Page 180 - THE MELANESIA DIASPORA FILE CETAK ISI 10022017

The Sultanate of Ternate expanded rapidly and in the 15th century, the Tomaito clan
sent an expedition to Sula which then fell to the sultanate of Ternate and then the clan was
appointed as Salahakan (governor) of the islands of Sula and Sulabesi. In this century, the
presence of the Spanish, Portuguese, and Dutch began to intervene the kingdoms in North
Maluku and improve language contact between speakers of languages in Maluku with the
settlers. Communication with the immigrants was possible by using a lingua franca. In the
kingdom of Ternate, the lingua franca spoken was Ternate. This language had to be used
in the colonized areas of Ternate kingdom so Ternate Malay was used as an lingua franca
between speakers of the local language and immigrants from Europe although it did not
deny the existence of the Ternate language in the territory of the Ternate Sultanate.
According to Van Fraassen, (1980: 104), in 1524 Sangaji Gamkonora became a vice
sultan of Ternate in Waioli, Ibu, Galela and Tobelo in the northern part of Halmahera.23
At that time, the Ternate language was also used in the territory of the Sultanate of
Ternate because the vice sultan was always in his territory and he and his staff did not
speak the language of his native region. It seemed that the language affected the regions
of Ternate. The institutions and systems of governance of Ternate Sultanate model were
also adopted in North Maluku (Fraassen, 1980: 105). The Sultan’s assistants were Jogugu
i.e. chief assistant of sultan, Kapitalau (known as Kapita) responsible for issues related to
war, and Hukom who handled domestic issues while Hukom Sangaji dealt with problems
in the sultanate’s vassal areas (Putuhena, 1980).
An important element in the history of the sultanates of Ternate was Sangaji
Gamkonora’s ruling Galela, Tobelo and Ibu until the middle of 16th century. The system of
government, language, and culture refers to the sultanate of Ternate. The Ternate language
was spoken in these areas as Ternate sultanate in North Maluku always appointed Ternate
people to take part in the government to oversee its vassal.
In the 16th century, the Tomagolas expanded Ternate territories to Buru, Seram and
the surrounding areas then proceeded to Ambon. The Tomagolas later became Salahakan
(governor) in Ambon. Even in the reign of Sultan Baabullah (1570-1583), Ternate imperial
power extended to Mindanao in the north, Bima in the south, Makasar in the west and
Banda in the East (Amal, 2009: 42).
Ternate Malay began to dominate not only as an lingua franca in trade but also in
education, especially around the time the Dutch government began to explore this area.
The Dutch government required that students speak in Ternate-Malay.

180 Chapter 4

MELANESIA BOOK FA LAYOUT 051216.indd 180 2/10/17 2:10 PM