Thomas Matulessy, a.k.a. Kapitan Pattimura, is the most famous national hero from Maluku. Formerly a sergeant in the British occupying army, he then led the armed struggle against the Dutch colonial forces in 1817, known as Pattimura War. He was arrested and sentenced to death in the same year. He was executed by hanging at the spot outside Fort Victoria in Ambon, where the statue of this heroic figure stands today.