Attack on Jailolo

The Attack on Jailolo was a failed military expedition by a combined Spanish-Portuguese and Ternatean force aiming to remove Jailolo's ruler.

In 1534, Sultan Katarabumi seized power in Jailolo by poisoning his predecessor, who died in a Portuguese hospital on Ternate. Katarabumi initially declared he would rule on behalf of the Portuguese king, but this was a ruse. He then attacked Ternatean holdings in Jailolo, expelled the Ternateans, and invaded the Christianized Moro Kingdom. In 1536, he besieged the Moro capital Mamuya for a week, demanding King Tioliza and the Portuguese guards surrender within 24 hours. The guards fled but were killed by locals. He later attacked the village of Tolo, defended by Portuguese soldiers and 3,000 inhabitants, who held out for a month before surrendering.

In late November 1545, Portuguese captain Fernao de Sousa de Tavora led 300 Portuguese, joined by 100 Spanish troops under Ruy López de Villalobos and 1,500 Ternateans under Pati Sarang. They found Jailolo's fort strongly fortified with a ditch, wooden palisade, and towers armed with artillery and arquebusiers. The allies assaulted but were repulsed with heavy losses. The Jailoloans made repeated sorties, and fighting lasted two days or weeks. Portuguese commanders quarreled, and some withdrew, forcing the siege to be lifted.

The Spanish and Portuguese retreated to Ternate, where Villalobos died. De Sousa then sailed to India with the remaining Spaniards. Emboldened by victory, Katarabumi sent caracoas to Ternate and Tidore to deceive the inhabitants. His success was short-lived; in 1550, a force of 180 Portuguese and 5,000 Ternateans captured Jailolo.