East Sumbawa: the great land-locked bay of Bima on the north coast, the Dompu plain, the Sape peninsula at the east end and the Sanggar peninsula under Tambora.
The Wadu Paa carving near the bay is dated 631 Saka (709) (en.wikipedia, Bima Sultanate), which shows a Hindu-Buddhist presence early; the Nagarakretagama lists Dompo (Dompu), Sapi (Sape), Sang Hyang Api (Sangeang Api) and Bima among the lands east of Java (en.wikipedia list). The Bima chronicle tells of early ncuhi and of Sang Bima; it is late and its lists differ. The sultanate begins about 1620 to 1640.
For 1200 no ruler can be named. The bay is the natural place to break the voyage east (see Bima bay); Tambora and Sangeang Api are intact mountains, Tambora nowhere near its eruption of 1815.
Who holds it
- Title
- Ncuhi (village or district chiefs) of Bima, Dompu and Sanggar (late chronicle)
- Since
- not pinned
- Born
- not known
- Confidence
- low
The word ncuhi and the story of the early chiefs and of Sang Bima come from the Bo, the Bima palace chronicle, whose king lists differ by count (en.wikipedia); the earliest firm dates are Pires about 1515 and the first sultan about 1620 to 1640.
What it holds
- The bay and its landings
- The Dompu plain and the Sanggar peninsula (inference)
- The Sape strait landing toward Flores (inference)
How things stand that morning
No state attested. Village chiefs; ships break their voyage in the bay.
Wealth
Sappanwood, horses, sulphur and honey (the campaign board); no figures.
Military
None attested.
Places of note
- Bima bay: The finest harbour between Java and Timor.
- Tambora: Intact mountain (8 deg 15 S, 118 deg 00 E, en.wikipedia).
- Sangeang Api: The island volcano off the Sape coast.
Where the sources disagree
Evidence: A carving of 709, a Javanese list of 1365 and a late chronicle.
On the map: Modern regencies.
Sources and studies
- Wikipedia (en), Bima Sultanate (read in this pass): Wadu Paa carving dated 631 Saka (709), sultanate from 1620-1640, Bo chronicle, Pires c. 1515
- Wikipedia (en), Nagarakretagama (read in this pass): completed 1365; canto 14 list of Bali, Lombok, Sumbawa, Sumba, Timor and the east
- Wikipedia (en), List of volcanoes in Indonesia (read in this pass): summit coordinates of Semeru, Bromo, Arjuno-Welirang, Penanggungan, Kelud, Lawu, Merapi, Merbabu, Sumbing, Sindoro, Slamet, Dieng, Muria, Batur, Agung, Rinjani, Tambora, Sangeang Api and others
- General knowledge of Old Javanese and Old Balinese epigraphy and the archaeology of Java, recalled and not re-read in this pass (Boechari, Poerbatjaraka, Soekmono, Bernet Kempers)
- OMNIA board notes for the place (a lead, not a source)
Last revised 4 November 2026. Published 4 November 2026. Suggest a correction on the OMNIA Discord.