Battle of Sembulan

Battle of Sembulan
	Part of Apostate War
Date	1788
Location	Sabah, Kampung Sembulan
Result	Bruneian victory
Belligerents
Bruneian Empire Mengkabong; Marudu; Tempasuk; Abai; ;	Sulu Sultanate Pirates; ;
Commanders and leaders
Muhammad Tajuddin; Pengiran Temenggong Ampa; Embo Ali; Raja Tua of Mengkabong	Azim ud-Din II; Datu Teting
Units involved
Bruneian Army	Banguingui warriors
Strength
5,000+ 2,000 Sama-Bajau; thousands of Johor seafarers; Illanun warriors in Marudu, Mengkabong, Tempasuk and Abai; ;	Unknown
Casualties and losses
	Unknown

The Battle of Sembulan or also known as the Battle of Simbulan was the last major land battle between the Sultanate of Sulu and the Bruneian Empire in the Apostate War.

Background

Kampung Sembulan alternatively spelt as Simbulan was a Bajau fishing village near Deasoka (now, modern day Jesselton). Kampung Sembulan is now known as Kampung Sembulan Lama.

The Sulu and their allies would seasonally would raid the coasts of Bruneian territory especially in Sabah. And one of these was Kampung Sembulan which the Bruneian army were heading to foil their attacks. The army was previously at a base in Menggatal in the Mengkabong kingdom, an ally of Brunei.

Battle

The Bruneians numbered more than 5,000 soldiers, 2,000 were Sama-Bajau, Johor seafarers and Iranun warriors from Marudu, Mengkabong, Tempasuk and Abai from Kinarut and defeated the Sulu army which was made of the Banguingui.

Aftermath

After the battle, a Hulubalang who fought in the battle, Embo Ali alternatively known as Embo Amirullah became the official "caretaker" of Kampung Sembulan and stayed connected with Brunei until 1790. Embo Ali's family was also the participants in the Marudu expedition against James Brooke in support Pengiran Yusof and Sharif Uthman during the Anglo-Bruneian War, Gaya and Pandasan War.

Notes

↑ "Raja Tua" is a title, not a name.

References

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Bin Mohd Asi, Jeffri (2008). "1788 Simbulan: History of Sembulan Lama". Kajian Awal, Catatan Lisan dan Tarsilah Keluarga Besar.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Santos, Jason (5 December 2020). "History of Sembulan: home to remnants of ancient Brunei army Part 1". The Vibe.
1 2 3 Al-Sufri, Haji Awang Mohd. Jamil (1997-12-01). "Sultan Tengah (Sultan Sarawak Pertama dan Terakhir)". The Sarawak Museum Journal. XLVII (68): 265–291. doi:10.61507/smj22-1997-hm77-13. ISSN 0375-3050.
1 2 Mail, Asbol (2021). "The Role of The Military, The Bruneian Political Power and The Malay Realm (14th – 19th Century): From a Historical Perspective". Academy of Bruneian Studies.

[1] "Raja Tua" is a title, not a name.

[:2-2] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Bin Mohd Asi, Jeffri (2008). "1788 Simbulan: History of Sembulan Lama". Kajian Awal, Catatan Lisan dan Tarsilah Keluarga Besar.

[:5-3] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Santos, Jason (5 December 2020). "History of Sembulan: home to remnants of ancient Brunei army Part 1". The Vibe.

[:0-4] 1 2 3 Al-Sufri, Haji Awang Mohd. Jamil (1997-12-01). "Sultan Tengah (Sultan Sarawak Pertama dan Terakhir)". The Sarawak Museum Journal. XLVII (68): 265–291. doi:10.61507/smj22-1997-hm77-13. ISSN 0375-3050.

[:1-5] 1 2 Mail, Asbol (2021). "The Role of The Military, The Bruneian Political Power and The Malay Realm (14th – 19th Century): From a Historical Perspective". Academy of Bruneian Studies.