Early Life and Background:
Martha was the daughter of Captain Paulus Tiahahu of the Soa Ulu Putih clan. Her mother died when she was an infant, so her father raised her. From a young age, Martha was known to be stubborn and followed her father everywhere, even joining him in planning attacks against the Dutch colonial government[__LINK_ICON].
Role in the Resistance:
Beginning in 1817, Martha joined her father in the guerrilla war against the Dutch colonial government, backing Pattimura's army. She actively participated in several battles. In one battle on Saparua Island, her troops killed the Dutch commander Richemont and wounded his replacement, Meyer. She also helped burn down Duurstede Fortress. During battles, she was known to throw stones at the Dutch troops if her soldiers ran out of ammunition; other accounts say she wielded a spear.
Capture and Death:
After Vermeulen Kringer took over the Dutch military in Maluku, Martha, her father, and Pattimura were captured in October 1817. Martha was the only captured soldier not punished because of her young age and was released. However, she continued to fight against the Dutch. In December 1817, she and several other former rebels were caught and placed on the HNLMS Evertse to be transported to Java as slave laborers on coffee plantations. During the voyage, Martha fell ill and refused medication and food, and she died on January 2, 1818, while the ship was crossing the Banda Sea. She was buried at sea later that day.
Legacy:
After Indonesia's independence, Martha Christina Tiahahu was declared a national heroine, and January 2 was designated as Martha Christina Tiahahu Day. People in Maluku honor her struggle by spreading flower petals over the Banda Sea in an official ceremony. There are several monuments dedicated to her, including an 8-meter tall statue in Ambon and another statue in Abubu. Other namesakes include a warship, a street in Karang Panjang, Ambon, a Moluccan social organization, and a women's magazine.
