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Ternate Sultanate (Indonesia)

Former Indonesian Princely State

Last modified: 2026-10-24 by klaus-michael schneider
Keywords: princely states | ternate | goheba madopolo romdidi |
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[Ternate National Flag] image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 7 Oct 2026

See also:

Ternate Sultanate

Ternate National Flag

Acc. to Dirk Rühl the inscription on the white disc of a yellow flag is red. But we have evidence in our archives of a car flag with white fringes, where the inscription is black. This is the great ceremonial flag
Source: Rühl 1952, p.143
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 7 Oct 2026

Ternate Sultan´s Pennants

<> [Ternate Sultan pennant no.2]
1:1, mage by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 19 Oct 2026 		[Ternate Sultan pennant no.3]
1:1, mage by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 19 Oct 2026 		[Ternate Sultan pennant no.4]
1:1, mage by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 19 Oct 2026 		     

The pennants are in every-day-use. Their ratio is 1:1 in total, consisting of a rectangle with two annexed swallow tails. On centre of the rectangle is a smaller rectangle in different colour.
The colours are yellow in green (see left image above), green in yellow (see central image above) and black in yellow (see rightt image above).
Source: Flag Chart 1865, column 5, rows 2, 3 ,4
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 19 Oct 2026

Ternate Battalion Colour

  image by John McMeekin, 25 Feb 2015

BENDERA KOMPANI (or Battalion Flag), in the central disc is "Al Molok Buldan Tarnate" (The Moluccas are Ternate Territory).
John McMeekin, 25 Feb 2015

Ternate Merchant Ensign

  by JJaume Ollé

Ratio c. 1:1.

Jaume Ollé

Ternate Car Flag

This appears to be the Sultan's Car Flag, note white frill in this photo.
John McMeekin, 4 Dec 2010

Ternate State Flag

[Ternate state flag] image by Rob Raeside, 6 June 2010, based on a sketch by John McMeekin

Ternate personal Standard of Sultan

[Ternate personal standard] image by John McMeekin, 4 Dec 2010, based on a car flag.

The Sultanate Motto is "MOLOKU KIE RAHA"
The Sultan's Motto is "LIMAU GAPI"
John McMeekin, 4 Dec 2010

Bendera Goheba Madopolo Romdidi

[Ternate Goheba Madopolo Romdidi #1]
image by Rob Raeside, 8 June 2010, based on sketch by John McMeekin 		[Ternate Goheba Madopolo Romdidi #2]
3:5, image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 		   

For centuries, the sultanates of Tidore and Ternate were rivals for dominance over the Moluccas. Their core territories consisted of two tiny, adjacent volcanic islands west of Halmahera. Tidore was Ternate´s southern neighbour. Ternate controlled the greater part of the Moluccas until 1652, when the VOC forced it to sign a treaty. Tidore maintained its hegemony over neighboring Halmahera, the Bird´s Head Peninsula on New Guinea, and the intervening islands until the 19th century. Both remained sultanates associated with the Dutch until 1946. Ther is a yellow flag featuring three red borders and a silver mythical creature (Ternatean: Goheba Madopolo Romdidi). This is a two-headed bird with a single body and a single heart. It is a traditional heraldic symbol of Ternate, though the name also refers to the flag as a whole. The symbol holds deep cultural and philosophical significance. It represents the inseparable unity between the Sultan and his people, as well as the principle that all people must work together to achieve common goals. The two heads signify different opinions, yet a single shared heart beats within the breast.
Sources:
Marcel van Westerhoven: "The Flags of Princely States of the Dutch East Indies", in "Proceeedings of the ICV25", Rotterdam 2013, p.14/9
this webpage
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 7 Oct 2026

Ternate Sultan Boat Pennants

[Ternate Sultan boat pennant no.2]
1:1, mage by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 19 Oct 2026 		[Ternate Sultan boat pennant no.3]
1:1, mage by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 19 Oct 2026 		     

Their ratio is 1:1 in total, consisting of a rectangle with two annexed swallow tails. On centre of the rectangle is a smaller rectangle in different colour.
The colours are white in red (see left image above) and yellow in black (see right image above). Two are flown on starboard and two on portside.
Source: Flag Chart 1865,, column 5, rows 5 and 6
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 19 Oct 2026



  image by John McMeekin, 25 Feb 2015

PANJI-PANJI KOI MA-RAU 1/2 m wide x 2 m long (flags like banana leaves) flown on the Sultan's boat.
John McMeekin, 25 Feb 2015

Ternate Streamers

  images by John McMeekin, 25 February 2015

PANIKI & NJON (streamers like a bat & ray).
John McMeekin, 25 February 2015

AMRAL (Great Pennant) - Flown from the top of the mast of the Sultan´s boat, Princes are allowed to fly this flag, but Sengaji's (a kind of Governor) are not allowed to fly them.
John McMeekin, 25 Feb 2015

Ternate Dajalu (Boat Flags)

  images by John McMeekin, 25 Feb 2015

DAJALU (KOI MA-RAU). Half as big as the Sultan's flags and can be flown by Sengaji's.
John McMeekin, 25 Feb 2015

"DAJALU in", literally "The Deceiver" in Islamic eschatology is the equivalent of the Antichrist,
The left flag belongs to the skiff of the Sultan, six flags are flown on prow and six on stern.
The right flag belongs to skiffs of Princes (five flags on prow and five on stern), Chiefs (three flags on prow and three on stern) and others (one flag on prow and one on stern).
Source: Flag Chart 1865,, column 5, rows 8 and 9
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 19 Oct 2026

Ternate Map 1582

The territory of the Sultanate in 1582 is painted red.

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