"He made his presence known to those around him through tribulation"
"He made his presence known to those around him by making people suffer."
"tribulate" をつかいならこう言います。
"He made his presence known to those around him through tribulation"
"he" 「彼は」
"made ~ known" 「〜を知らしめていた」
"his presence" 「彼の存在」
"to those around him" 「周りに」
"through tribulation" 「人を苦しめることで」
このように"tribulate"はあまり使われていないなので次の方が適切と思います。
"He made his presence known to those around him by making people suffer."
"by making people suffer”「人を苦しめることで」
"trials and tribulation" 「[艱難辛苦](https://eikaiwa.dmm.com/uknow/questions/66845/)」はよく使われている表現です。