Ternate

The Ternate are the people of the volcanic island of Ternate off the west coast of Halmahera, dominated by Mount Gamalama and ringed by clove groves. Their tradition holds that settlers fled Halmahera around 1250 and founded villages under chiefs called momole; in 1257 the chiefs chose Cico as their first kolano, or king, of the realm known as Gapi.

Trade made Ternate the chief clove emporium of the Moluccas; about 1322 its ruler sponsored the Moti Agreement regulating spice trade. Under Sultan Zainal Abidin, who reigned from 1468 to 1500, Ternate became an Islamic sultanate.

The Portuguese built a fortress in 1522 but were expelled in 1575 after Sultan Babullah avenged the 1570 murder of Sultan Hairun. Spanish and Dutch rivals landed in 1606 and 1607 and divided the island until 1663, when the Dutch East India Company became the paramount power.