Hairun facts for kids

Sultan Hairun Jamilu (born around 1522, died February 28, 1570) was an important ruler of Ternate. Ternate is an island in the Maluku Islands, also known as the Spice Islands. He ruled from 1535 to 1570. During his time, he had a changing relationship with the Portuguese. The Portuguese had a strong base in Ternate. They wanted to control the valuable spice trade in the area. This long conflict ended when a Portuguese soldier killed him in 1570.

Early Life and Becoming Sultan

Portuguese sailors arrived in eastern Indonesia around 1512. They wanted to control the spice trade. Spices like cloves and nutmeg were very valuable. The Portuguese built a fort on Ternate in 1522–1523. The local Sultan allowed this, hoping for military help. At that time, Ternate was the strongest of four sultanates in North Maluku. The others were Tidore, Bacan, and Jailolo.

However, the Portuguese leaders soon tried to control the royal court. Their soldiers also caused problems. In 1535, the Ternatans attacked a Christian village. The Portuguese then removed the young Sultan Tabariji from power. The Europeans chose Hairun Jamilu, Tabariji's twelve-year-old half-brother, to be the new Sultan.

Hairun was the son of a former Sultan, Bayan Sirrullah. His mother was a Javanese lady. When Portuguese soldiers came to make Hairun Sultan, his mother resisted. She knew her son would become a puppet ruler. Hairun was installed as Sultan and accepted Portuguese guidance. But another half-brother, Dayal, had been removed earlier. He fled to the rival Sultanate of Tidore. Tidore supported Dayal, leading to an anti-Portuguese alliance. In 1536, the Portuguese attacked Tidore. Dayal was badly hurt and died.

People from northern Maluku around 1540.

Removed and Brought Back to Power

Hairun was first forced to live in the Portuguese fort. After a few years, he could live among his people. Many important people in Ternate wanted Tabariji to return as Sultan. Hairun seemed interested in Christianity but did not convert. When he was released, he began to build his own power. He visited villages and married the daughter of the Sultan of Tidore.

The Portuguese wanted to promote Christianity. They saw Tabariji, who had converted to Christianity in Goa, as a better choice. In 1544, they decided to remove Hairun and bring Tabariji back. However, Tabariji died on his way back. He left his kingdom to the King of Portugal. Meanwhile, Tabariji's mother, Nyaicili Boki Raja, became regent of Ternate.

Hairun had already been sent away. He visited Goa and was treated with great respect. The leaders in Goa decided to make him Sultan of Ternate again. He returned in 1546. There, he met the famous Jesuit Francis Xavier. Xavier was a missionary in Maluku and other parts of Asia. Christianity grew in areas like Halmahera and Siau Island. Hairun spoke Portuguese and dressed in European style. He and Xavier had a friendly relationship. Xavier hoped Hairun would convert. But this hope was in vain. Hairun became more devoted to Islam and less friendly towards Christianity over time.

Portuguese images of Maluku in Hairun's time: two cuscus, a dugong, and the hull of a ship.

Working with the Portuguese

Even though Hairun was becoming unhappy with the Portuguese, he sometimes worked with them. They fought against common enemies. One of the four Malukan kingdoms, Jailolo, was led by Katarabumi. He was a strong Muslim and attacked Christian villages. In 1550-1551, Portuguese and Ternatan forces attacked Jailolo. They captured it after three months. Jailolo's power was broken. Katarabumi was removed as Sultan. His son became a sub-ruler under Ternate. These events made Hairun's position in Maluku much stronger.

A Malukan kora kora (traditional boat).

Tidore was Ternate's main rival. The two kingdoms often fought but also had royal marriages. In 1557, a problem arose between Hairun and the Portuguese. The Portuguese took cloves from Makian and imprisoned Hairun. The angry Ternatan chiefs joined with Tidore. They attacked Portuguese positions. The Portuguese had trouble defending themselves. Eventually, they released Hairun and made an agreement. Hairun and his son Baab signed a letter of loyalty. This is the oldest preserved letter with seals in Indonesia.

The Tidorese ruler, Kaicili Gava, used this crisis to take over some Ternatan lands. In 1560, Portuguese and Ternatan forces defeated Tidore. Gava was forced to surrender. However, Hairun later murdered Gava during a state visit.

Conflict Over Ambon and His Death

Hairun was known as a wise ruler and a brave warrior. He was also very devoted to Islam. He encouraged attacks against Christian settlements. In the 1560s, he sent war fleets to help Muslims in Ambon. Catholic missionaries had been successful there. Muslims in northern Ambon received help from Hairun and Javanese troops. They were successful for a while. The Portuguese had to leave Ambon for several years. They returned in 1569 to build a new fort. Hairun controlled the sea routes. He could stop food supplies from reaching the Portuguese fort in Ternate. This caused great problems for the Portuguese soldiers.

Hairun's growing opposition to the Portuguese eventually cost him his life. The Portuguese saw him as a difficult ruler. In 1570, a meeting was set up between Hairun and the Portuguese captain, Diogo Lopes de Mesquita. The meeting did not go well. A few days later, on February 28, the Sultan was called to the Portuguese castle. He was told it was urgent. Hairun arrived but was only allowed inside without his bodyguards. As he was leaving, Mesquita's nephew, Martim Afonso Pimentel, stabbed him. The Sultan died, saying he had been sincere with the Portuguese.

This killing was a huge mistake for the Portuguese. People were very angry. Hairun's son, Babullah, became the new Sultan. He led an attack on the Portuguese fort. The Portuguese soldiers were forced to surrender in 1575. This marked the start of Ternate's golden age.

Family

Hairun had many wives. Some of them were:

• A daughter of Sultan Mir of Tidore
• A woman from Bacan
• A woman from Gamkonara
• A woman from the soa Marsoali

His known children included:

• Babullah of Ternate, who became Sultan after him
• Kaicili Tolu
• Kaicili Sugi
• Kaicili Kipati
• Kaicili Sadekin
• Kaicili Mandar Syah
• A daughter, who married Dom João, the Christian ruler of Bacan
• A daughter, who married Kaicili Gava, Sultan of Tidore

See also

• List of rulers of Maluku
• Sultanate of Ternate
• Sultanate of Tidore
• Sultanate of Bacan
• Sultanate of Jailolo
• Governor of Maluku
• Spice trade