Martin de Goiti
Encyclopedia
Martín de Goiti was a Spanish
Basque
conquistador
and founder of the city of Manila
in the Philippines
. Martín de Goiti was one of the soldiers who accompanied the Spanish colonization of the East Indies
and the Pacific
, in 1565. He was the leader of the expedition to Manila, ordered by Miguel López de Legazpi
in 1569. There, he fought a number of battles against the Muslim chieftain, Rajah Sulaiman III of Manila for control of lands and settlements.
on May 8, 1570 and camped on the shores of Manila Bay
for several weeks, while forming an alliance with the Muslim tribal chiefs. On May 24, 1570, after disputes and hostility erupted between the two groups. The Spaniards occupied the villages of Tondo
where they were greeted with thousands of warriors. There, they defeated most of Rajah Sulaiman III, Rajah Lakan Dula
and Rajah Sulaiman II's tribes. The Spaniards marched their armies towards the Pasig River
, and occupied the villages in Manila on June 6, 1570 and burned the settlements.
Guerrilla warfare
broke out following the battle, which continued for about ten months. The Spaniards fortified themselves in the area and constructed their military barracks of Fuerza de Santiago
(Fortress of Saint James), which became their outpost for trade with Mexico
. The Spaniards gained control of the settlements on June 24, 1571, after the arrival of Miguel López de Legazpi in Manila, who agreed to a peace agreement.
The Spanish colonization paved the way for the establishment of Manila as a permanent settlement and capital city of the Spanish East Indies
. He later explored Pampanga
, Pangasinan
and founded several Spanish cities in Luzon
between the periods of 1571 -1573. De Goiti, along with other soldiers were granted with hacienda
s (estates) for the lands they had conquered, by Philip II of Spain
.
In 1574, De Goiti fought in the war during the invasion of about 3,000 Chinese sea pirates
who had sailed from the South China sea. Their leader, Limahong
, besieged on the Spanish settlements in Manila. De Goiti was killed by pirates, who massacred most of the Spaniards in the villages. Most of the Spanish reinforcements came from Vigan and Cebu
. Martín de Goiti's second in command, Juan de Salcedo
left Ilocos Sur
, after hearing the news and traveled to Manila where he discovered their settlements had been ceded to the pirates. Salcedo's forces attacked and drove the pirates out of Manila. Limahong and his fleets retreated to Pangasinan where they re-organize their forces.
In 1575, Salcedo's army marched north to Pangasinan, in pursuit of the pirates, and besieged them for three months. There the Spaniards captured Limahong and his fleets in the river of Pangasinan and were executed.
, in Intramuros
.
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
Basque
Basque people
The Basques as an ethnic group, primarily inhabit an area traditionally known as the Basque Country , a region that is located around the western end of the Pyrenees on the coast of the Bay of Biscay and straddles parts of north-central Spain and south-western France.The Basques are known in the...
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...
and founder of the city 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,...
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...
. Martín de Goiti was one of the soldiers who accompanied the Spanish colonization of the East Indies
East Indies
East Indies is a term used by Europeans from the 16th century onwards to identify what is now known as Indian subcontinent or South Asia, Southeastern Asia, and the islands of Oceania, including the Malay Archipelago and the Philippines...
and the Pacific
Pacific Islands
The Pacific Islands comprise 20,000 to 30,000 islands in the Pacific Ocean. The islands are also sometimes collectively called Oceania, although Oceania is sometimes defined as also including Australasia and the Malay Archipelago....
, in 1565. He was the leader of the expedition to Manila, ordered by Miguel López de Legazpi
Miguel López de Legazpi
Miguel López de Legazpi , also known as El Adelantado and El Viejo , was a Spanish conquistador who established one of the first European settlements in the East Indies and the Pacific Islands in 1565. He is the first Governor-General in the Philippines...
in 1569. There, he fought a number of battles against the Muslim chieftain, Rajah Sulaiman III of Manila for control of lands and settlements.
The Battles for Manila (1570-1575)
The Spaniards arrived in LuzonLuzon
Luzon is the largest island in the Philippines. It is located in the northernmost region of the archipelago, and is also the name for one of the three primary island groups in the country centered on the Island of Luzon...
on May 8, 1570 and camped on the shores of Manila Bay
Manila Bay
Manila Bay is a natural harbor which serves the Port of Manila , in the Philippines.The bay is considered to be one of the best natural harbors in Southeast Asia and one of the finest in the world...
for several weeks, while forming an alliance with the Muslim tribal chiefs. On May 24, 1570, after disputes and hostility erupted between the two groups. The Spaniards occupied the villages of Tondo
Tondo, Manila
Tondo is a district of Manila, Philippines. The locale has existed prior to the arrival of the Spanish, referred to as "Tundun" in the Laguna Copperplate Inscription. One of the most densely populated areas of land in the world, Tondo is located in the northwest portion of the city and is primarily...
where they were greeted with thousands of warriors. There, they defeated most of Rajah Sulaiman III, Rajah Lakan Dula
Rajah Lakan Dula
Lakan Banaw Dula or Gat Banaw Dula , often referred to simply by his title Lakan Dula, and later baptised Lakan Carlos Dula, was the Lakan of the pre-colonial Philippine Kingdom of Tondo when the Spaniards first conquered the lands of the Pasig River delta in the 1570s...
and Rajah Sulaiman II's tribes. The Spaniards marched their armies towards the Pasig River
Pasig River
The Pasig River is a river in the Philippines that connects Laguna de Bay to Manila Bay. Stretching for , it is lined by Metro Manila on each side...
, and occupied the villages in Manila on June 6, 1570 and burned the settlements.
Guerrilla warfare
Guerrilla warfare
Guerrilla warfare is a form of irregular warfare and refers to conflicts in which a small group of combatants including, but not limited to, armed civilians use military tactics, such as ambushes, sabotage, raids, the element of surprise, and extraordinary mobility to harass a larger and...
broke out following the battle, which continued for about ten months. The Spaniards fortified themselves in the area and constructed their military barracks of Fuerza de Santiago
Fort Santiago
Fort Santiago is a defense fortress built for Spanish conquistador, Miguel López de Legazpi. The fort is part of the structures of the walled city of Intramuros, in Manila, Philippines. José Rizal, the Philippines' national hero, was imprisoned in the fort before his execution in 1896...
(Fortress of Saint James), which became their outpost for trade with Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. The Spaniards gained control of the settlements on June 24, 1571, after the arrival of Miguel López de Legazpi in Manila, who agreed to a peace agreement.
The Spanish colonization paved the way for the establishment of Manila as a permanent settlement and capital city of the Spanish East Indies
Spanish East Indies
Spanish East Indies was a term used to describe Spanish territories in Asia-Pacific which lasted for three centuries . With the seat of government in Manila, the territory encompassed the Philippine Islands, Guam and the Mariana Islands, the Caroline Islands, and for a period of time, parts of...
. He later explored Pampanga
Pampanga
Pampanga is a province of the Philippines located in the Central Luzon region. Its capital is the City of San Fernando, Pampanga. Pampanga is bordered by the provinces of Bataan and Zambales to the west, Tarlac and Nueva Ecija to the north, and Bulacan to the southeast...
, 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,...
and founded several Spanish cities in Luzon
Luzon
Luzon is the largest island in the Philippines. It is located in the northernmost region of the archipelago, and is also the name for one of the three primary island groups in the country centered on the Island of Luzon...
between the periods of 1571 -1573. De Goiti, along with other soldiers were granted with hacienda
Hacienda
Hacienda is a Spanish word for an estate. Some haciendas were plantations, mines, or even business factories. Many haciendas combined these productive activities...
s (estates) for the lands they had conquered, by Philip II of Spain
Philip II of Spain
Philip II was King of Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and, while married to Mary I, King of England and Ireland. He was lord of the Seventeen Provinces from 1556 until 1581, holding various titles for the individual territories such as duke or count....
.
In 1574, De Goiti fought in the war during the invasion of about 3,000 Chinese sea pirates
Piracy
Piracy is an act of robbery or criminal violence at sea. The term can include acts committed on land, in the air, or in other major bodies of water or on a shore. It does not normally include crimes committed against persons traveling on the same vessel as the perpetrator...
who had sailed from the South China sea. Their leader, Limahong
Limahong
Limahong, Lim Hong or also called Lin Feng was a notorious Chinese pirate and warlord who invaded the northern Philippine Islands in 1574. He built up a reputation for his constant raids to ports in Guangdong, Fujian and southern China...
, besieged on the Spanish settlements in Manila. De Goiti was killed by pirates, who massacred most of the Spaniards in the villages. Most of the Spanish reinforcements came from Vigan and Cebu
Cebu
Cebu is a province in the Philippines, consisting of Cebu Island and 167 surrounding islands. It is located to the east of Negros, to the west of Leyte and Bohol islands...
. Martín de Goiti's second in command, Juan de Salcedo
Juan de Salcedo
Juan de Salcedo was a Spanish conquistador. He was born in Mexico in 1549 and he was the grandson of Miguel López de Legazpi and brother of Felipe de Salcedo. Salcedo was one of the soldiers who accompanied the Spanish colonization of the Philippines in 1565...
left Ilocos Sur
Ilocos Sur
Ilocos Sur is a province of the Philippines located in the Ilocos Region in Luzon. Vigan City, located on the mouth of the Mestizo River is the provincial capital...
, after hearing the news and traveled to Manila where he discovered their settlements had been ceded to the pirates. Salcedo's forces attacked and drove the pirates out of Manila. Limahong and his fleets retreated to Pangasinan where they re-organize their forces.
In 1575, Salcedo's army marched north to Pangasinan, in pursuit of the pirates, and besieged them for three months. There the Spaniards captured Limahong and his fleets in the river of Pangasinan and were executed.
Legacy
De Goiti's remains were laid to rest in a tomb inside the San Agustin ChurchSan Agustin Church, Manila
San Agustin Church is a Roman Catholic church under the auspices of The Order of St. Augustine, located inside the historic walled city of Intramuros in Manila. Completed by 1607, it is the oldest church still standing in the Philippines...
, in Intramuros
Intramuros
Intramuros is the oldest district in the present day city of Manila, the capital of the Republic of the Philippines. Nicknamed the "Walled City", Intramuros is the historic fortified city of Manila, the seat ot the government during the Spanish Colonial Period. Its name in Latin, intramuros,...
.
External links
- Act of Taking Possession of Luzon (Article)