Martha Christina Tiahahu | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 4 January 1800 Santiago de Abúbu, Nusalaut Island, Dutch East Indies |
| Died | 2 January 1818 (aged 17) |
| Monuments | Statue in Ambon, Maluku; statue in Abubu |
| Occupation | Guerrilla fighter |
| Years active | 1817 |
| Awards | National Heroine of Indonesia |
Martha Christina Tiahahu (4 January 1800 – 2 January 1818) was a Moluccan freedom fighter and National Heroine of Indonesia.
Born to a military captain, Tiahahu was active in military matters from a young age. She joined the war led by Pattimura against the Dutch colonial government when she was 17, fighting in several battles. After being captured in October 1817, she was released on account of her age. She continued to fight, and was captured again. Sent to Java to be a slave labourer, she fell ill on the way and, refusing to eat or take medicine, died on a ship in the Banda Sea.
Tiahahu is considered a National Heroine of Indonesia. She has also been honoured with two statues, one in Ambon and one in Abubu; other namesakes include a warship, street, Moluccan social organization, and women's magazine.