Tahula Fort in the island of Tidore, Maluku

Fort Tahula (also spelled Tohula Indonesian: Benteng Tahula) is a 17th-century colonial fortification located in the city of Tidore built by the Spaniards during their colonial presence in the Indonesian Archipelago.[1][2] The fort was built in 1609 by the Spaniards to defend their troops.[3][4]

History edit

The idea to build this fort came from the first Spanish governor of the Moluccas, Juan de Esquivel. The construction began in 1609 and was briefly delayed due to the lack of labor workers, it was later continued by the second governor, Cristobal de Azcqueta Menchaca. The fort was finished in 1615, and it was named Santiago de los Caballeros de Tidore or Sanctiago Caualleros de los de la de Isla Tidore. The Spanish occupied and controlled the fort until 1662 when the Dutch East India Company (VOC) took it over.[3]

The VOC allowed Sultan Saifuddin of Tidore to stay in the fort and made it his residence. In 1799 Sultan Nuku upgraded the fort by adding canons and ammunitions to prepare for his plans to attack the VOC.[3]

Building edit

Fort Tahula is located in the regency of Soasio, Tidore Island.[4]

The Fort has a rectangular plan and consists of four buildings made of natural stone. There are several elements that can be seen in this fort building, namely bastions, tombs, inner courtyards, rooms in the fort, stairs, and ponds. In the interior of the fort, there is a room with a semicircular door. There are also bastions in the form of triangles and circles. [3]

Reference edit

  1. ^ "Sejarah Kesultanan Tidore: Pendiri, Kejayaan, & Daftar Raja-Sultan". Tirto.id. 3 January 2022. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  2. ^ M. Adnan Amal (September 21, 2016). Kepulauan Rempah-rempah. Kepustakaan Populer Gramedia (KPG). p. 220. ISBN 9786024241667. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d "Menikmati Keindahan Pulau Tidore dari Benteng Tahula". goodnewsfromindonesia. Gramedia. 11 January 2022. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  4. ^ a b "Tips Melancong ke Tidore". Kompas.com. 14 May 2013. Retrieved 10 August 2022.