In the pre-colonial era, the Sultanate of Tidore was a major regional political and economic power, and a fierce rival of nearby Ternate, just to the north.

Within the city is the provincial capital, Sofifi, situated on the Halmahera territory (in North Oba District).

[4] The sultans of Tidore ruled most of southern Halmahera, and, at times, controlled Buru, East Ceram and many of the islands off the coast of New Guinea.

For the Spanish, backing the Tidore state helped check the expansion of Dutch power that threatened their nearby Asia-Pacific interests, provided a useful base right next to the centre of Dutch power in the region and was a source of spices for trade.

After the Spanish left in 1663, it continued to resist direct control by the Dutch East India Company (the VOC).

[7] Tidore long remained an independent state, albeit with growing Dutch interference, until the late eighteenth century.

Like Ternate, Tidore allowed the Dutch spice eradication program (extirpatie) to proceed in its territories.

[8] This program, intended to strengthen the Dutch spice monopoly by limiting production to a few places, impoverished Tidore and weakened its control over its periphery.

[10] However, his successor Zainal Abidin was expelled by Dutch forces in 1806 and Tidore was firmly brought under colonial rule.