76-480: Events/Artifacts (north to south) Events/Artifacts Artifacts The Sulu and Celebes Seas , a semi-enclosed sea area and porous region that covers an area of space around 1 million square kilometres, have been subject to illegal maritime activities since the pre-colonial era and continue to pose a maritime security threat to bordering nations up to this day. While piracy has long been identified as an ubiquitous challenge, being historically interwoven with
152-433: A spear , made of bamboo and an iron spearhead . The Moro's swivel guns were not like more modern guns used by the world powers but were of a much older technology, making them largely inaccurate, especially at sea. Lantakas dated back to the 16th century and were up to six feet long, requiring several men to lift one. They fired up to a half-pound cannonball or grape shot . A lantaka was bored by hand and were sunk into
228-537: A birthdate of 1834 – is in the churchyard at Plumtree. Francis William Douglas (1874–1953), the Acting Resident for Brunei and Labuan from November 1913 to January 1915 in a letter to the Foreign Office on 19 July 1915 stated that he heard from Pengiran Anak Hashima that Brooke had been married to her aunt Pengiran Fatima, the daughter of Pengiran Anak Abdul Kadir and also the granddaughter of Muhammad Kanzul Alam,
304-843: A brief meeting in Singapore, John was deposed and banished from Sarawak. James increased the charges to treasonous conduct and later named John's younger brother, Charles Anthoni Johnson Brooke , as his successor. Brooke died in Burrator , Dartmoor , Devon , in south-west England, on 11 June 1868, having suffered three strokes during his last ten years, and was buried at the graveyard of St Leonard's Church in Sheepstor . Fictionalised accounts of Brooke's exploits in Sarawak include Kalimantaan by C.S. Godshalk and The White Rajah by Nicholas Monsarrat . Another book, also called The White Rajah , by Tom Williams,
380-555: A film based on Brooke's life was to be made in Sarawak with the support of Abang Abdul Rahman Johari of the Government of Sarawak , with writer Rob Allyn and Sergei Bodrov as its director. The Brooke Heritage Trust, a non-profit organisation, was to serve as the film's technical advisors, with one of them being Jason Brooke , the current heir of the Brooke family. The film, titled Edge of
456-574: A global scale, piracy in Southeast Asian waters was outnumbered by Somali piracy. However, in the years of 2009-2014 an upswing in the number of attacks can be attributed to Southeast Asia again, mainly due to incidents in the Strait of Malacca and South China Sea , but also raids on towns, settlements and offshore businesses re-emerged as a security threat in the Sulu and Celebes area after 2010. In 2014, then,
532-498: A heavy cannon . Proas were very fast and the pirates would prey on merchant ships becalmed in shallow water as they passed through the Sulu Sea. Slave trading and raiding was also very common, the pirates would assemble large fleets of proas and attack coastal towns. Hundreds of Christians were captured and imprisoned over the centuries, many were used as galley slaves aboard the pirate ships. Other than muskets and rifles ,
608-586: A line through Semirara and Caluya Islands to Nasog Point ( 11°53′N 121°53′E / 11.883°N 121.883°E / 11.883; 121.883 ) the Northwestern extreme of Panay , along the West and Southeast coast of that island to Tagubanhan Island ( 11°08′N 123°07′E / 11.133°N 123.117°E / 11.133; 123.117 ), thence a line to the Northern extreme of Negros and down
684-590: A line to Bitinan Island ( 6°04′N 121°27′E / 6.067°N 121.450°E / 6.067; 121.450 ) off the Eastern end of Jolo Island , through Jolo to a point in long. 121°04'E on its South coast, thence through Tapul and Lugus Islands and along the North coast of Tawi Tawi Island to Bongao Island off its Western end ( 5°01′N 119°45′E / 5.017°N 119.750°E / 5.017; 119.750 ), and from thence to Tanjong Labian,
760-713: A number of islands. The Cuyo Islands and the Cagayan Islands are part of the province of Palawan whereas Mapun and the Turtle Islands are part of the province of Tawi-Tawi . Sulu Sea is also where the Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park , one of the World Heritage Sites is located. Panay Gulf is an extension of the Sulu Sea. Straits out of the Sulu Sea include the Iloilo Strait ,
836-576: A pacification campaign from 1903 to 1913 that extended American rule to the southern Philippines and effectively suppressed piracy. The pirate ships used by the Moros include various designs like the paraw , pangayaw , garay , and lanong . The majority were wooden sailing galleys ( lanong ) about ninety feet long with a beam of twenty feet (27.4 by 6.1 m). They carried around fifty to 100 crewmen. Moros usually armed their vessels with three swivel guns , called lelahs or lantakas, and occasionally
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#1732851820947912-598: A peak, with 22 incidents and 58 abducted crew members reported throughout the first year. In the beginning, mostly fishing trawlers and tug boats were targeted. After October 2016, also larger tonnage ships ended in the center of attacks. Until June 2019, ReCAAP reports 29 incidents of the abduction of crew members, documenting 10 people dead. In 2020, one incident (involving an attack on a fishing trawler on Jan 17 in Eastern Sabah) occurred and no other one has been reported up to August 2021. Nonetheless, ReCAAP continues to warn of
988-434: A pit and packed with dirt to hold them in a vertical position. The barrel was then bored by a company of men walking around in a circle to turn drill bits by hand. Piracy reemerged in the immediate post-WWII period as a result of the deterioration of the security situation and the wide availability of military surplus engines and modern firearms. Police authorities of the newly independent Philippines were unable to get hold of
1064-496: A reduction of 200 incidents a year to 99 in 2017. However, this development is mainly due to increased efforts and enforcement mechanisms in the Straits of Malacca and cannot be transferred to the Sulu and Celebes region. Since 2016, the nature of piracy in that porous area changed with the militant extremist group Abu Sayyaf re- entering the field and engaging in kidnapping- for ransom- activities. The years of 2016 and 2017 thereby mark
1140-550: A relationship with 16‑year‑old Charles T.C. Grant, grandson of the seventh Earl of Elgin , who supposedly 'reciprocated'. Whether this relationship was purely a friendship or otherwise is not known. Nigel Barley , one of Brooke's recent biographers, wrote that during Brooke's final years in Burrator in Devon "there is little doubt ... he was carnally involved with the rough trade of Totnes ." However, Barley does not note from where he garnered this opinion. Others have suggested Brooke
1216-405: A rise in insurances. Attacks on local craft on fishing boats and small tugs are often not noted due to the lack of infrastructure or a lack of trust to the authorities. Some incidents contrarily are reported, but without specific details on the location (threat at harbor or at sea. Thus, piracy statistics demand a detailed look into the circumstances of the acquisition of data and contexts surrounding
1292-501: A rise of incidents of these kind. Moreover, pirates sometimes take the vessels' outboard motors or the vessel in its entirety, either to sell later or to keep for themselves. Responses by affected nation states in the region tap into the following three different categories: maritime operations, information sharing and capacity building. While the nation states have been historically reluctant to collectively act, upholding traditional ASEAN -principles of non- interference and sovereignty ,
1368-448: A unit of Britain's China Squadron , took over Brunei and restored its sultan to the throne. In 1842, the Sultan ceded complete sovereignty of Sarawak to Brooke. He was granted the title of Rajah of Sarawak on 24 September 1841, although the official declaration was not made until 18 August 1842. Brooke's cousin, Arthur Chichester Crookshank (1825–1891) joined his service on 1 March 1843 and
1444-515: Is 4,400 meters (14,400 ft) deep but on its southern end Sulu Archipelago raises the sea floor to 100 meters (330 ft). On the Northwest. From Tanjong Sempang Mangayau , the North point of Borneo , along the Eastern limit of South China Sea to Cape Calavite, the Northwest point of Mindoro . On the Northeast. The Southwest coast of Mindoro to Buruncan Point, its Southern extreme, thence
1520-744: Is also not seen as an inherently criminal activity by the population living at the edge of the Sulu Sea, which is reflected in the local languages. Piracy statistics on the incidents in the region mostly rely on reports issued by the Piracy Reporting Centre of the International Maritime Bureau (IMB), or the Information Sharing Centre of ReCAAP . Data from the International Maritime Organization cannot be used, as they only report from two locations,
1596-467: Is briefly mentioned in Rudyard Kipling 's short story " The Man Who Would Be King ". Charles Kingsley dedicated the novel Westward Ho! (1855) to Brooke. In 1936, Errol Flynn intended to star in a film of Brooke's life called The White Rajah for Warner Bros. , based on a script by Flynn himself. However, although the project was announced for filming, it was never made. In September 2016,
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#17328518209471672-513: Is located in Owen Sound , Ontario. Brooke's Point , a major municipality on the island of Palawan , Philippines , is named after him. Both Brooke's Lighthouse and Brooke's Port are historical landmarks in Brooke's Point and are believed to have been constructed by James Brooke. Today, owing to erosion and the constant movement of the tides, only a few stones can still be seen at the Port. The remnants of
1748-462: Is why the term will be used in the present article as well. Because of the continual wars between Spain and the Moro people , the areas in and around the Sulu Sea saw re-occurring incidents of piracy attacks, which were not suppressed until the beginning of the 20th century. The pirates of that period should not be confused with the naval forces or privateers of the various Moro tribes. However, many of
1824-765: The Bengal Army of the British East India Company . He saw action in Assam during the First Anglo-Burmese War until he was seriously wounded in 1825 and sent to England for recovery. In 1830, he arrived back in Madras but was too late to rejoin his unit, and resigned his commission. He remained on the ship he had travelled out in – the Castle Huntley – and returned home via China. Brooke attempted to trade in
1900-758: The British Parliament and officially investigated in Singapore for his anti-piracy measures. He was, however, honoured and feted in London for his activities in Southeast Asia. The naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace was one of many visitors whose published work spoke of his hospitality and achievements. Brooke was born in Bandel , near Calcutta , Bengal , but baptised in Secrole, a suburb of Benares . His father, Thomas Brooke,
1976-674: The Far East , but was not successful. In 1835 he inherited £30,000 (£3M or US$ 3.7M in 2022 currency), which he used as capital to purchase the Royalist , a 142-ton schooner . Setting sail for Borneo in 1838, he arrived in Kuching in August to find the settlement facing an uprising against the Sultan of Brunei . In Sarawak he met the Sultan's uncle, Pengiran Muda Hashim , to whom he gave assistance in crushing
2052-804: The Guimaras Strait , and the Basilan Strait . The sea's surface area is 260,000 square kilometers (100,000 sq mi). The Pacific Ocean flows into Sulu Sea in northern Mindanao and between Sangihe talaud Archipelago, North Sulawesi. The International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) defines the Sulu Sea as being one of the waters of the East Indian Archipelago . The IHO defines its limits as follows: It extends about 490 miles (790 km) from north to south and 375 miles (604 km) from east to west. Waves can stretch across 25 kilometers (16 mi) to 35 kilometers (22 mi). The sea
2128-511: The Malay Archipelago where, in gratitude for helping to crush a rebellion, he was rewarded with the position of governor of Sarawak. He then vigorously suppressed piracy in the region and, in the ensuing turmoil, restored the Sultan of Brunei to his throne, for which the Sultan made Brooke the Rajah of Sarawak. He ruled until his death. Brooke was not without detractors and was criticised in
2204-519: The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), founded in 1977, provided a new impetus to piracy, with both organisations engaging in piracy to fund their armed struggle. MNLF has engaged in the extortion of fishermen, threatening to attack them if they did not pay protection money. Similarly, Abu Sayyaf , founded in the early 1990s, started to engage in piracy attacks, both to fund the organization and for personal financial gain. Throughout
2280-799: The Straits of Malacca and the South China Sea . Overall, the numbers differ depending on each institutions' reporting processes, sources they derive their information from, classification mechanisms, location of attacks, types of ships attacked, their status, political considerations. The IMB, for example, relies on data from shipowners, whereas the ReCAAP's ISC derives their data from official staff, naval and coast guard officers. Furthermore, underreporting and overreporting are also further bias factors, as shipowners or local seafarers refuse to report incidents due to different reasons. Shipmasters, for example, often fear potential disruptions in their time schedules or
2356-664: The Sulu Sea who originated in the southern parts of the Philippines . The Sulu raiders were mostly composed of the Ilanun (or Iranun ) and the Sama group of sea nomads as well as the influential Tausug aristocrates from Jolo Island. Historically piracy occurred in and around the vicinity of the Sulu island Mindanao , where frequent acts of piracy were committed against the Spanish . These attacks of
Piracy in the Sulu and Celebes Seas - Misplaced Pages Continue
2432-452: The copra trade, but also attacked fishing and passenger vessels and conducted coastal raids on villages. As an example, in 1985 , pirates caused chaos in the town of Lahad Datu in Sabah, killing 21 people and injuring 11 others Specifically the proliferation of arms which increased with armed insurgencies in the following years, contributed to the level of violence and threat posed by pirates in
2508-573: The 21st Sultan of Brunei. Douglas goes on to say that he had met Dr Ogilvie who told him that he had met a daughter of Rajah Brooke's in 1866: she was married but "evidently had foreign blood in her." Having no legitimate children, in 1861 he formally named his nephew, Captain John Brooke Johnson Brooke , as his successor. Two years later, the Rajah reacted to criticism by returning to the East: after
2584-701: The Malay Archipelago for his next expedition, an expedition that lasted for eight years and established him as one of the foremost Victorian intellectuals and naturalists of the time. When Wallace arrived in Singapore in September 1854, he found Rajah Brooke "reluctantly preparing to give evidence to the special commission set up to investigate his controversial anti-piracy activities." During his rule, Brooke suppressed an uprising by Liu Shan Bang in 1857 and faced threats from Sarawak warriors like Sharif Masahor and Rentap and managed to suppress them. James Brooke
2660-573: The Malaysian government. Subsequently, the Malaysian government increased their law enforcement agencies and established naval bases in the following years that can be found today in Semporna , Sandakan , Lahad Datu and Tawau . These efforts (combined with e.g. the signing of ReCAAP and an increase in the number of law enforcement personnel showed some success and lead to a decrease in incidents. Soon, on
2736-451: The Moro pirates frequently in the 1840s. The expedition to Balanguingui in 1848 was commanded by Brigadier José Ruiz with a fleet of nineteen small warships and hundreds of Spanish Army troops. They were opposed by at least 1,000 Moros holed up in four forts with 124 cannons and plenty of small arms . There were also dozens of proas at Balanguingui but the pirates abandoned their ships for
2812-414: The Moro pirates, as well as the navy sailors and the privateers, used a sword called the kris with a wavy blade incised with blood channels. The wooden or ivory handle was often heavily ornamented with silver or gold. The type of wound inflicted by its blade makes it difficult to heal. The kris was used often used in boarding a vessel. Moros also used a Kampilan , another sword, a knife, or barong and
2888-606: The Northeastern extreme of Borneo. On the Southwest. The North coast of Borneo between Tanjong Labian and Tanjong Sempang Mangayau. The Star Trek character Hikaru Sulu is named after the Sulu Sea. According to Sulu actor George Takei , " [Gene] Roddenberry's vision for Sulu was to represent all of Asia, being named for the Sulu Sea instead of using a country-specific name". James Brooke Sir James Brooke, Rajah of Sarawak KCB (29 April 1803 – 11 June 1868),
2964-593: The Philippine government signed a peace deal with the MILF , that includes details about disarmament of the fighters. Yet, violence continues due to other reasons, such as attacks by other violent groups such as Abu Sayyaf or dissatisfied MILF members. Regarding the nature of piracy in the Sulu Sea, attacks are mostly perpetrated by small teams of less than ten people, which are usually well-armed. Overall, incidents tend to be more violent than their counterparts in other areas of
3040-640: The Standard Operating Procedure for maritime patrols . Therefore, the three countries established so- called Maritime Command Centres in Tarankan, Tawau and Bonga which serve as operation command and monitoring centres. Furthermore, drawing on combating piracy efforts in Somalia , Malaysia and the Philippines established special transit corridors ensuring a safe passage for commercial ships. The transit corridors serve as safety areas for ships passing
3116-401: The Sultan, and his subsequent knighthood, are evidence that his efforts were widely applauded in both Sarawak and British society. Among his alleged relationships was one with Badruddin, a Sarawak prince, of whom he wrote, "my love for him was deeper than anyone I knew." This phrase led to some considering him to be either homosexual or bisexual. Later, in 1848, Brooke is alleged to have formed
Piracy in the Sulu and Celebes Seas - Misplaced Pages Continue
3192-462: The Sulu Sea, the problem continues to persist. Weak maritime law enforcement, corruption, rivalries between the involved states, and unresolved territorial claims are major barriers to an effective suppression of piracy. Security forces sometimes are involved in organising piratical activities as well, supplying weapons and intel to pirates. The littoral nature of the Sulu Sea makes it easy for pirates to surprise victims and evade law enforcement. On land,
3268-551: The West coast to Siaton Point, its Southern extreme, thence across to Tagolo Point ( 8°44′N 123°22′E / 8.733°N 123.367°E / 8.733; 123.367 ), Mindanao . On the Southeast. From Tagolo Point, down the West coast of Mindanao to the Southwest extremity thence to the North coast of Basilan Island ( 6°45′N 122°04′E / 6.750°N 122.067°E / 6.750; 122.067 ), through this island to its Southern extremity, thence
3344-528: The World , directed by Michael Haussman , was released in 2021. Source: Some Bornean plant species were named in Brooke's honour: also insects: three species of reptiles: and a snail: In 1857, the native village of Newash in Grey County , Ontario, Canada, was renamed Brooke and the adjacent township was named Sarawak by William Coutts Keppel (known as Viscount Bury, later the 7th Earl of Albemarle) who
3420-602: The abduction of crew members. Since March 2016, the Information Sharing Centre (ISC) of the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP) reports a total of 86 abductions, leading to the issue of a warning for ships transpassing the area. Piracy in the Sulu and Celebes Seas has a long history of attacks and raids, with the region being influenced primarily by raiders from
3496-582: The archipelago and were conducted with impunity by organized fleets carrying weapons of destruction almost equal to those of the Spaniards. The re-curring act is often described as a reaction against the Spaniards, who had displaced the Moros from the political and economic dominance they once enjoyed in the region (e.g. strategic commercial standpoints in Mindanano). Moreover, religious differences between Muslims and Christians are frequently cited. The Spanish engaged
3572-552: The area and are patrolled by the littoral states. Notice needs to be given to one of the Command Centres 24 hours in advance, so that adequate assistance can be assured. Moreover, in 2018, in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime , the three countries established a Contact Group on Maritime Crime in the Sulu and Celebes Seas. Despite efforts by Malaysian and Philippine authorities to curb piracy in
3648-409: The assaults are often traced back to members of Abu Sayyaf , the ransom money is most likely supporting the extremist organisation. International attention arose due to the alarming cruelty hostages are abducted and detained . Recent responses by the littoral states Malaysia , Indonesia and the Philippines focus, first and foremost, on the improvement and expansion of regional cooperation. Against
3724-456: The background of the kidnapping- for-ransom attacks in their territorial waters, the littoral states signed a Trilateral Cooperative Agreement (TCA) in July 2016 addressing the security challenge in the tri-border-area. The TCA thereby lays the foundation of the maritime security coordination and encompasses regulations on extended intelligence sharing , joint border patrols and the operationalization of
3800-404: The better defended fortifications. The Spanish stormed three of the positions by force and captured the remaining one after the pirates had retreated. Over 500 prisoners were freed in the operation and over 500 Moros were killed or wounded, they also lost about 150 proas. The Spanish lost twenty-two men killed and around 210 wounded. The pirates later reoccupied the island in 1849. Another expedition
3876-415: The developments and outside pressure demanded action. Information sharing increased with the adoption of RECAAP in September 2006, and even though Malaysia and Indonesia are no contracting parties, they still engage with reporting incidents and sharing information. Marked by a long history of piracy, Southeast Asia as a whole saw a sharp decline of piracy and armed robbery at sea in the years 2014–2018,
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#17328518209473952-588: The information. Sulu Sea The Sulu Sea ( Filipino : Dagat Sulu ; Tausug : Dagat sin Sūg ; Malay : Laut Sulu ) is a body of water in the southwestern area of the Philippines , separated from the South China Sea in the northwest by Palawan and from the Celebes Sea in the southeast by the Sulu Archipelago . Borneo is found to the southwest and Visayas to the northeast. The Sulu Sea contains
4028-519: The local population are often known as the Spanish-Moro conflict . The term "Moro" thereby originated in the Spanish description as they introduced the derogatory term for Muslims and portrayed them in negative terms primarily due to their opposition to Spanish colonial rule and Christianity. However, the term is being reclaimed by ethnic Filipinos today and constitutes a re-claiming of Muslim identity, which
4104-659: The local population towards piracy, as security forces frequently harass farmers, depriving them of their livelihood. Small arms proliferation in the area is also high as a result of weak state authority and the armed struggle of these groups, making it easy for pirates to acquire weapons. Cultural factors may also play a part, with most of modern-day pirates in the Sulu Sea being descended from their historical predecessors, adding an element of cultural sanction to piracy. It has been suggested that piracy may in part be motivated by associated virtues such as honor and masculinity, which pirates can display by taking part in an operation. Piracy
4180-402: The native people, under the guise of anti-piracy operations, leading to the appointment of a Commission of Inquiry in Singapore in 1854. After an investigation, the commission dismissed the charges. Brooke wrote to Alfred Russel Wallace on leaving England in April 1853, "to assure Wallace that he would be very glad to see him at Sarawak." This was an invitation that helped Wallace decide on
4256-434: The pirates operated under government sanction during time of war. Moro piracy is often linked to the Spanish colonial occupation of the Philippines. In a course of over two and a half centuries, Moro piratical attacks on Christian communities caused "an epoch of wholesale misery for the inhabitants". After the Spanish arrival in 1521, Moro piratical raids against Christian settlements started in June 1578. These spread all over
4332-545: The poor economic conditions in the area drive people to resort to various forms of crime to make a living, including piracy. Piracy, in turn, exacerbates the economic deprivation of the population, as the primary targets are locals themselves. The continued existence of groups like Abu Sayyaf and MILF is also to blame for the prevalence of piracy. Not only do these groups engage in piracy themselves, efforts by security forces to suppress them have also drawn resources that could be used to deal with piracy. These efforts may also drive
4408-421: The rebellion, winning the gratitude of Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin II of Brunei, who in 1841 offered Brooke the governorship of Sarawak in return for his help. Rajah Brooke was highly successful in suppressing the widespread piracy of the region. However, some Malay nobles in Brunei, unhappy over Brooke's measures against piracy, arranged for the murder of Muda Hashim and his followers. Brooke, with assistance from
4484-445: The region . Philippine authorities at the time, reported more than 431 deaths and 426 missing people in the course of twelve years, resulting in an intense high threat- level for the region . Victims (local seafarers and Sea Nomads ) were often ordered to jump into the water (practice of ambak pare) which explains the large number of people missing. The armed insurgencies of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), founded in 1972, and
4560-409: The region, recent incidents also include other types of maritime crimes such as kidnapping and the trafficking of humans, arms and drugs. Attacks mostly classify as 'armed robbery against ships' according to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea as they occur in maritime zones that lie under the sovereignty of a coastal state . Incidents in the Sulu and Celebes Seas specifically involve
4636-463: The risk of crew abduction and urges for a re-routing from the area of the Sulu and Celebes Seas. Contemporary attacks in the Sulu and Celebes Seas amount primarily to kidnapping for ransom (while incidents in other parts of Southeast Asia mostly constitute non- violent robberies). All attacks have been committed while the ships were underway and tug and fishing boats were the main victims of abduction of crew (due to their slow speed and low freeboard). As
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#17328518209474712-575: The traffic of arms and goods ( copra and cigarettes) by rebel groups, which was fueled by the motorisation of inter-island support . Emerging pirate groups mostly stemmed from the South of the country, derived from Muslim ethnic groups. In the Northern parts of Borneo, the Tawi- Tawi pirates were specifically of concern to late British colonial rule who were said to be descendants of 19th century Samal pirates . The authorities in North Borneo recorded 232 pirate attacks between 1959 and 1962. During this period, pirates primarily targeted barter traders engaged in
4788-442: The turn of the millennium, the threat of piracy remained high, with re-occurring attacks on small vessels and raids of towns and businesses on coastal villages in Sabah, mostly attributable to groups of the southern Philippines, as the main types of piratical activities. At the time, specifically the 2000 Sipadan kidnappings received a lot of international media attention, resulting in an increased engagement of anti-piracy measures by
4864-500: The world, often killing their victims by shooting them or having them jump over board, leaving them to drown. Weapons used by pirates include normal handguns and rifles such as AK47 , M16 , M1 Garand , and FN FAL Pirates almost exclusively target small vessels, including fishing vessels, passenger ships and transport vessels. While the pirates primarily aim to steal personal belongings, cargo and fishers' catch, they also take hostages for ransom. Especially in recent years, there has been
4940-707: Was 'a great admirer' of the novels of Jane Austen , and would 'read them and re-read them', including aloud to his companions in Sarawak. Brooke was influenced by the success of previous British adventurers and the exploits of the East India Company . His actions in Sarawak were directed at expanding the British Empire and the benefits of its rule, assisting the local people by fighting piracy and slavery , and securing his own personal wealth to further these activities. His own abilities, and those of his successors, provided Sarawak with excellent leadership and wealth generation during difficult times, and resulted in both fame and notoriety in some circles. His appointment as rajah by
5016-420: Was Superintendent of Indian Affairs in Canada. James Brooke was a close friend of Viscount Bury's uncle, Henry Keppel having met in 1843 while fighting pirates off the coast of Borneo. Townships to the northwest of Sarawak were named Keppel and Albemarle. In 2001, Sarawak and Keppel became part of the township of Georgian Bluffs ; Albemarle joined the town of South Bruce Peninsula in 1999. Keppel-Sarawak School
5092-410: Was a British soldier and adventurer who founded the Raj of Sarawak in Borneo . He ruled as the first White Rajah of Sarawak from 1841 until his death in 1868. Brooke was born and raised in India during the rule of the British East India Company . After a few years of education in England, he served in the Bengal Army , was wounded, and resigned his commission. He then bought a ship and sailed to
5168-482: Was an English judge in the Court of Appeal at Bareilly , British India ; his mother, Anna Maria was born in Hertfordshire and was the daughter of Scottish peer Colonel William Stuart, 9th Lord Blantyre , and his mistress Harriott Teasdale. Brooke stayed at home in India until he was sent to England at the age of 12 for a brief education at Norwich School from which he ran away. Some home tutoring followed in Bath before he returned to India in 1819 as an ensign in
5244-448: Was appointed as a magistrate. In 1844 Brooke began anti-pirate operations with ships of the Royal Navy and the East India Company off north-east Sumatra. On 12 February, he received a gunshot wound to his right arm and a spear cut to his eyebrow in their second engagement, at Murdu. Later in 1844 the Sultan offered to cede the island of Labuan to the British but terms were not discussed at that time. In November 1846 Captain Rodney Mundy
5320-411: Was armed with three brass swivel guns. Brooke lost only a few men killed or wounded while at least 100 pirates were killed or wounded. Several prisoners were also released. Despite Spanish efforts to eradicate the pirate threat, piracy persisted until the early 1900s. Spain ceded the Philippines to the United States as a result of the Spanish–American War in 1898, after which American troops embarked on
5396-446: Was aware of his connection to Brooke and by 1871 he is on the census at the parish of Plumtree, Nottinghamshire as "George Brooke", age "40", birthplace "Sarawak, Borneo". He married Martha Elizabeth Mowbray on 10 July 1862, and had seven children, three of whom survived infancy; the oldest was named James. George died travelling to Australia, in the wrecking of the SS British Admiral on 23 May 1874. A memorial to this effect – giving
5472-694: Was given the Freedom of the City of London , appointed British consul-general in Borneo and created a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB). Brooke pacified the native peoples, including the Dayaks , and suppressed headhunting and piracy. He had many Dayaks in his forces and said that only Dayaks could kill Dayaks. In 1851 Brooke was accused of using excessive force against
5548-496: Was instead "homo-social" and simply preferred the social company of other men, disagreeing with assertions he was a homosexual. Although Brooke died unmarried, he did acknowledge a son to his family in 1858. Neither the identity of the son's mother nor his birth date is clear. This son was brought up as Reuben George Walker in the Brighton household of Frances Walker (1841 and 1851 census, apparently born c. 1836 ). By 1858 he
5624-470: Was ordered to obtain the cession of Labuan. He negotiated the cession on 18 December 1846 and took possession of Labuan on 24 December 1846. James Brooke was appointed governor and commander-in-chief of Labuan in 1848. During his reign, Brooke began to cement his rule over Sarawak: reforming the administration, codifying laws and fighting piracy, which proved to be an ongoing issue throughout his rule. Brooke returned temporarily to England in 1847, where he
5700-554: Was published by JMS Books in 2010. Brooke is also featured in Flashman's Lady , the 6th book in George MacDonald Fraser 's meticulously researched The Flashman Papers novels. James Brooke is the main antagonist in the second and third novels of Emilio Salgari 's Sandokan series. In the 1976 TV production he's played by Adolfo Celi . Brooke was also a model for the hero of Joseph Conrad 's novel Lord Jim , and he
5776-826: Was sent which encountered only light resistance. In the 1840s, James Brooke became the White Rajah of Sarawak and led a series of campaigns against the Moro pirates. In 1843 Brooke attacked the pirates of Malludu and in June 1847 he participated in a major battle with pirates at Balanini where dozens of proas were captured or sunk. Brooke fought in several more anti-piracy actions in 1849 as well. During one engagement off Mukah with Illanun Sulus in 1862, his nephew, ex-army Captain Brooke, sank four proas, out of six engaged, by ramming them with his small four-gun steamship Rainbow . Each pirate ship had over 100 crewmen and galley slaves aboard and
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