119.4058°
History
According to tradition, the ninth ruler of the Gowa kingdom, Tumaparisi Kallonna, built the first earthen stronghold, Ujung Pandang, in 1545; some historians, however, believe the fort was only built around 1634, when under Sultan Alauddin the Makassarese were fortifying the coast in the face of war with the Dutch. After losing a war with the Dutch East India Company, Sultan Hasanuddin was forced to sign the Treaty of Bongaya in 1667 and hand the fort to the Dutch. On the initiative of Admiral Cornelis Speelman it was completely rebuilt – gaining its five bastions in 1673–1679 – and named Rotterdam after Speelman's home town. It became the centre of Dutch power on Sulawesi. From 1833 Prince Diponegoro, leader of the Java War, was held here, and he died in Makassar in 1855.
What to see
Beyond the seaward gate lies a courtyard of steep-roofed colonial buildings, enclosed by bastioned walls. Two of them house the La Galigo Museum, with displays on the cultures of Sulawesi's peoples, from costumes and weapons to models of pinisi boats. Visitors can also see a room associated with Diponegoro's imprisonment. The fort stands in central Makassar, close to a waterfront known for its sunsets.
Wikipedia article Wikidata Q29771
Popularity: articles about this site in 15 Wikimedia projects (Wikipedia language editions and others).