In the early 16th century the kingdom expanded northwards, fighting with Luwu for control of the mouth of the River Cenrana, a major east coast trade exit.

In 1582 Bone entered an alliance with the Wajo and Soppeng kingdoms for mutual defence against the rising power of Gowa-Tallo.

[2] Bone became the most powerful state of South Sulawesi under Arung (ruler of) Palakka, La Tenritatta (1634 or 1635 – 1696) who sided with the Dutch admiral Cornelis Speelman against the Makasar kingdom of Gowa-Tallo, which led to the defeat and capture of Makassar in 1669.

[5] Following a military defeat during the South Sulawesi expeditions of 1905, the Bone State lost its independence to the Dutch.

[7] In May 1950, the people held demonstrations in Watampone against the royalty and Bone's membership in the State of East Indonesia.