Regarded as the oldest and most sacrally senior of the Bugis kingdoms, Luwu sat at the head of the Gulf of Bone and figures as the setting of the La Galigo epic. It was the first great South Sulawesi power, built on control of trade (notably iron and nickel), before wet-rice kingdoms to the south eclipsed it. Its datu retained high ritual prestige into the colonial era.
Absorbed into the Dutch East Indies and then Indonesia; the kingdom's high ceremonial status persisted, its datu recognised into the 20th century.
Discusses Luwu's ritual primacy and the La Galigo world (Open Library /works/OL2968374W).
Archaeological synthesis (OXIS project) on Luwu's long-term development.