Prior to the ongoing piracy suppression, a major battle with the Illanuns of Moro pirates from the southern Philippines occurred in mid-November 1862. In 1864, the United Kingdom appointed a Consul to Sarawak and recognised the raj, while the Netherlands refused recognition. Brooke then expanded his raj into territory of Brunei. In 1861, he acquired the vast Rajang River basin, which subsequently became the Third Division. The expansion continued after his death in 1868; when he was succeeded by his nephew, Charles Brooke.