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