Fort Tolukko, Portuguese colonial fort in Ternate Island, Indonesia
Fort Tolukko is a stone fortification on a cape along the eastern shore of Ternate Island, Indonesia, built around two solid bulwarks that rise above the water. The fort sits on elevated ground, giving it a clear line of sight over the natural harbor and the sea routes leading toward Halmahera Island.
The Portuguese built a fort at Gamalama in 1522, naming it São João Batista, not Tolukko. In 1611 the Spanish erected San Juan de Toluco above the town of Tolukko; abandoned in 1612, it was taken by the Dutch and renamed Fort Hollandia. The Dutch repaired it under Jan Pieter Both and later transferred it to Sultan Mandar Syah in 1661. It was renamed after Kaicil Tolukko, tenth ruler of Ternate, whose reign began in 1692.
The name Tolukko is linked to Kaicil Tolukko, the tenth ruler of the Ternate Sultanate, whose reign began in 1692; another account derives it from a local rendering of Santo Lucas. In 1661 Sultan Mandar Syah was allowed to occupy the fort with about 160 soldiers. The fort was renovated in 1996 and is now a tourist attraction.
The fort is located in the village of Dufa Dufa, close to Ternate City, and can be reached along the coastal road without difficulty. A visit in the morning is a good idea, as the light over the water toward Halmahera is at its clearest.
The fort's narrow, two-bulwark plan is Iberian rather than Dutch, unlike Fort Oranje and Fort Kalamata. It was sited to control a rare coral-reef-free landing point directly in front of the walls, and its garrison numbered 160.
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