Ternate & Tidore Island
Ternate and neighbouring Tidore were the world's major producer of cloves and Ternate is one of the most powerful sultanate in 15th Century. Ternate's rivalry with Tidore is a dominant theme in the early history of the Maluku Islands.
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Ternate Island
Ternate Island is dominated by the volcanic Mount Gamalama (1715 m). The foothills are home to groves of clove trees.
Map of Tidore (1720) by François ValentijnFundación Elkano
One of the earliest illustration ever made of Ternate from 1720. It shows the active volcano of Mount Gamalama. Combination of volcanic soil and island weather makes a perfect ground for best cloves to grow and processed.
Keten van de koning van Ternate (ca. 1675) by anoniemRijksmuseum
Ternate Sultanate
The Sultanate of Ternate, previously also known as The Kingdom of Gapi is one of the oldest Muslim kingdoms in Indonesia besides Tidore, Jailolo, and Bacan. The Sultanate reigned from 1200s - 1600s until the Spanish came followed by the Dutch.
The Sultan of Ternate’s bodyguard (1870/1900) by Woodbury & Page (1857 - 1908)Nationaal Museum van Wereldculturen
The Sultan of Ternate's guard c.1870 -1900
Documentation of Ternate Sultanate soldiers.
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Maitara Island and Tidore Islands seen from Ternate Island
Tidore Island and Maitara Island (on the right) seen from Ternate Island.
Overwinning van de Hollanders op de Portugezen op Tidore (rechterplaat), 1605 (1606 - 1610) by Frisius, SimonRijksmuseum
Engraving of Tidore c.1605
Clove Flowers (2019-07-17) by Josh Catti Rahadi (Negeri Rempah Foundation)Indonesia Gastronomy Network
The Fragrance of Mollucas
Cloves are the aromatic flower buds of a tree in the family Myrtaceae, Syzygium aromaticum. They are native to the Maluku Islands (or Moluccas) in Indonesia, and are commonly used as a spice. Read more about cloves here
Justified Account by Cristóbal de Haro Justified Account by Cristóbal de Haro (1524) by Cristóbal de HaroArchivos Estatales
Journey documents from voyage to Maluku, 1524
The document accounts for cloves and armada cost that was received by House of Trade of Seville
Clove boiler Clove boiler (mid-19th century)The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Clove boiler, Edo Period c. 1760
The oldest mosque of Ternate, main mosque in Ternate Sultanate
From San Lázaro (Philippines) to Tidore (Malaku Islands) by Lola Bermúdez (Tannhauser Estudio)Acción Cultural Española, AC/E
