North Maluku

Lore & Background

North Maluku was originally the centre of the four largest Islamic sultanates in the eastern Indonesian archipelago—Bacan, Jailolo, Tidore and Ternate—known as the Moloku Kië Raha (the Four Mountains of Maluku). The term Maluku historically referred to these four royal centres, and a confederation likely emerged in the 14th century. The etymology of the word Maluku is debated, with one theory linking it to 'Maluku Kie Raha' meaning 'confederation of four mountains', while another suggests it derives from 'Maloko' in an Old Javanese eulogy of 1365.

Reader's Guide

North Maluku's significance lies in its role as the historic heart of the spice trade and the site of early European colonial competition. The sultanates of Ternate and Tidore were major political and economic powers, with Ternate developing from a small kingdom into the largest and most influential country in eastern Indonesia by the 16th century. The arrival of the Portuguese in 1512, followed by the Spanish and Dutch, led to centuries of rivalry and control over the clove and nutmeg trade. The region was later part of the Dutch East Indies, occupied by Japan during World War II, and became a separate Indonesian province in 1999. Its legacy includes a blend of Islamic sultanate traditions, colonial history, and a modern economy based on agriculture, fisheries, and mining.

Did You Know?

• The provincial capital is Sofifi, but the largest city is Ternate, an island city.
• The four sultanates—Bacan, Jailolo, Tidore, and Ternate—were known as the Moloku Kië Raha, or 'Four Mountains of Maluku'.
• The first recorded word identifiable with Maluku comes from the Nagarakretagama, an Old Javanese eulogy of 1365.
• The etymology of 'Maluku' is debated, with theories including a derivation from 'Maluku Kie Raha' or from the word 'Maloko'.

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