Exploring the Early History of the Gowa Tallo Kingdom and the Period of Decline

The Gowa Tallo Kingdom is a kingdom that originated from 2 sibling kingdoms in Sulawesi. This kingdom originated from a pagan worshipping kingdom in South Sulawesi that successfully adopted Islam as the state religion. So, what is the history of the Gowa Tallo Kingdom? Let's take a look at some of the following reviews.

The Story of the Gowa Tallo Kingdom 

The Gowa Tallo Kingdom, located in South Sulawesi, originated from the merger of the Gowa Kingdom and the Tallo Kingdom. Before uniting the Gowa and Tallo Kingdoms, this region was essentially from Tonangka Lopi, a King of Gowa VI. Then, the king divided the territory into 2 regions for the residence of his sons named Batara Gowa and Karaeng Loe Sero.

Batara Gowa continued his father's reign as King of Gowa VII after Tonangka Lopi passed away. Meanwhile, Karaeng Loe Sero eventually established a new kingdom given by his father named the Tallo Kingdom. The presence of these 2 brothers in one region led to ongoing conflicts.

However, the defeat of the Tallo Kingdom caused these 2 regions to be reunited. The agreement to unite these two kingdoms was made by King Gowa X named I Mariogau Daeng Bonto Karaeng Lakiung Tonipalangga Ulaweng. 

The unification of the kingdoms into the Gowa Tallo Kingdom took place at the end of the reign of King Gowa X around the year 1546 AD.

The history of the Gowa Tallo Kingdom, which has long been revealed, is often referred to as the Makassar Kingdom. Nevertheless, the name Gowa Tallo became quite popular as it describes the story of the unity of two kingdoms that were always in conflict. 

Interestingly, the unity of these two kingdoms even had a unique power-sharing system. The Gowa king who won in battle made the Gowa lineage the king. 

However, the Tallo lineage also played a role in the government as prime minister. This kingdom's unity even managed to give birth to a great power originating from Sulawesi Island.

The Gowa Tallo Kingdom was first led by Tunipalangga as the successor of King Gowa X with Nappakata’tana Daeng Padulung as the prime minister from the Tallo kingdom. 

This kingdom's unity even managed to bring about the expansion of neighboring kingdoms to the interior of Bugis and the waters of Bone Bay.

This kingdom always had ambitions to conquer other territories in order to expand its area. Nevertheless, the history of the Gowa Tallo Kingdom gave rise to wars with other regions in southern Sulawesi. Some areas that often clashed with this kingdom were Wajo, Soppeng, Bone, and Luwu.

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The Gowa Tallo Kingdom in the Islamic Era

The transformation of the Gowa Tallo Kingdom into an Islamic kingdom occurred in 1607. This was because Daeng Manrabbia, who embraced Islam as the leader of this kingdom, changed the form of the kingdom into the Gowa Tallo Sultanate. This era even caused ambitions to conquer other territories to become a system of spreading religion.

However, this condition became a polemic among the Makassar and Bugis ethnic groups. Neighboring kingdoms such as Wajo, Soppeng, Bone, and Luwu, which rejected the invitation to embrace Islam, were even easily conquered. 

The change of the kingdom to Islam brought peace to the lands of Makassar and Bugis. Even the history of the Gowa Tallo Kingdom experienced a golden age when this kingdom was led by Karaeng Bonto Mangape, also known as Sultan Hasanuddin. 

The courage and determination ignited by Sultan Hasanuddin even earned him the title of Rooster from the East. The Gowa Tallo Kingdom even managed to control trade routes in the eastern part of the archipelago.

Unfortunately, the arrival of the Dutch with the VOC system disturbed the peace in this kingdom. The war that occurred in Makassar even began in 1654. 

However, the relentless Dutch attacks weakened the Gowa Tallo Kingdom. The war that lasted until 1667 resulted in the VOC, led by the Dutch, successfully defeating Sultan Hasanuddin. 

This war even led to the Bongaya treaty, which had to be accepted despite containing many articles that were very detrimental to the Gowa Tallo Kingdom. This condition even revealed the history of the Gowa Tallo Kingdom experiencing decline.

Read Also: Understanding the History of the Samudra Pasai Kingdom, the First Islamic Kingdom

Heritage of the Gowa Tallo Kingdom

The change of religion embraced by the Gowa Tallo Kingdom brought Islamic heritage to this region. Some of these areas are located in Gowa and Makassar Regency. 

The dissolution of the previously adhered Hindu kingdom even left no remnants of Hindu customs.

Some remnants of the Gowa Tallo Kingdom that are still preserved today include the Balla Lompoa Palace, Tamalate Palace, Katangka Mosque, Somba Opu Fortress, and Fort Rotterdam. 

These remnants are even closely related to the conditions that once occurred during the reign of the Gowa Tallo Kingdom.

Those are some interesting stories you should know about the Gowa Tallo Kingdom. The condition of this kingdom shows how greed and efforts to acquire a territory will only lead to war. Nevertheless, the Gowa Tallo Kingdom was once a powerful kingdom originating from Sulawesi.

Read Also: Discussing the History of the Mataram Kingdom, the Ruler of Java

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