Early conflict (1780–1781) Records show that Prince Nuku did not need long to gather troops in the outskirts of Tidore. Since the attack on Toloa, relations between Tidore and the three governments (especially Ternate) revolved around Prince Nuku's rebellion. Prince Nuku repeatedly attacked Dutch subjects, and in response the Dutch invaded areas whose residents were considered supporters of Prince Nuku. The newly appointed Sultan of Patra Alam became powerless, almost completely overshadowed by the power of the Nuku prince over the outskirts of Tidore.
Attack on Toloa (1780) On 14 July 1780, Toloa was finally attacked by the rebels. In his efforts to expel the rebels, the Governor of Ternate used the help of four kora-kora who brought along one hundred Europeans and the native
Alifuru militia. About 30 Tidoreans were killed and the survivors fled inland. Only one Alifuru or European was injured. Even though the Dutch won this battle, they finally had a crisis of confidence in Sultan Jamaludin, and appointed Patra Alam as sultan.
Campaign of Halmahera and Sulawesi (1780) In 1780, rebel troops attacked and looted Ambelau, Haya, and Haitiling, as well as
Sula and
Besi as far as Bacan. They also attacked
Selayar,
Buton, and
Talaud at the northern tip of
Sulawesi. During these attacks, more than 300 people were arrested.
Sack of Nusatelu (1780) In the following months of 1780, Prince Nuku's troops attacked and plundered the Nusatelu Islands (Drie Gebroeders),
Ambelau, Haya, and Luhu, capturing and enslaving 134 residents.
Campaign of Saparua (1782) The rebels then launched attack and looted other countries in
Saparua and attacked Hatuana in the northern part of the island. In early February 1782, they again attacked inland of Saparua and invaded
Nusalaut, burning Negeri Ameth and killing a Dutch officer.
Ambush at Babi Island (1782) Before the fleet could unite, 64 rebel ships ambushed them on Babi Island. A ship belonging to the kings of Nusalaut and three other ships along with all their weapons were captured. Gnatahoedij Mardika and Raja Soya drowned, and 29 other men also drowned or were killed or captured by the rebels.
Expedition to Gamrange (1783) To suppressed the revolt Dutch launched the military expedition. Under command Translator Coenraad Van Dijk was assigned to send an expedition to Gamrange and
Raja Ampat, Papua. He departed on 25 May 1783. On 25 September 1783, the Governor received information that the Papuans had welcomed the Tidore fleet under Van Dijk's command. This sparked hope that the apparent cooperation would lead the Papuans to submit and ultimately abandon Prince Nuku. Later, on 3 October 1783, the Governor of Ternate received news from the expedition fleet itself. At the end of September 1783, Van Dijk, European soldiers, and a number of native burghers were massacred by rebels on the island of Batanta. This situation was made worse by information that all the artillery on board the ship was distributed among Prince Nuku's followers. Papuans who had previously formally declared their submission and were assumed to support the VOC fleet proved to be defectors. One hundred and twenty ships from Maba, Patani, and Papua, appeared at Gane and Saketa. Sultan Hairun, who was appointed by the VOC and other sangaji on board the ship, had defected to the rebel side. Two hundred
Ternate people were arrested.
Battle of Gorong (1791) The Battle of Gorong (
Dutch:
Gorong Oorlog), also called the Battle of Gorom, was part of the thirty-year war and major battles of Sultan Nuku from the Sultanate of Tidore. More than half of the Nuku War took place in
East Seram. On 23 May 1791, the peak of the battle occurred on Kataloka Beach. Two VOC flagships were burned. Captain Gobius was trapped in a small river between Ondor and Kataloka. Nuku and King Bessy's troops attacked Gobius' troops from two opposite directions. The captain, who had experience in European wars, fell with a gunshot wound to the left thigh and a spear in the left stomach, dying on the spot. Hundreds of Gobius troops died on the coast of Gorom. Captain Walterbek followed to help but it was too late, while Admiral Straring withdrew his troops and returned to
Banda.
Reconquest of Tidore (1796–1797) In 1796, British forces seized
Banda Island. In the same time
Nuku and his forces consolidated the military campaign around
Maluku Islands, Kamaluddin of Tidore send an letters to Governor Budach about the weapon aid. Sultan of Ternate reporting some rebel actions on island of
Makian. Meanwhile, Arahal of Ternate make the situation worse by not entered the meeting with Dutch and the Sultan suspected to joined the rebel actions. The British also gave limited assistance to Amiruddin to take control of Tidore Island on 12 April 1797, after surrounding the island with 79
kora-kora's and one British ship. In the Tidore the rebel forces captured 5 Dutch ships and plundered the Dutch post at Tidore, after that the rebels forces defend and liberating the Tidore from Dutch hands and make the Dutch situation are worse.
Conquest of Bacan (1797) In 1780, Nuku aimed to conquer
Bacan, a small island in
North Maluku. According to Prince Nuku, conquering Bacan was an integral part of unifying Maluku. The political situation in Bacan during Prince Nuku's rebellion is unclear. In sources, there is no evidence of communication between Prince Nuku and the Sultan of Bacan or vice versa.
Conquest of Ternate (1798–1801) The conquest of Ternate was a military campaign by Prince Nuku to liberating the Maluku islands from Dutch and capturing the most strategic islands to support his rebellion. Shortly after the Siege of Ternate, Nuku and his forces conquered Ternate. In their first siege of Ternate on 22 January 1801, British forces under Lieutenant-Colonel
Daniel Burr rejected an offer of assistance from Sultan Nuku, even though a large fleet of prahu and Kora-Kora had appeared at the anchorage under the command of Prince Mayor. The prince remained a short distance away during this failed attack. A Briton, Captain Lynch, was ordered to organize the Tidore troops, teaching them to fire 9-pound cannons. The siege lasted for two months before the Ternate government finally surrendered on 21 June 1801. However, Governor Cranssen refused to admit defeat. ==Second phase==