King pedro launched his final assault on Kibenga's positions at São Salvador on 15 February 1709. Twenty thousand troops from Pedro's territories and those of the late Queen Ana, now headed by her nephew Álvaro, moved against the city. The king went into battle unarmed, carrying only a crucifix from the altar of the royal chapel at Evululu, which he had borrowed from Father Bernardo. The battle had much of a religious crusade about it, for if Pedro and his crucifix represented the orthodox, then the cries of the Antonians, “Tari, Tari, Jesus ye Maria” sounded constantly from the rebel army.

King Pedro wanted the battle to be the last one, and was anxious to reconcile as many of his enemies as possible. Even before this last war began, he issued a proclamation declaring a pardon to anyone who would join him. He had never wanted to fight, but three years of fruitless negotiations had ultimately forced him to.

Kibenga, for his part, fought dispiritedly, having neither the religious zeal to go down fighting alongside the Antonians, nor the faith to fight as an orthodox Christian. When the battle began going badly for him, Kibenga decided to avail himself of the royal pardon. His intent was mistaken by Pedro's soldiers, however, and he was shot dead.