# Gorontalo Sultanate

Gorontalo Sultanate, formerly known as the Hulontalo Kingdom (Gorontalo: Pohala'a Hulontalo), is one of the oldest kingdoms in the Northern Peninsula of Sulawesi island, and the most influential in the entire Tomini Bay, Indonesia. This kingdom is located in the central part of the northern arm of the island of Sulawesi, and is flanked by two strategic waters, namely Gorontalo Bay in the south and Celebes Sea in the north.

## History

During its heyday, the Gorontalo Sultanate became the center for the spread of Islam and the most influential trading center in the region, with the area of the Sultanate covering the Gorontalo Peninsula to the Tomini Bay (Gorontalo Bay), to the end of Sausu, Parigi Moutong in Tomini-Bocht (Tomini Bay), to several areas in the north and center of Sulawesi island.
The Kingdom of Gorontalo then changed to an Islamic Kingdom during the reign of Amai, who then changed to the title of sultan. Sultan Amai whose title is Ta Olongia Lopo Isilamu ('King who Islamized the country') is Olongia or the first king of the Gorontalo Kingdom who convert to Islam.

### Spread of Islam era

The Gorontalo Sultanate was one of the centers for the spread of Islam in eastern Indonesia, besides the Ternate Sultanate, Gowa Sultanate, and Bone Sultanate. The spread of Islam in Gorontalo is estimated to have begun in the 16th century (between 1501 and 1600), marked by the conversion of one of the kings of Gorontalo, named Amai, to Islam. Amai then changed the title of king to sultan, so that his name was widely remembered as Sultan Amai of Gorontalo.
One of the references to the entry of Islam into Gorontalo comes from the explanation of Ibrahim Polontalo, where the marriage between King (Olongia) Amai and Princess Owutango from the Palasa Kingdom. The Islamic religion adopted by the Palasa (Kumonjolo) Kingdom originates from the blood relationship of the kingdom with the rulers of the Ternate Sultanate. In this marriage, King Amai and his followers were required to convert to Islam and the Al-Qur'an as the main source of the order of life and customs of the Gorontalo people.
After the proposal was accepted, Amai, who later had the title sultan, returned to Gorontalo with his wife, Owutango. They were accompanied by 8 small kings (Olongia Walu Lontho Otolopa), namely kings of Tamalate, Lemboo, Siyendeng, Hulangato, Siduan, Sipayo, Soginti, and Bunuyo. It was these little kings who later helped Sultan Amai in guiding and designing customs that were guided by the Islamic religion.

## Ilomata Wopato

In the historical manuscript records of the kingdoms in Gorontalo, There are four eras or golden ages of Gorontalo civilization known as Ilomata Wopato.
Ilomata Wopato literally means four masterpieces (wopato means 'four' and ilomata means 'masterpieces'). During the four rulers, the Gorontalo Kingdom was led by a wise and prudent king, until finally the kingdom turned into a sultanate based on the teachings of the Islamic religion. In that era, governance and social life were regulated in such a way that the people became prosperous and well-off.
Ilomata Wopato is in four eras with a time span around the 14th century during the leadership of King Ilahudu, 15th century under the leadership of Sultan Amai, 17th century under the leadership of Sultan Eato, and 18th century under the leadership of Sultan Botutihe.

## Capital of sultanate

The capital of the Gorontalo Sultanate was originally located in Hulawa, present in Telaga district, precisely on the banks of the Bolango River. Then in 1024 Hijra, the capital of the Gorontalo Sultanate was moved to the Tuladenggi. The last capital of the Gorontalo Sultanate located in Biawu.

## Government structure

The government structure of the Gorontalo Sultanate consists of three institutions called Buatulo Towulongo which are interpreted as three sets of unified customs. Buatulo Towulongo consists of:
* Buatulo Bubato, government institutions
* Buatulo Sara'a, religious institutions
* Buatulo Bala, defense and security institutions
Each representative of Buatulo will be chosen through deliberation and consensus by the Buatulo Bantayo which is headed by a bate. In addition, Buatulo Bantayo is also tasked with creating customary regulations and outlines of the goals of the sultanate.

## Territory areas

The Gorontalo Sultanate has sovereign territory that borders the kingdoms of Limboto, Suwawa, and Bolango. But it also controlled several other small kingdoms, such as Kwandang, Boalemo, and Tolinggula, each led by a jogugu.
However, the influence and territory of the Gorontalo Sultanate extended beyond the borders of the kingdoms, even to the waters of Tomini Bay (Gorontalo Bay) to Sausu in Tomini-Bocht.
The current territory of the Gorontalo Sultanate is present within the territory of Gorontalo City, and some others are in the areas of Gorontalo Regency, Pohuwato Regency, and North Gorontalo Regency in Gorontalo Province.

## Origins

According to the Gorontalo historical manuscript, the origins of the Gorontalo Kingdom first began from a small kingdom (Linula) called the Hulontalangi, which is estimated to have been standing since 1300s. In R. Tacco's notes (1956), at that time the Hulontalangi was led by King Humalanggi. Later, Humalanggi had a son named Ilahudu who then embraced and united 17 small kingdoms on the slopes or foot of the mountain. These 17 small kingdoms later formed the Gorontalo Kingdom, whose influence became greater and spread to several areas in Tomini Bay (Gorontalo Bay).
Apart from that, the Gorontalo Kingdom has long recognized the position of the female rule or queen as the leader of the kingdom. This shows that since ancient times, the Gorontalo people have recognized equality between men and women in the kingdom.

### List of Gorontalo kingdoms

The union of 17 small kingdoms (Linula) which became the forerunner to the formation of the Gorontalo Kingdom is as follows:
* Hunginaa Kingdom, led by King Lihawa
* Lupoyo Kingdom, led by King Pai
* Bilinggata Kingdom, led by King Lou
* Wuwabu Kingdom, led by King Wahumolongo
* Biawu Kingdom, led by King Wolango Huladu
* Padengo Kingdom, led by King Palanggo
* Huwangobotu Olowala Kingdom, led by King Dawanggi
* Tapa Kingdom, led by King Deyilohiyo Daa
* Lauwonu Kingdom, led by Queen Bongohulawa
* Toto Kingdom, led by Queen Tilopalani
* Dumati Kingdom, led by King Buata
* Ilotidea Kingdom, led by King Tamau
* Pantungo Kingdom, led by King Ngobuto
* Panggulo Kingdom, led by King Hungiyelo
* Huangobotu Oloyihi Kingdom, led by King Lealini
* Tamboo Kingdom, led by Queen Dayilombuto
* Hulontalangi Kingdom, led by King Ilahudu

## Naming and etymology

In the Dutch colonial era, the Gorontalo Sultanate itself had many names mentioned in various historical literature, included in the correspondence between the Dutch and the Sultans of Gorontalo at that time. Other names for the Gorontalo Kingdom that have been found in various scientific reference sources and print media since the 1800s, include Goenong-Talo, Goenong-Tello, and Holontalo.
In historical records, the origin of the name Gorontalo itself has many versions. However, the origin of the name Gorontalo which is most in accordance with historical facts is that it comes from the words Huidu Totolu 'three mountains', which was then absorbed by various colonial era literature as Goenong-Talo or Goenong-Tello. This historical explanation was clearly stated by Jusuf Sjarif Badudu in the book Morfologi Bahasa Gorontalo in 1982.
In his book, Badudu explains that the Three Mountains which are the origin of the name Gorontalo refer to Mount Tilonggabila (Tilongkabila), Mount Malenggalila, and a third unnamed mountain. These three mountains are what in the Gorontalo language are called Huidu Totolu which was later absorbed into Hulonthalo or Goenong-Talo, until finally it became known as Gorontalo as it is today.

## List of rulers

The leadership of the Gorontalo Sultanate is divided into three phases, the initial phase is the early kingdom, the second phase is Olongia To Tilayo, and the final phase is Olongia To Huliyaliyo, which marks the end of Gorontalo sovereignty.
Early kingdom :
| No. | Olongia | Years |
| 1 | Ilahudu | 1385–1427 |
| 2 | Uloli | 1427–1450 |
| 3 | Walango | 1450–1481 |
| 4 | Polamolo | 1481–1490 |
| 5 | Ntihedu | 1490–1503 |
| 6 | Detu | 1503–1523 |
| Olongia To Tilayo |||
| No. | Olongia or Tulutani | Years |
| 1 | Amai | 1523–1550 |
| 2 | Matolodula Kiki | 1550–1585 |
| 3 | Pongoliwa Daa | 1585–1615 |
| 4 | Moliye | 1615–1646 |
| 5 | Eato (Eyato) | 1646–1674 |
| 6 | Polamolo II Tomito | 1674–1686 |
| 7 | Lepehulawa | 1686–1735 |
| 8 | Nuwa | 1735–1764 |
| 9 | Walango | 1767–1798 |
| 10 | Bia (Bea or Biya) | 1798–1809 |
| 11 | Tapu | 1809 |
| 12 | Haidari | 1809–1828 |
| 13 | Walangadi | 1828–1835 |
| 14 | Wadipalapa | 1836–1847 |
| 15 | Panjuroro | 1847–1851 |
| Olongia to Huliyaliyo |||
| No. | Olongia or Tulutani | Years |
| 1 | Podungge | 1530–1560 |
| 2 | Tuliabu | 1560–1578 |
| 3 | Wulutileni | 1578–1611 |
| 4 | Mboheleo | 1611–1632 |
| 5 | Bumulo | 1632–1647 |
| 6 | Tiduhula | 1647–1677 |
| 7 | Bia | 1677–1703 |
| 8 | Walangadi | 1703–1718 |
| 9 | Piola | 1718–1737 |
| 10 | Botutihe | 1737–1757 |
| 11 | Iskandar Monoarfa | 1757–1777 |
| 12 | Unonongo | 1780–1782 |
| 13 | Pongoliwu Mbuinga Daa | 1782–1795 |
| 14 | Mbuinga Kiki Monoarfa | 1795–1818 |
| 15 | Mohammad Iskandar Pui Monoarfa | 1818–1829 |
| 16 | Lihawa Monoarfa | 1829–1830 |
| 17 | Abdul Babiyonggo | 1830–1831 |
| 18 | Bumulo | 1831–1836 |
| 19 | Hasan Pui Monoarfa | 1836–1851 |
| 20 | Abdullah (Mbuinga) Pui Monoarfa | 1851–1859 |
| 21 | Zainal Abidin Monoarfa | 1859–1878 |