Page 283 - THE MELANESIA DIASPORA FILE CETAK ISI 10022017

on the west coast of Sulawesi, among others: Tallo, Lunch, Bacokiki, Suppa, and Napo,
in addition to a number of the city inhabited by merchants of Gersik (Majapahit) called
Garassi. There are two known Bandar Garassi on the west coast: one in the south of the
kingdom of Gowa, and the other one having the same name in the territory of Bajeng
Kingdom in Mandar region (now West Sulawesi). This condition encouraged authorities
of Gowa Kingdom to participate in world maritime trade. Finally, the 9th King of Gowa,
Daeng Matanre Karaeng acquired Tumaparissi Kalonna (1510-1546) and built a sea port
city called Sombaopu at the mouth of the Jeneberang River. A royal palace, which also
functioned as the administrative center of the kingdom, was also built.
Upon the completion of the port and the royal palace’s development, the king of
Gowa started his efforts to expand his hegemony over other kingdoms with an orientation
toward maritime trade. The initial step was to fight against the Tallo kingdom in 1528. The
raging war was finally resolved peacefully because the rulers of the two kingdoms came
from a common ancestor. The successor of Gowa’s Kingdom was the son of the king of
Gowa, Tunatangkalopi (1445-1460) named BataraGowa, and while the Tallo Kingdom was
established by the younger brother of BataraGowa (the youngest son Tanatangkalopi)
named Karaeng Lowe riSero. Therefore, an alliance uniting the two kingdoms was set, so
the following phrases appeared: “two kings, but one people” (rua Karaeng serejinaata). The
governance structures of the two kingdom, Gowa-Tallo, were also agreed with the king of
Gowa who bore the title of “the worshiped one” (sombaya, king); and the king of Tallo bore
a title of “Mangkubumi” (tumabicarabuta).
The alliance of the two kingdoms subsequently strived to broaden the influence of
power to the kingdoms involved in maritime trade. To accomplish this, they launched
attacks against the kingdoms involved in maritime trade, among others: Siang, Bacokiki,
Suppa Napo, Bantaeng, and Selayar. The conquered kingdoms were required to conduct
trade relations with the ports of Tallo and Sombaopu. This was done because the two rulers
implemented free trade policies by adhering to the principle of “open sea” (mare liberium).
When the 10th King of Gowa, I Manrigau Daeng Bonto Karaeng Lakiung Tunipalangga
Ulaweng (1546-1565) assumed the throne, he considered that the policies implemented
by his predecessor were unfavorable toward the trade progress of Tallo and Sombaopu.
Therefore, he planned to conquer the coastal kingdoms with the concept of “I order –
you obey” (makanama nu manrio). This concept was aimed to diminish trading activities
in the conquered kingdoms, because after the conquest, he transported the people and
goods from those commercials cities to his trading city. This policy was basically aimed at

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