1. The Brief History

Rotterdam fort is accounted as one of magnificent and glorious castles in South Sulawesi, Indonesia. The journalist of New York Times, Barbara Crossette, said that the castle is the best preserved Dutch fort in Asia. In the beginning, this fort was called as Jumpandang fortress (derived from Ujung Pandang). This fort, at the present, is one of historical heritages of Gowa Sultanate in South Sulawesi. According to the written records, the ze­nith of this sultanate was happening in seventeenth century when Ujung Pandang (Makassar) became its capital for the first time. Recently, this sultanate territory is under the control of South Sulawesi Province, Indonesia. The sultanate, actually, has 17 castles that stretched around its capital and the surrounding territories. However, Rotterdam fort is one of magnificent castle among other castles in South Sulawesi, and its originality is preserved to this time.

The Roterdam fort was constructed by the tenth king of Gowa, Imanrigau Daeng Bonto Karaeng Lakiung or Karaeng Tunipalangga Ulaweng, in 1545 C.E. In the beginning, the design of this fort was quadrangle as well as other Portuguese fort architecture. The basic construction of the castle was earthen-burning-stone. Its wall was black that covered by mildew. On Augustus 9, 1634 C.E., the fourteenth Sultan of Gowa, I Mangerangi Daeng Manrabbia with his title Sultan Alauddin, constructed the wall of the castle with black-hard-stone (padas). On June 23, 1635 C.E., the wall of the castle which nearby the main gate was constructed for the second time.

In fact, this fort had been ruined by the Dutch colonialist, when this sultanate was under their control. In addition, this fort was constructed for once more. The Dutch colonialist attacked Gowa Sultanate, when this sultanate was under the control of Sultan Hasanuddin, during years 1655 to 1669 C.E. The main goal of the attacking, at the time, was to enlarge colonial trades and to make them easy for entering Banda and Maluku territories as the center of trade in east region. Since 1666 C.E., the first war was beginning between the Dutch colonialist and Gowa Sultanate. The Dutch army were led by admiral governor Cornelis Janszoon Speelman. For a year, the Gowa Sultanate had been attacked by them. This attack resulted in ruining the Rotterdam fort. And, the sultan‘s house that sited in the fort had also been burned by the opponent soldiers. The result of this war that the Sultan of Gowa had been forced to give sign in Bongaya treaty on November 18, 1667 C.E.

The general governor, Speelman, ordered his soldiers to rebuild the ruined fort in Dutch architecture.  In the beginning, the construction of the castle was quadrangle surrounded by five bastions, the Dutch then added a bastion on the west side ever since. The name of the fort then turned into Rotterdam fort that indicated the birth place of Speelman. Since that time, this fort functioned as the trading center and the Dutch governmental center in east territories of South Sulawesi.

This castle had ever been made as the exiling place of Pangeran Diponegoro when he was defeated by the Dutch colonialist in Java, during years 1925 to 1930. He had been exiled in this castle for 26 years.

2. The Location

This castle is located on Ujung Pandang Street No.1, Makassar City, South Sulawesi Province, Indonesia. The site is in front of the port of Makassar city.

3. The Description of the Fort

This castle stands strongly around 5 meters in height. The main entrance is small. When the castle is looked from high place, it will be seemed like a turtle that will enter to deeper coast. The form of the turtle describes us that Gowa Sultanate was a maritime sultanate with its economic power and strong sailor-ship, and from that time, the castle had been functioned as the defense from the rebels. Since long time ago, Makassar people were well-known as  sailors who made a voyage to many coastal areas from Indonesia to Indian ocean, and Madagascar islands. Because the shape likes a turtle, so that this castle is also recognized as Panynyua (Penyu) fort.

4. The Social Functions

This fort had functioned as the center of trading, governmental administrations, and economic activities of Gowa Sultanate. When the Dutch colonialist controlled the sultanate, this fort had been functioned as the center of governmental administration and trading activities by Dutch colonialist.

In the castle area, there is Negeri La Galigo museum that stored Tanah Toraja‘s artifacts.  This museum stored also many historical artifacts, manuscripts (containing treaty between Sri Sultan Sjahbaddin and VOC, on May 19, 1710 C.E.), statues, ceramics, traditional uniforms, and cultural heritages of South Sulawesi. This museum was legalized by head of cultural affair department, Prof. Dr. Ida Bagus Mantra, on February 24, 1974. The name of this museum is derived from I La Galigo epic. Its name is also a name of prominent figure who takes roles in this epic as linguist. In the castle, there is also traditional house of Gowa resided by the sultan for long time ago.

This fort, actually, has not only functioned as museum, but also purposed as the center of Makassar cultural office. Moreover, the castle areas have functioned also as a place of preserving historical and cultural heritage that offered art performance, dance, music concert, and so on. (TN/trj/26/10-07).

References :

• Republika, 24 Agustus 2003.
• www.geocities.com/wisatamakassar.
• www.makassar.go.id.
• www.navigasi.net.
• www.sieztha.wordpress.com

Photo credit: mytravelblogging.com

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