Gorontalo

Gorontalo lies on Sulawesi's northern peninsula, near Lake Limboto and the Gulf of Tomini. Its lowland basin is framed by hills, and river routes connect the lake with the coast. Gorontalo was one of several kingdoms of the region, alongside Limboto, Suwawa, Bolango and Atinggola. In 1677 the Dutch governor of Maluku, Robertus Padtbrugge, visited Gorontalo and met its ruler and chiefs, pressing claims connected with Ternate's authority. During the eighteenth century people moved into the Limboto basin from settlements on the Gulf of Tomini, some seeking security from raiders. The history of the basin was shaped by the relationships among its kingdoms and by the growing presence of outside powers.