Alonso Fajardo y Tenza
Encyclopedia
Don
Alonso Fajardo de Entenza y de Guevara, Córdoba y Velasco, Knight of Alcantara, Lord of Espinardo (d. July 1624, in the Philippines
) was Spanish Governor-General
and Captain-General of the Islands of the Philippines from July 3, 1618 to his death in July 1624.
Fajardo de Tenza was a native of Murcia
, son of Conquistador
Don Luis Fajardo de Córdoba
and wife dona Luisa de Tenza, Lady of Espinardo, and a Knight
of the Order of Alcántara
. He arrived at Cavite
in the Philippines on July 2, 1618, and took up the governorship the following day. (Although some sources say he took office on June 8.) He took over from the Audiencia of Manila
, which had been governing the colony since 1616 in the absence (and later death) of the previous Viceroy
, Juan de Silva
.
The sixth Dutch
blockade of Manila took place between October 12, 1618 and the end of May 1619. Anticipating the blockade
, Governor Fajardo sent a ship
to Macau
in September 1618 to buy ammunition, to engage in trade and, through the embassy of Dominican
Father
Bartolomé Martínez, to warn the Chinese
against sending sampan
s to Manila, as they would surely be intercepted by the Dutch fleet.
In early May 1619, some Japan
ese ships arrived at Manila and were allowed to enter the harbor by the Dutch. At the same time, Governor Fajardo was preparing a defensive fleet. He was able to assemble two large ships, two medium-sized ships, two pataches and four galleys. When the Dutch realized the Spaniards were ready to fight, they left the vicinity of Manila. They went on to pillage a native town in Ilocos
and then left the archipelago
. Some Dutch galleon
s were reportedly sunk at Ilocos.http://ccms.ntu.edu.tw/~borao/2Profesores/1.%20Manila%20Macao.pdf
In February 1620 Governor Fajardo dispatched an expedition under Captain García de Aldana y Cabrera, Governor
of Pangasinan
, to find and take control of gold
mines
said to be in the possession of Indigenous in Itogon. The expedition reached Bua, which they found burned to the ground. However they constructed a fort there, which they named Santisima Trinidad. An inspection of the mines showed them to be comparatively deep and provided with an extensive drainage
system, although some were filled with water
. Only one appeared to have a considerable vein
of ore
. This one extended to a depth and width of twenty meters and had been worked on by some eight hundred Ygolotes.http://elgu2.ncc.gov.ph/itogon/index.php?id1=2&id2=3
Fajardo founded the Convent
of Santa Clara in 1621.
Reportedly, his wife had become the mistress
of a Spanish merchant
. In 1621 Governor Fajardo had her killed, and he demolished the house of the merchant, where the couple had apparently met. According to legend, tamarind
trees spontaneously grew on the spot, which is said to be the symbol of the couple's bitter-sweet love affair. This location is still pointed out to visitors in Manila. It is Plaza Samplucan, on General Luna Street in Intramuros, Manila.http://www.philtravelcenter.com/philippines/travelinfo/manila-historical.html
In 1623 Governor Fajardo suppressed an insurrection in the Visayas
. The following July (1624), he died, reportedly from melancholy. Again, the Audiencia took over in the absence of a Viceroy, until Fernándo de Silva
arrived from New Spain
in June 1625.
His nephew, Diego Fajardo Chacón
, was also Governor of the Philippines, from 1644 to 1653.
Don (honorific)
Don, from Latin dominus, is an honorific in Spanish , Portuguese , and Italian . The female equivalent is Doña , Dona , and Donna , abbreviated "Dª" or simply "D."-Usage:...
Alonso Fajardo de Entenza y de Guevara, Córdoba y Velasco, Knight of Alcantara, Lord of Espinardo (d. July 1624, in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
) was Spanish Governor-General
Governor-General
A Governor-General, is a vice-regal person of a monarch in an independent realm or a major colonial circonscription. Depending on the political arrangement of the territory, a Governor General can be a governor of high rank, or a principal governor ranking above "ordinary" governors.- Current uses...
and Captain-General of the Islands of the Philippines from July 3, 1618 to his death in July 1624.
Fajardo de Tenza was a native of Murcia
Murcia
-History:It is widely believed that Murcia's name is derived from the Latin words of Myrtea or Murtea, meaning land of Myrtle , although it may also be a derivation of the word Murtia, which would mean Murtius Village...
, son of Conquistador
Conquistador
Conquistadors were Spanish soldiers, explorers, and adventurers who brought much of the Americas under the control of Spain in the 15th to 16th centuries, following Europe's discovery of the New World by Christopher Columbus in 1492...
Don Luis Fajardo de Córdoba
Luis Fajardo de Córdoba
Don Luis Fajardo de Córdoba was a Spanish Conquistador, military and nobleman.He was a second son of Don Luis Fajardo, 2nd Marquis of Los Vélez and Doña Leonor Fernández de Córdoba....
and wife dona Luisa de Tenza, Lady of Espinardo, and a Knight
Knight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
of the Order of Alcántara
Order of Alcántara
The Order of Alcántara , also called the Knights of St. Julian, was originally a military order of León, founded in 1166 and confirmed by Pope Alexander III in 1177.-Alcántara:...
. He arrived at Cavite
Cavite
Cavite is a province of the Philippines located on the southern shores of Manila Bay in the CALABARZON region in Luzon, just 30 kilometers south of Manila. Cavite is surrounded by Laguna to the east, Metro Manila to the northeast, and Batangas to the south...
in the Philippines on July 2, 1618, and took up the governorship the following day. (Although some sources say he took office on June 8.) He took over from the Audiencia of Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
, which had been governing the colony since 1616 in the absence (and later death) of the previous Viceroy
Viceroy
A viceroy is a royal official who runs a country, colony, or province in the name of and as representative of the monarch. The term derives from the Latin prefix vice-, meaning "in the place of" and the French word roi, meaning king. A viceroy's province or larger territory is called a viceroyalty...
, Juan de Silva
Juan de Silva
Juan de Silva was a Spanish military commander and governor of the Philippines, from April 1609 until his death on April 19, 1616.De Silva was a native of Trujillo, Spain, and a knight of the Order of Santiago...
.
The sixth Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
blockade of Manila took place between October 12, 1618 and the end of May 1619. Anticipating the blockade
Blockade
A blockade is an effort to cut off food, supplies, war material or communications from a particular area by force, either in part or totally. A blockade should not be confused with an embargo or sanctions, which are legal barriers to trade, and is distinct from a siege in that a blockade is usually...
, Governor Fajardo sent a ship
Ship
Since the end of the age of sail a ship has been any large buoyant marine vessel. Ships are generally distinguished from boats based on size and cargo or passenger capacity. Ships are used on lakes, seas, and rivers for a variety of activities, such as the transport of people or goods, fishing,...
to Macau
Macau
Macau , also spelled Macao , is, along with Hong Kong, one of the two special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China...
in September 1618 to buy ammunition, to engage in trade and, through the embassy of Dominican
Dominican Order
The Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...
Father
Father (disambiguation)
Father is the male parent of a child.Father may also refer to:-Cinema:*Father , a 1990 Australian film directed by John Power*Father , a 2000 Chinese film directed by Wang Shuo...
Bartolomé Martínez, to warn the Chinese
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
against sending sampan
Sampan
A sampan is a relatively flat bottomed Chinese wooden boat from long. Some sampans include a small shelter on board, and may be used as a permanent habitation on inland waters. Sampans are generally used for transportation in coastal areas or rivers, and are often used as traditional fishing boats...
s to Manila, as they would surely be intercepted by the Dutch fleet.
In early May 1619, some Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese ships arrived at Manila and were allowed to enter the harbor by the Dutch. At the same time, Governor Fajardo was preparing a defensive fleet. He was able to assemble two large ships, two medium-sized ships, two pataches and four galleys. When the Dutch realized the Spaniards were ready to fight, they left the vicinity of Manila. They went on to pillage a native town in Ilocos
Ilocos
Ilocos collectively refers to two provinces in the Philippines: Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur. Inhabitants are called Ilocanos and they speak the language Iloko, also called Ilocano.The Ilocos Region, containing four provinces, is named after Ilocos...
and then left the archipelago
Archipelago
An archipelago , sometimes called an island group, is a chain or cluster of islands. The word archipelago is derived from the Greek ἄρχι- – arkhi- and πέλαγος – pélagos through the Italian arcipelago...
. Some Dutch galleon
Galleon
A galleon was a large, multi-decked sailing ship used primarily by European states from the 16th to 18th centuries. Whether used for war or commerce, they were generally armed with the demi-culverin type of cannon.-Etymology:...
s were reportedly sunk at Ilocos.http://ccms.ntu.edu.tw/~borao/2Profesores/1.%20Manila%20Macao.pdf
In February 1620 Governor Fajardo dispatched an expedition under Captain García de Aldana y Cabrera, Governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
of Pangasinan
Pangasinan
Pangasinan is a province of the Republic of the Philippines. The provincial capital is Lingayen. Pangasinan is located on the west central and peripheral area of the island of Luzon along the Lingayen Gulf, with the total land area being 5,368.82 square kilometers . According to the latest census,...
, to find and take control of gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
mines
Mining
Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, from an ore body, vein or seam. The term also includes the removal of soil. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock...
said to be in the possession of Indigenous in Itogon. The expedition reached Bua, which they found burned to the ground. However they constructed a fort there, which they named Santisima Trinidad. An inspection of the mines showed them to be comparatively deep and provided with an extensive drainage
Drainage
Drainage is the natural or artificial removal of surface and sub-surface water from an area. Many agricultural soils need drainage to improve production or to manage water supplies.-Early history:...
system, although some were filled with water
Water
Water is a chemical substance with the chemical formula H2O. A water molecule contains one oxygen and two hydrogen atoms connected by covalent bonds. Water is a liquid at ambient conditions, but it often co-exists on Earth with its solid state, ice, and gaseous state . Water also exists in a...
. Only one appeared to have a considerable vein
Vein (geology)
In geology, a vein is a distinct sheetlike body of crystallized minerals within a rock. Veins form when mineral constituents carried by an aqueous solution within the rock mass are deposited through precipitation...
of ore
Ore
An ore is a type of rock that contains minerals with important elements including metals. The ores are extracted through mining; these are then refined to extract the valuable element....
. This one extended to a depth and width of twenty meters and had been worked on by some eight hundred Ygolotes.http://elgu2.ncc.gov.ph/itogon/index.php?id1=2&id2=3
Fajardo founded the Convent
Convent
A convent is either a community of priests, religious brothers, religious sisters, or nuns, or the building used by the community, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church and in the Anglican Communion...
of Santa Clara in 1621.
Reportedly, his wife had become the mistress
Mistress (lover)
A mistress is a long-term female lover and companion who is not married to her partner; the term is used especially when her partner is married. The relationship generally is stable and at least semi-permanent; however, the couple does not live together openly. Also the relationship is usually,...
of a Spanish merchant
Merchant
A merchant is a businessperson who trades in commodities that were produced by others, in order to earn a profit.Merchants can be one of two types:# A wholesale merchant operates in the chain between producer and retail merchant...
. In 1621 Governor Fajardo had her killed, and he demolished the house of the merchant, where the couple had apparently met. According to legend, tamarind
Tamarind
Tamarind is a tree in the family Fabaceae. The genus Tamarindus is monotypic .-Origin:...
trees spontaneously grew on the spot, which is said to be the symbol of the couple's bitter-sweet love affair. This location is still pointed out to visitors in Manila. It is Plaza Samplucan, on General Luna Street in Intramuros, Manila.http://www.philtravelcenter.com/philippines/travelinfo/manila-historical.html
In 1623 Governor Fajardo suppressed an insurrection in the Visayas
Visayas
The Visayas or Visayan Islands and locally known as Kabisay-an gid, is one of the three principal geographical divisions of the Philippines, along with Mindanao and Luzon. It consists of several islands, primarily surrounding the Visayan Sea, although the Visayas are considered the northeast...
. The following July (1624), he died, reportedly from melancholy. Again, the Audiencia took over in the absence of a Viceroy, until Fernándo de Silva
Fernándo de Silva
Fernándo de Silva was a Spanish diplomat and colonial official. From July 1625 to June 28, 1626 he was interim governor of the Philippines.-Background:...
arrived from New Spain
New Spain
New Spain, formally called the Viceroyalty of New Spain , was a viceroyalty of the Spanish colonial empire, comprising primarily territories in what was known then as 'América Septentrional' or North America. Its capital was Mexico City, formerly Tenochtitlan, capital of the Aztec Empire...
in June 1625.
His nephew, Diego Fajardo Chacón
Diego Fajardo Chacón
Diego Fajardo Chacón was a Spanish military officer and governor of the Philippines, from August 11, 1644 to July 25, 1653.-Background:A knight of the Order of Santiago, Diego Fajardo was an illustrious scion of the house of the Marqués de los Vélez and a nephew of Philippine Governor Alonso...
, was also Governor of the Philippines, from 1644 to 1653.