Solor Watan Lema Confederation
Solor Watan Lema Confederation (Solor Malay: Persekutuan Solor Watan Lema) was a confederation consisting of five Islamic kingdoms founded by the Muslim community in Solor Island to fight Portuguese colonialism on Solor Island and the surrounding area.[1]
Solor Watan Lema Confederation Persekutuan Solor Watan Lema | |
---|---|
Capital | Menanga |
Common languages | Adonara, Lamaholot, Solor Malay |
Religion | Sunni Islam |
Government | Confederation |
Sultan | |
• 1613–1645 | Shahbudin ibn Ali ibn Salman Al Farisi |
History | |
• Establishment of Solor Watan Lema Confederation | 1613 |
Today part of | ![]() |
Member of Confederation
The following are the kingdoms that are members of the Confederation;[1]
- Lohayong Kingdom in Solor Island
- Lamakera Kingdom in Solor Island
- Lamahala Kingdom in Adonara Island
- Terong Kingdom in Adonara Island
- Labala Kingdom in Lembata Island
History

The background of the formation of the Solor Watan Lema alliance is explained in the article entitled Situs Menanga Solor Flores Timur, Jejak Islam di NTT written by Muhammad Murtadlo and published in the Journal of Religious Literature Ministry of Religious Affairs in 2017.[2]
Murtadlo said that the Sultan of Menanga whose real name was Shahbudin ibn Ali ibn Salman Al Farisi came to Solor Island and was appointed to lead the Solor Watan Lema Confederation between 1613–1645 AD. Then Shahbudin called himself Sultan of Menanga because he ruled in the Menanga region.[3]
This alliance itself aims to fight the Portuguese who have built a fort in Lohayong. The fort is now known as Fort Lohayong or Fort Henricus.[4]
Previously written in his journal, the Portuguese came to Solor Island around 1561 AD. Then they built Fort Lohayong in 1566 AD. At that time the people of Solor and its surroundings asked the Sultan of Menanga to lead the resistance against the Portuguese.[1]
The Sultan of Menanga's resistance with the Alliance against the Portuguese was supported by the Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie (VOC) a Dutch trading company. It is known that the VOC itself had a desire to shift Portuguese power in the Lohayong area.
In return for the Sultan of Menanga, the VOC would recognize the sovereignty of the Solor Watan Lema Confederation. Regarding the VOC's goal of shifting the Portuguese, it was not separated from their interests to benefit from the departure of the Portuguese.[5]
References
- Fuji Eka Permana; Nashih Nashrullah (10 September 2019). "Cerita Kolaborasi 5 Kerajaan Islam Lawan Portugis di NTT". khazanah.republika.co.id (in Indonesian). Retrieved 30 September 2022.
- Muhammad Murtadlo (2018). "Situs Menanga Solor Flores Timur: Jejak Islam di Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT)". www.researchgate.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 13 August 2022.
- Fathur Roji (13 March 2022). "Sultan Menanga, Penyebar Islam di Wilayah NTT". gontornews.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 12 August 2022.
- "Hadramaut, Pigefatta: Jejak Islam di Nusa Tenggara Timur". www.republika.co.id (in Indonesian). 3 September 2019. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
- NU Online, Kupang. "Menelusuri Jejak Islam di Kepulauan Solor" (in Indonesian). Retrieved 30 September 2022.