The Sultanate of Ternate is one of the oldest Muslim kingdoms in Indonesia, established by Baab Mashur Malamo in 1257.

It reaches its Golden Age during the reign of Sultan Baabullah (1570–1583) and encompasses most of the eastern part of Indonesia and a part of southern Philippines.

Ternate is a world producer of cloves and a major power in the region from the 15th to 17th centuries.