Â鶹APP

Pattimura by PL09Puryono from

Top 7 Historical Facts about Pattimura

A well-known national hero of Indonesia from Maluku, Kapitan Pattimura is also known as Pattimura. The main reason Pattimura is well-known is because of its war of independence against Dutch colonialists. Pattimura’s efforts and contributions made him a symbol of the Maluku people’s bravery and Indonesia’s independence.

Here are 7 things you need to know about the famous warrior.

1. He has royal blood 

Father Antoni Matulessy was the son of Kasimiliali Pattimura Matulessy, and the child was given the name Thomas Matulessy.

The grandfather of Kapitan Pattimura still retains royal blood from King Sahulau, which is located in the southern section of Seram Bay, according to many historical records, as mentioned by M. Sapija in his book Sedjarah Perdjuangan Pattimura: Heroes of Indonesia by M. Sapija (1960).

2. There are different historical versions of Pattimura

Facts about Pattimura by

Ahmad Mansur Suryanegara focused on an alternative interpretation for Pattimura in his 2009 book, Api History volume 1. According to rumours, Pattimura was really Ahmad Lussy or Mat Lussy when he was born in Hualoy, South Seram.

According to Suryanegara, Pattimura was a nobleman from the Sahulau Kingdom who, in his opinion, converted to Islam during the rule of Sultan Kasimillah, also known as Kasimiliali in Maluku.

The Pattimura in Ambon is a Muslim, according to Suryanegara’s writing. He, therefore, believed it to be incorrect if Pattimura was referred to as a Christian in the writing of history. However, the historical stories of Pattimura only differ in their places of origin and faith, not in the evidence left behind by their conflict.

3. He successfully seized Duurstede Fort

In fact, Fort Duurstede, the VOC’s administrative and military hub while they controlled the Saparua region, was taken by Pattimura and his troops on May 16, 1817.

It began the day before the attack. On May 15, 1817, Pattimura led the way with the assistance of his lieutenants Anthony Reebhok, Said Parintah, Paulus Tiahahu, and Martha Christina Tiahahu, the latter of whom was Tiahahu’s daughter.

4. He got the title of Kapitan from the Maluku people 

The Dutch refer to officers who are in charge of military units as “kapitan,” a rank title. When they seized Melaka in the sixteenth century, the Portuguese also employed this approach.

The title of Kapitan that Pattimura held was granted, in a unique way, by the Maluku people themselves, namely by the Saparua people, to lead a rebellion against the Dutch colonial powers rather than by the Dutch. On May 13, 1817, two days before the assault on Duurstede Fort, this event took place. 

5. He was appointed as the leader of the Maluku people 

The Haria Proclamation was issued by Pattimura and the governors of the Maluku districts on May 29, 1817, following the capture of Duurstede fort. Kapitan Pattimura was proclaimed as the head of the Maluku people, and the proclamation’s contents included their grievances against the Dutch administration.

6. Kapitan Ulupaha led the resistance to Dutch colonialism

Fort-Zeelandia by Fort-Zeelandia from

Following the successful raid on Duurstede Fort, Pattimura and his forces stormed on June 1, 1817, which served as the hub for the VOC defence on the island of Haruku (now part of Central Maluku). The effort, however, was unsuccessful.

Two months later, on August 3, the Dutch VOC soldiers were successful in taking back Duurstede Fort from Pattimura and the Moluccan combatants. However, Pattimura’s insurrection has already extended to a number of places in Maluku.

7. Pattimura was hanged

Kapitan Pattimura’s raid on and capture of the fort at Duurstede served as the impetus for the Moluccan people to become motivated to resist colonialism in other regions. Raids in neighbouring regions of Maluku were a defining feature of this.

Kapitan Ulupaha headed the opposition on the island of Ambon. At the ripe old age of 80, Kapitan Ulupaha spearheaded the struggle against Dutch colonialism.

On the other hand, on the island of Nusalaut, the resistance was commanded by the steadfastly obedient Kapitan Paulus Tiahahu, who was joined by his still-teenage daughter Martha Christina. Kapitan Lukas Lisapaly and Kapitan Lukas Selanno worked together to lead the resistance on the island of Haruku.

In 1973, President Suharto issued Presidential Decree number 87/TK designating Pattimura as an Indonesian National Hero.

The Pattimura University, Pattimura Airport, a street, a statue, and all of the archipelago’s streets bear his name. He is also remembered by a statue in Ambon. Pattimura Day is observed on May 15; the younger Tiahahu has a comparable but less significant festival on January 2. Additionally, he can be seen on the 1,000 rupiah bill from the 2000 series.