Battle of Kampung Sembulan

Battle of Kampung Sembulan
Part of Lanun 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 [a]	Azim ud-Din II Datu Teting
Units involved
Bruneian Army	Banguingui warriors [b] [1]
Strength
5,000+ 2,000 Sama-Bajau [2] thousands of Johor seafarers [1] Illanun warriors in Marudu, Mengkabong, Tempasuk, Abai from the Battle of Kinarut [1]	Unknown
Casualties and losses
Unknown	Unknown

The Battle of Kampung Sembulan was the last major land battle between the Sultanate of Sulu and the Bruneian Empire in the Lanun 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

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

References

1. Bin Mohd Asi, Jeffri (2008). "1788 Simbulan: History of Sembulan Lama". Kajian Awal, Catatan Lisan dan Tarsilah Keluarga Besar.
2. Santos, Jason (5 December 2020). "History of Sembulan: home to remnants of ancient Brunei army Part 1". The Vibe.
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.
4. 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.