Spain and Her Colonies, Compiled from the Best Authorities
History
Spain and Her Colonies, Compiled from the Best Authorities
Spain -- History
In the midst of the invaders’ felicity, the Portuguese arrived to
dispute the possession, but they were compelled to retire. A fortress
was constructed and plots of land were marked out for the building of
the Spanish settlers’ residences, and finally, in 1570, Cebu was
declared a city, after Legaspi had received from his royal master the
title of governor-general of all the lands which he might be able to
conquer.
In May, 1570, Captain Juan Salcedo, Legaspi’s grandson, was dispatched
to the Island of Luzon to reconnoiter the territory and bring it under
Spanish dominion.
The history of these early times is very confused, and there are many
contradictions in the authors of the Philippine chronicles, none of
which seems to have been written contemporaneously with the first
events. It appears, however, that Martin de Goiti and a few soldiers
accompanied Salcedo to the north. They were well received by the native
chiefs or petty kings Lacandola, rajah of Tondo (known as Rajah Matanda,
which means in native dialect the aged rajah), and his nephew, the young
Rajah Soliman of Manila.
The sight of a body of European troops, armed as was the custom in the
sixteenth century, must have profoundly impressed and overawed these
chieftains, otherwise it seems almost incredible that they should have
consented, without protest, or attempt at resistance, to (forever) give
up their territory, yield their independence, pay tribute,[8] and become
the tools of invading foreigners with which to conquer their own race,
without recompense whatsoever.
A treaty of peace was signed and ratified by an exchange of drops of
blood between the parties thereto. Soliman, however, soon repented of
his poltroonery, and raised the war-cry among some of his tribes. To
save his capital (then called Maynila) falling into the hands of the
invaders he set fire to it. Lacandola remained passively watching the
issue. Soliman was completely routed by Salcedo, and pardoned on his
again swearing fealty to the King of Spain. Goiti remained in the
vicinity of Manila with his troops, while Salcedo fought his way to the
Bombon Lake (Taal) district. The present Batangas Province was subdued
by him and included in the jurisdiction of Mindoro Island. During the
campaign, Salcedo was severely wounded by an arrow and returned to
Manila.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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