Somba Opu, Strongest Fortress

ENGLISH scientist, Alfred William Wallace, stated, the Somba Opu is strongest fortress that ever built by the citizen of Indonesian archipelago (nusantara). This fort is the witness of Sultan Hasanuddin and his people's persistance to maintain the sovereignty of their country.

Location of Object 
Somba Opu fortress is located in Daeng Tata Road, in Somba Opu Village, Barombong District, Gowa Regency. The distance is about six kilometers southern Makassar city centre (Karebosi Field). 

Overview 
May be Wallace statements is true. Once entering the Somba Opu Fort area, will be immediately seen the strong of the fortress walls. It was describe the perfect defense system at the period. Although made of brick, seen from the thickness of the walls, the fortress can be imagined how difficult it is to be penetrated and distroyed. 

There are three Bastions that still visible. Bastion in the southwest, central bastion, and the northwest bastion. The last bastion is called Great Buluwara. In this bastion ever placed a most terrible cannonry called Anak Makassar Canon (Children of Makassar). The weight reached 9,500 kilogram, with six meters length and diameter of 4.14 cm. 

Actually, The Somba Opu now is more appropriate as ruins with so many little walls that still standing upright. The shape of the fortress has not been exactly known yet although excavation always been done. But according to the map document stored in the Museum of Makassar, the fortress was a quadrilateral. 

In some parts there are concrete stilts which give signs that there are some walls underneath that has not been excavated yet. Indeed, after successfully defeated the Kingdom of Gowa trops led by Sultan Hasanuddin, the Netherlands destroyed this fortress. During hundreds years, the fortress remnants buried in the soil of sedimentation rise from the sea. 

In architectural, according to the document map in the Museum of Makassar, the fortress was a quadrilateral building with totally 1,500 hectares wide. Stretching two kilometers from west to east. Altitude of visible walls at this time are two meters. But first, the walls were between 7-8 meters with thickness of 12 feet or 3.6 meters. 

Somba Opu fortress is now located near the complex of South Sulawesi miniature. Tourist can enjoy the various form of traditional houses of South Sulawesi such as stage house of Makassarese, Buginese, Mandarese, and Torajanesen traditional house called Tongkonan. Just not far from the fortress. In this complex too, exhibition of South Sulawesi development always held every years.

Access 
Somba Opu fortress can be accessed from the centre city of Makassar (Karebosi Field) with city transportation called petepete or taxi. If using the city transportation, from Karebosi Field ride to Cenderawasih Road. From Cenderawasih switch transportation to Somba Opu Fortress. 

Entry Tariff 
For treatment, the Government of South Sulawesi Province impose tariffs of Rp 2,000 per person. There is also a guide. The charge is based on agreement.

History of Somba Opu Fortress

The development of Somba Opu Fortress strated in 1525 when Gowa Kingdom was led by Tumapa'risi Kallona (1510-1546), the nineth king. This fortress was first built with clay. Became a capital of Gowa Kingdom. Inside the fortress was built a palace of king, patrician houses, houses of the officers, and trade center. 

At that time, the area where Somba Opu Fortress stand (Makassar), was became one of the largest seaport city in Asia, which controled the trade in Asia and Pacific region. Great port of Makassar became an international hub by phinisi ships and boats from the Arab foreign trade, and China. 

When Gowa Kingdom led by I Manriwagau Daeng Bonto Karaeng Lakiung Tunipalangga Ulaweng (1546-1565), the tenth king, the wall of Somba Opu Fortres was changed the appearance to bricks. The glue betwen bricks was not cement but egg white.Since that time, Somba Opu became a very strong fortress. 

Meanwhile, in 1596 the Netherlands explorer under leadership of Cornelis de Houtman arrived in Port of Port, western Java. Six years later, the VOC (Verenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie) or the Netherland company on east India, was established. The company begun to trade to Sulawesi in 1607. In 1615, VOC ask trade monopoly. But the Sultan of Gowa rejected. 

Makassar War happened from 1655 to 1669. At that time, Gowa Kingdom was led by Mallombassi Daeng Mattawang Karaeng Bonto Mangappe or Sultan Hasanuddin. The Netherland company compeled to monopoly the archipelago trading point. But Sultan Hasanuddin rejected the aggression than arouse fierce resistance. 

Entering the midle of 1669, Gowa troops surrounded inside the wall and completely against from the fortress. Fortress can not be seized by the Dutch troops. Cannon ball that shoot by the Dutch was not able to brooke the walls. However, total isolation and blockade against the Somba Opu fortress eventually make the Gowa troops weak.

In Friday, June 24, 1669, thousands of people threatened by death inside the fortress. Sultan Hasanuddin forced to accept the surrender option by signing an agreement in Bungaya. It is an area in northern of the fortress. So that was called Bungaya Agreement. Contents of the agreement were emphasize the monopoly rights of the Netherlands company

After the agreement, all indigenous people were chased away from Makassar. Many peoples were also sentenced to death. Since that year, Gowa were entering to the colonialism era, followed the other areas in the archipelago which has first fallen under the Netherlands power. 

After the defeat of Gowa, Netherlands troops destroyed Somba Opu. Ruins of the fortress was found by some archeologists in the 1980s. Walls buried in the soil. In general, condition of the fortress was worst. In 1990, the Indonesian government decided to excavate some parts of that walls.(*)

Referrence
www.depdagri.go.id
www.indonesia.go.id
www.kompas.com

Source:enjoy-makassar.blogspot.com