Fort Rotterdam Fortress

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History
Fortress Fort Rotterdam is one of the fort in South Sulawesi that may be considered grand and charming. A New York Times reporter, Barbara Crossette this castle once described as "the best preserved Dutch fort in Asia". This fort was originally called Fort Jumpandang (Ujung Pandang).

The fort is a historical legacy of the Sultanate of Gowa, the Empire never Berjaya around the 17th century the capital of Makassar. Empire actually has 17 fruits

surrounding the fort throughout the capital. Only, Castle Fort Rotterdam is the most magnificent fortress citadel fort among others, and authenticity are preserved until now.

The fort was built in 1545 by the King of Gowa-X Imanrigau named Daeng Bonto Karaeng Lakiung or Karaeng Tunipalangga Ulaweng. At the beginning of this fort is a square, as well as Portuguese-style architecture of the castle. Basic materials and a mixture of stones and burnt clay to dry.

On August 9, 1634, the Sultan of Gowa-XIV (I Mangerangi Daeng Manrabbia, with the title of Sultan Alauddin) makes masonry walls with black rocks imported from Maros region. On June 23, 1635, rebuilt the wall near the gate.

The fort was never destroyed in the Dutch colonial period. Dutch had attacked the Sultanate of Gowa who was led by Sultan Hasanuddin, ie between the years 1655 until 1669. The purpose of this Dutch attack to control the spice trade routes and expand the wings herbs to ease their power to open the route to Banda and the Moluccas.

Dutch war fleet at that time was led by the Governor General Admiral Cornelis Janszoon Speelman. For one full year Sultanate of Gowa was attacked, this attack also resulted in some castle ruins. As a result of this defeat the Sultan of Gowa was forced to sign the Agreement Bongaya on November 18, 1667.

Governor-General Speelman later to rebuild some ruined castle with Dutch architectural model. Form of the castle which had a square with four bastions, added one more bastions on the western side. Name of the fort was renamed Fort Rotterdam, which is the name of the birthplace of Speelman.

Since then the Castle Fort Rotterdam serves as a center of trade and stockpiling of earth and spices and herbs Dutch government center in the East Nusantara (Indonesia).


Castle Architecture
This sturdy fortress walls rise as high as 5 meters dengantebal wall about 2 meters, with the main door of the small size. When viewed from the air this fort pentagon shaped like a turtle that was about to go into the beach. Because of this castle looks like a turtle, this castle is also sometimes also called Fort Panynyua (Turtles). This fortress has 5 Bastion, which is building a more robust and higher position in every corner of the fort which is usually placed above the canon or cannon.


Tour History
One of the famous tourist attraction here in addition to seeing the castle and the museum is visited Lagaligo narrow space Diponegoro prisoners exiled by the Dutch when captured ground from Java. Yg Diponegoro War raged between the year 1825-1830 ended with Prince Diponegoro dijebaknya by the Dutch when he joined the peace talks. Diponegoro later arrested and exiled to Manado, then in 1834 he was transferred to Fort Rotterdam.

He placed himself in a jail cell-walled curved and very sturdy. Room when he disedikan an empty room and complement others such as equipment life of prayer, Qur'an, and the bed. Many then believed that the Diponegoro who died in Makassar, and he was buried there, too. But there is another opinion says, there is no body of Diponegoro in Makassar. As soon as he died he shifted Dutch secret place so as not to trigger the explosion of fanatical followers in Java or there.
Access to Location
Because of its location in the center of Makassar, the fort is easily accessible. Could use a taxi, urban transportation, or delivery of hotel facilities.

Tariff
Management does not mengenkan tariffs to each visitor who came into this castle.