Miguel López de Legazpi
Miguel López de Legazpi (b. 1502 - d.
August 20 ,
Manila, 1572), also known as
El Adelantado (The Governor) and
El Viejo (The Elder), was a
Spanish conquistador who established the first colony in the
Philippine Islands in 1565.
Born in 1502, Miguel López de Legazpi was the youngest son of Don Juan Martínez López de Legazpi and Elvira Gurruchategui. He was born to a
noble family and lived in the small town of
Zumárraga, in the
Basque province of
Guipúzcoa in
Spain.
Between 1526 and 1527, Legazpi worked as a councilor in the municipal government of his home town. In 1528, after
Hernán Cortés had established settlements in Mexico, Legazpi went to
New Spain to start a new life. This was due to the death of his parents, and his dissatisfaction with his eldest sibling who inherited all of the family fortune. In
Tlaxcala, he worked with Juan Garcés and Juan's sister, Isabel Garcés. Legazpi would go on to marry Isabel and have nine children with her. Isabel died in the mid
1550s.
Between the periods of 1528 and 1559, Legazpi worked as a leader of the Financial department council, and as the civil governor of the
city of Mexico. He was later commissioned by the viceroy,
Luis de Velasco, in early 1564 to lead an expedition in the Pacific Ocean, to find the
Spice Islands where the previous explorers
Ferdinand Magellan and
Ruy López de Villalobos landed on in 1521 and 1543.
The expedition was ordered by
King Philip II, after whom the islands were eventually named. The viceroy died in July of that year, but the
Audiencia and Legazpi completed the preparations for the expedition. On the early morning of
November 21,
1564, armed with five ships and 500 soldiers, Legazpi sailed from the port of
Barra de Navidad in
Jalisco, Mexico.
Legazpi and his men sailed the
Pacific Ocean for 93 days. In early 1565, they landed in the
Mariana Islands, where they briefly anchored and replenished their supplies. They encountered conflicts with
Chamorro tribes and left several huts burned to the ground.
Legazpi's troops arrived in the Philippine archipelago and landed in the shores of
Cebu on
February 13,
1565. After a brief struggle with the natives, they left the island for the nearby islands of
Leyte and
Camiguin. Legazpi's ships drifted to the coast of
Bohol on
March 16,
1565. There, he and his crew obtained spices and gold after convincing the natives that they were not Portuguese. He made a blood compact with the chieftain,
Datu Sikatuna, as a sign of friendship between the two peoples.
On
April 27,
1565, Legazpi and his men went back to Cebu, attacking and destroying the village of
Rajah Tupas. There, he founded the first Spanish settlements, naming it
Villa del Santisimo Nombre de Jesús (Town of the Most Holy Name of Jesus) and
Villa de San Miguel (Saint Michael's Town).
In 1567, 200 Spanish and Mexican soldiers arrived in Cebu under orders of the Spanish King. They established a city and build the port of
Fuerza de San Pedro which became their outpost for trade with Mexico and protection from hostile native revolts.
In 1568, Legazpi sent one of his men back to Spain to report on his progress. Legazpi himself remained in Cebu and did not accompany his men during the conquest of Manila, because of health problems and advanced age. Having heard of the rich resources of Manila, he dispatched two of his Lieutenant - commanders,
Martín de Goiti and
Juan de Salcedo, to explore the northern region.
Conquest of Manila
In late 1569, a force of 300 Spanish soldiers, cavalrymen, and several local natives, led by
Martín de Goiti, left Cebu and began exploring the Northern regions of the
Visayas. They found the islands of Panay, and
Mindoro where they encountered quarrels with
Chinese sea-traders in the area. Goiti and Salcedo fought with insurgent Chinese pirates on the Eastern coastline of Mindoro and defeated them off the island. The Spaniards later established settlements in the area.
On
May 8,
1570, they arrived in Manila, and enter
Manila Bay. The Spaniards were overwhelmed at the size of the harbour. There, they were welcomed by the
Muslim natives. Goiti's soldiers camped there for a few weeks, while pretending to form an alliance with the muslim king,
Rajah Suliman. However, the Spaniards had other plans. They tricked the natives into believing that they were only visiting and staying for a short period.
On
May 24, 1570, after quarrels had erupted between the two groups, they marched to the Muslim settlements in
Tondo and the city of Manila, were a battle was fought against Suliman's warriors. The heavily armed Spanish soldiers defeated the natives and conquered the area.
In the same year, more reinforcements arrived in the Philippines, prompting Legazpi to leave Cebu. He took 250 soldiers and 600 native warriors to explore the regions of Leyte and
Panay. Legazpi followed Goiti and Salcedo to Manila the following year, after hearing the city had been conquered.
In Manila, he formed a peace pact with the native Muslim councils,
Rajahs Suliman, Matanda, and Lakandula. Both groups agreed to organize a city council, consisting of 2 mayors, 12 councilors and a secretary. Legazpi finally established a permanent settlement there on
June 24,
1571, and he also ordered the construction of the walled city of
Intramuros. He proclaimed the town as the island's capital and permanent seat of the
Spanish Government in the western
Pacific Ocean.
With the help of
Augustinian and
Franciscan Friars, he established a government on the islands. He became the first
Governor of the Philippines and converted the natives to the
Catholic religion. Those who opposed his rule were tortured and executed, while those who supported him were awarded with
encomiendas (Trusteeship Laws - acquiring land properties).
Last years
Legazpi governed the colony for a year before dying of
heart failure in Manila in 1572. He died poor and bankrupt, leaving only a few
pesos left behind due to having spent most of his personal fortune during the conquest. Legazpi was later laid to rest in
San Agustin Church,
Intramuros. He did not live to see the commemoration of
Manila in 1574, where the city was given the title
Distinguished and ever loyal city of Spain (Insigne y Siempre Leal Ciudad de España) by the king of Spain.
By the time of Legazpi's death, the regions of
Luzon,
Visayas and parts of Northern
Mindanao had already passed to Spanish rule. For the next 256 years, the Philippines was administered as a colony of New Spain, (present day
Mexico).
During his last years, Legazpi wrote several letters to
Philip II about his journey to the
East Indies and the conquest he had achieved. These were collectively known as the
Cartas al Rey Don Felipe II: sobre la expedicion, conquistas y progresos de las islas Felipinas (Letters to the King Philip II: on the expedition, conquests and progress of the Philippine Islands). The letters are still preserved today at the archives of the indies in
Seville, Spain.
*
Captaincy General*
Sandugo Festival*
Julian calendar*Morga , Antonio de. (2004).
The Project Gutenberg Edition Book : History of the Philippine Islands - 1521 to the Beginning of the XVII century. Volume 1 and 2.
*Legazpi , Don Miguel López de. (1564 - 1572).
Cartas al Rey Don Felipe II : sobre la expedicion, conquistas y progresos de las islas Felipinas. Sevilla , España.
