North Sulawesi

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

The area around North Sulawesi used to be called Minahasa, a name etymologically derived from the words Mina-Esa (Minaesa) or Maesa which means 'being one' or 'uniting', reflecting a hope to unite various sub-ethnic groups including Tontemboan, Tombulu, Tonsea, Tolour (Tondano), Tonsawang, Ponosakan, Pasan and Bantik. The word 'Minahasa' was first used by J.D. Schierstein, the Dutch regent of Manado, in his report to the Governor of Maluku on 8 October 1789, where he defined it as Landraad or 'State Council'. Archaeological research has revealed signs of human life in North Sulawesi from 30,000 years ago, based on evidence in the cave Liang Sarru on the island of Salibabu. Other evidence shows life about 6,000 years ago on the Passo Hillside Site in Kakas District and 4,000 years ago to early AD at the Liang Tuo Mane'e cave in Arangkaa on Karakelong Island.

Reader's Guide

North Sulawesi in the past was an area of potential spices, rice and gold which became a battleground for the interests of economic hegemony between the Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch and the Kingdoms around this area. The Portuguese first landed on the area at the 16th century. Following decades of war, the area ultimately fell to the Dutch at the 17th century. The Dutch ruled for three centuries, before being ousted by the Japanese on the eve of World War II. After the Japanese surrender in 1945, the Dutch briefly regained possession, before finally leaving in 1949 following the Round Table Conference, in which the Dutch recognized the newly created United States of Indonesia (RIS). North Sulawesi was incorporated into the territory of the State of East Indonesia (NIT), which was later dissolved and merged into the RIS. On 17 August 1950, the RIS was officially disbanded and re-formed as the unitary state of the Republic of Indonesia. The island of Sulawesi was governed briefly as a single province, before being separated into several different provinces. The province of North Sulawesi was created on 14 August 1959. The western half of this area (comprising the Gorontalo Regency and the newly created Boalemo Regency) was separated from North Sulawesi on 5 December 2000 and established as the province of Gorontalo.

Did You Know?

• The province's furthest extent, the outlying and isolated island of Miangas to its north, is the northernmost island of Indonesia that has the country's sole and only border with the Philippines.
• There are 41 mountains in North Sulawesi with an altitude ranging from 1,112–1,995 metres (3,648–6,545 ft).
• The word 'Minahasa' was first used by J.D. Schierstein, the Dutch regent of Manado, in a report to the Governor of Maluku on 8 October 1789.
• Archaeological evidence in the cave Liang Sarru on the island of Salibabu shows signs of human life from 30,000 years ago.
• The western half of North Sulawesi (Gorontalo Regency and Boalemo Regency) was separated on 5 December 2000 to form the province of Gorontalo.