What's Inside
This volume chronicles the Spanish presence in the Philippines, beginning with Maghallanes and the 1495 general concession for searching unknown lands. It details the expansion from Cebu to Manila under Miguel de Legaspi and the subsequent centuries of external pressure from Chinese corsairs, Dutch fleets, and the British occupation. Beyond military history, the records describe the religious missions to the Ladrone Islands and Japan, the internal friction between Church and State, and the commercial role of Chinese traders who transitioned from ship-board bartering to paying rent in Manila. It serves as a dense record of geography, volcanic activity, and colonial politics across the archipelago.
Works & figures
- Maghallanes
Navigator who cast anchor off the Ladrones in 1521. (in “Philippine Dependencies, Up To 1898”)
- Fray Diego Luis de San Victores
Persistent missionary who petitioned the Queen for a mission to the Ladrones. (in “Philippine Dependencies, Up To 1898”)
- Li-ma-hong
Chinese corsair who attacked Manila and settled in Pangasinan. (in “Chapter_ IV”)
- Bustamente Bustillo
Governor-General murdered during an open riot by monks. (in “Chapter_ IV”)
- Fray Pedro Bautista
Missionary leader crucified in Japan alongside twenty-five others. (in “Chapter_ V”)
- Koxinga
Chinese adventurer who threatened the colony via an Italian monk ambassador. (in “Chapter_ VI”)
What it's really about
- Colonial Rivalry
- Centuries of friction between Spain, Portugal, Holland, and Great Britain.
- Ecclesiastical Power
- The recurring, often violent, conflict between civil governors and monastic orders.
Why it's memorable
- The Emperor of Japan shipping lepers to Manila to test Spanish missionary resolve.
- Governor-General Fajardo de Tua personally killing his wife and her paramour.
Where to start
Start with Discovery of the Archipelago to understand how a 1495 royal decree triggered the entire era of Pacific exploration.
For your book club
- The failure of the Spanish Prime Minister Valenzuela leading to his banishment to Cavite.
- The transition of Chinese merchants from vulnerable junk-traders to foundational residents of Manila.