The Attack on Jailolo was a military expedition launched by the combined force of Spanish-Portuguese and Ternatean armies to oust the ruler of Jailolo. The attack failed.
Background In 1534, the new sultan of the Sultanate of Jailolo named Katarabumi took over. He had the previous sultan poisoned and died in a Portuguese hospital in Ternate. In his proclamation, Katarabumi said he would rule Jailolo on behalf of the Portuguese king. During his reign, he began attacking Ternatean territory in Jailolo and succeeded in expelling them; he also began attacking Moro Kingdom a Christianized kingdom, which led to suspicion of the Portuguese and did not expect an emerging power.M. Adnan Amal, Kepulauan Rempah-rempah, p. 34
Katarabumi's pro-Portuguese statements were just a ruse to cover up his attacks on Christian missionaries in the Moro kingdom. In 1536, He invaded the capital of the Moro kingdom, Mamuya. After a siege for a week, Katarabumi demanded the king Tioliza surrender in the next 24 hours. He also demanded the Portuguese guards surrender; the guards escaped the capital but were killed by locals. He then invaded Tolo, a village of 3,000 inhabitants supported by Portuguese soldiers, who resisted Katarabumi for a month before surrendering.M. Adnan Amal, p. 32-33
Attack Having done a lot of harm to the Portuguese, in late November 1545,Pieter Anton Tiele, De Europeërs in den maleischen archipel, p. 283 the Portuguese captain, Fernao de Sousa de Tavora, led an expedition of 300 Portuguese. They were joined by 100 Spanish troops led by Ruy López de Villalobos, and 1,500 Ternateans led by Pati Sarang.Pieter Anton Tiele, p. 283Frederick Charles Danvers, The Portuguese In India Vol. 1, p. 468Harry Kelsey, The First Circumnavigators, Unsung Heroes of the Age of Discovery, p. 96 The allied forces arrived at the fort of Jailolo and found it strongly fortified.Frederick Charles Danvers, p. 468 A ditch and a wooden palisade with towers of artillery arquebusiers enclosed the city.Harry Kelsey, p. 96 The Allied forces launched an assault on the fort. However, the Jailoloans were prepared for the attack and repulsed them with heavy losses.Frederick Charles Danvers, p. 468Pieter Anton Tiele, p. 283 The jailoloans also made repeated sorties against the enemy;Pieter Anton Tiele, p. 283 the fighting lasted for two daysFrederick Charles Danvers, p. 468 or weeks.Harry Kelsey, p. 96 The Portuguese commanders were divided among themselves, and some withdrew, which made them lift the siege.Pieter Anton Tiele, p. 283
Aftermath The Spanish and Portuguese forces retired and returned to Ternate, where Villalobos died. De Sousa afterwards went to India, accompanied by the remainder of the Spaniards.Frederick Charles Danvers, p. 468 The Jailoloans became overconfident at the victory, and Katarabumi sent caracoas to Ternate and Tidore to swindle the inhabitants.Pieter Anton Tiele, p. 283 The success of Katarabumi didn't last long; in 1550, a force of 180 Portuguese and 5,000 Ternateans successfully captured Jailolo.Frederick Charles Danvers, p. 493
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