Battle of Sembulan

Battle of Sembulan
	Part of Apostate War
Date	1788
Location	Sabah, Kampung Sembulan
Result	Bruneian victory
Belligerents
Bruneian Empire Rajahnate of 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, Abai from the Battle of Kinarut; ;	Unknown
Casualties and losses
Unknown	Unknown

The Battle of Sembulan or also known as the Battle of Simbulan^[1] was the last major land battle between the Sultanate of Sulu and the Bruneian Empire in the Apostate War.^[3]

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.^[1]

The Sulu and their allies would seasonally would raid the coasts of Bruneian territory especially in Sabah.^[2] And one of these was Kampung Sembulan which the Bruneian army were heading to foil their attacks.^[2]^[4]^[3]

Battle

The Bruneians numbered more than 5,000 soldiers, 2,000 were Sama-Bajau, Johor seafarers and Illanun warriors from Marudu, Mengkabong, Tempasuk and Abai^[1] from the Battle of Kinarut and defeated the "Mundu army" who were made up of Banguingui warriors.^[2]^[4]^[3]^[1]

Aftermath

After defeating the Sulu, 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.^[2]^[1] Embo Ali's family was also the participants in the Marudu expedition against James Brooke in support Pengiran Yusof and Syarif Osman during the Anglo-Bruneian War, Gaya and Pandasan War.^[1]^[2]

Notes

^ "Raja Tua" is a title, not a name.
^ nicknamed "Mundu" army

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ Bin Mohd Asi, Jeffri (2008). "1788 Simbulan: History of Sembulan Lama". Kajian Awal, Catatan Lisan dan Tarsilah Keluarga Besar.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Santos, Jason (5 December 2020). "History of Sembulan: home to remnants of ancient Brunei army Part 1". The Vibe.
^ ^a ^b ^c 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.
^ ^a ^b 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] "Mundu" army

[:2-3] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ Bin Mohd Asi, Jeffri (2008). "1788 Simbulan: History of Sembulan Lama". Kajian Awal, Catatan Lisan dan Tarsilah Keluarga Besar.

[:5-4] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Santos, Jason (5 December 2020). "History of Sembulan: home to remnants of ancient Brunei army Part 1". The Vibe.

[:0-5] 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.

[:1-6] 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.

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