
Last modified: 2026-10-24 by
klaus-michael schneider
Keywords: princely states | gebe | haria | iha | indragiri |
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2:3
image by Željko Heimer, 2 January 1996
National Flag of Indonesia
See also:
by Jaume Ollé, 24 Jan 2001
Ratio 1:1.
Adopted: ?.
Abolished: ?.
Ratio 2:3.
Adopted: ?.
Abolished: ?.
The flag of the Sultanate of Gunung Tabur (Dutch: Goenoeng Taboer) in the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia) was triangular.
Jaume Ollé, 24 Jan 2001
![]() image by Jaume Ollé, 24 Jan 2001 |
![]() 2:3, image by Jaume Ollé, 24 Jan 2001 |
A plate from Armand shows also a different flag, perhaps the sultan's standard.
Gunung Tabur is on the Berau River (East Kalimantan). The autonomous kingdom of Berau, dating back to the 14th century, was divided in 1883, with the Berau river a natural boundary between new capitals established at Sambaliung and Gunung Tabur.
In 1960 both kingdoms were abolished by Indonesian parliamentary decree. (cf. Indonesia Handbook 1989, p. 785).
The Muslim sultanates in Dutch Borneo were used as buffer states between inland Dayaks and sea-faring peoples like the Buginese and Sulu-peoples.
They were described as ´weak states´, although there were fierce rebellions in the 19th century, which threatened the Dutch presence in the whole archipelago.
Jarig Bakker, 24 Jan 2001
image by Jarig Bakker, 24 Jan 2001
In "The pirate wind" by Owen Rutter, 1930, reprint 1987, is a short description:
"It was headed by a standard-bearer carrying the red and white colors of Gunong Tabor..." (p. 163).
Opposite p. 164 a picture with the flag, from which I made this reconstruction.
Gunung Tabur - Bendera Kesultan
image by Rob Raeside, 1 June 2010, based on sketch by John McMeekinGunung Tabur - Bendera Sultan
image by Rob Raeside, 1 June 2010
based on sketch by John McMeekin
The Royal Standard is plain yellow.
John McMeekin, 1 June 2010
image by Rob Raeside, 2 June 2010
image by Rob Raeside, 2 June 2010
Photos of the red and yellow Gowa flags can be seen
here.
John Duncan McMeekin, 21
November 2010
The black eagle flags (in yellow & in red) are in fact military flags of Gowa. I
cannot find the normal State Flag.
John Duncan McMeekin, 29 September
2014
The State flag of Gowa is yellow;
The red one is the Military Flag.
John Duncan McMeekin, 3 April 2021
![]() 1:1, mage by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 19 Oct 2026 |
![]() 1:1, mage by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 19 Oct 2026 |
![]() 1:1, mage by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 19 Oct 2026 |
The pennants were flown in pairs on starboard and portside.
The Raja of Lolade flew three pairs, the Sangajis of Sahu and Gamkonora flew two pairs, the Sangajis of Tolofse flew an arbitrary number of pairs.
The ratio of the pennants was 1:1 in total, consisting of a rectangle with two annexed swallow tails. On centre of the rectangle is a smaller rectangle parted by stripes.
The pennant of Lolade had 17 horizontal stripes alternating of yellow and white in white (see left image above).
The pennant of Sahu and Gamkonora had 11 horizontal stripes alternating of white and black in red (see central image above)
The pennant Tolofse had 25 horizontal stripes alternating of white, yellow, white andblack plus one white stripe at bottom in yellow (see right image above).
Source: "Carte de Pavillons en Usage chez les Différents Peuples des Indes_orientales Neerlandaises", column 7, rows 1, 2, 3
Sangaji is a title for a local ruler, tribal chief, or dignitary of high rank.
He served as a nobleman, who presided over a specific territory (a district or a cluster of hamlets).
In practice he often combined the roles of local governor, tax collector, and judge.
He also held the position of a military commander (Indonesian: Panglima) during times of war, acting on behalf of the Sultan.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 19 Oct 2026
image by Rob Raeside, 7 June 2010Jailolo Sultanate flag (white), and royal flags of Jailolo (seen on 3 flagpoles in front of his Palace).
Bendera Sultan
image by Rob Raeside, 7 June 2010Bendera Sultan
image by Rob Raeside, 7 June 2010
by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 15 Oct 2026
The rectangle in centre has 6 yellow stripes and 5 black stripes in a red rectangle with two annexed swallow tails.
Source:
Rühl 1952, p.144
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 15 Oct 2026
![]() 1:2, image by Jaume Ollé |
![]() image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 11 Oct 2026 |
The left image above matches the information given by Dirk Rühl, yellow flag with red bordure and red Dutch lion shifted to hoist.
But there is evidence (see right image above) that the bordure is green and invected. The fly is bendy, the bottom edge is longer than the top edge.
Source: Wereldmuseum (department Leiden), filing card with archive no. RV-370-280
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 11 Oct 2026
Ratio near 1:2 .
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Ratio 2:3.
Adopted: ?.
Abolished: ?.
Ratio 2:3.
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Abolished: ? .
Ratio 2:3.
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Abolished: ? .
Ratio 2:3.
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Abolished: ? .
Ratio 2:3.
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Ratio 2:3.
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Ratio 2:3.
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Ratio 2:3.
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Ratio 2:3.
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Ratio 2:3.
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Ratio 2:3.
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Ratio 2:3.
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