Rajah Sulayman
Encyclopedia
Rajah Sulayman was the Muslim Rajah of Maynila
, a kingdom at the mouth of the Pasig River
where it meets Manila Bay
, at the time the Spanish
forces first came to Luzon.
Sulayman resisted the Spanish forces, and thus, along with Rajah Matanda
and Lakan Dula, was one of three Rajahs who played significant roles in the drama that was the Spanish conquest of the kingdoms of the Pasig River delta in the early 1570s.
). The Spanish transcription of "Rajah Mura" is Young Rajah, a reference to the fact that he was Rajah Matanda's nephew and heir to the throne. The Spaniards called him "Rajah Solimano el Mow".
, searching for a suitable place to establish his capital after being compelled to move from Cebu
to Panay
by Portuguese
pirates and hearing of the existence of a prosperous Kingdom in Luzon
, sent an expedition under Martín de Goiti
and Juan de Salcedo
to explore its location and potentials.
Goiti anchored at Cavite and established his authority peaceably by sending a message of friendship to various tribes in Manila. Rajah Sulayman, who had been ceded authority over their settlements by his aging uncle Rajah Matanda, was willing to accept the friendship that the Spaniards were offering, but did not want to submit to its sovereignty unto them, and waged war against them due to disputes and hostility. As a result, Goiti and his army attacked the Muslim tribes on June 1570, and occupied the villages, before returning to Panay.
In 1571, the Spaniards returned, this time led by López de Legazpi himself along with his entire force (consisting of 280 Spaniards and 600 native allies). Seeing them approach, the natives set their villages on fire and fled to Tondo, and neighboring villages. The Spaniards occupied Manila and established a settlement.
With this victory, Rajah Matanda, Lakan Dula and Rajah Sulayman eventually accepted Spanish rule and were converted to Christianity. López de Legazpi granted them with encomienda
(trusteeship) of Manila and Tondo under the dominion of Spain
. With this recognition came an exemption from tribute and forced labor, which their families enjoyed until 1884 and the exclusive right for the Lakan Dula and Sulaiman Dynasty
to keep their family names.
After the establishment of settlements, Rajah Matanda died and Rajah Sulayman ascended to his uncle's position. With Spanish approval, López de Legazpi gave Rajah Sulayman the settlements of Manila on April 1572.
, did not honor the agreements with Rajah Sulaiman III and Lakan Dula. He sequestered the properties of the two chieftains and tolerated Spanish atrocities. In response, Rajah Sulaiman III and Lakan Dula led a revolt in the villages of Navotas in 1574, taking advantage of the confusion brought about by the attacks of Chinese pirate Limahong
. This is often referred to as the "Manila revolt of 1574" but is sometimes referred to as the "Sulaiman revolt" and the "Lakan Dula revolt." Since it involved naval forces, the Sulayman Revolt is also known as the "First Battle of Manila Bay".
Friar Geronimo Marían and Juan de Salcedo were tasked with pursuing conciliatory talks with various tribes. Lakan Dula and Rajah Sulaiman III agreed on Salcedo's peace treaty and an alliance were formed between the two groups.
. In some versions of the Battle of Bangkusay, Tarik Sulayman of Macabebe and Rajah Sulaiman III of Manila are the same person. Other versions contend that they are different people with the same name. Some have even suggested that the two men were related.
Spanish documents do not identify the leader of the Macabebe people by name, but record that he died during the Battle of Bangkusay, resulting in a Macabebe retreat and a Spanish victory. Rajah Sulaiman III of Manila is clearly recorded as participating in the battle in 1574.
Kingdom of Maynila
The Kingdom of Seludong , or Maynila, which after colonization became Manila, capital of the Philippines, was one of three major city-states that dominated the area around the upper portion of the Pasig River before the arrival of Spanish colonizers in the 16th century.The early inhabitants of the...
, a kingdom at the mouth of 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...
where it meets 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...
, at the time the Spanish
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...
forces first came to Luzon.
Sulayman resisted the Spanish forces, and thus, along with Rajah Matanda
Rajah Matanda
Rajah Ache Matanda was a 16th century Muslim chieftain of the Kingdom of Maynila, a Tagalog kingdom on the region of the Pasig River in the Philippines...
and Lakan Dula, was one of three Rajahs who played significant roles in the drama that was the Spanish conquest of the kingdoms of the Pasig River delta in the early 1570s.
"Rajah Mura"
Spanish documents say his people called him "Rajah Mura" or "Rajah Muda" (a Sanskrit title for a PrincePrince
Prince is a general term for a ruler, monarch or member of a monarch's or former monarch's family, and is a hereditary title in the nobility of some European states. The feminine equivalent is a princess...
). The Spanish transcription of "Rajah Mura" is Young Rajah, a reference to the fact that he was Rajah Matanda's nephew and heir to the throne. The Spaniards called him "Rajah Solimano el Mow".
The Spanish Conquest of Manila (1570-1571)
Spanish explorer Miguel López de LegazpiMiguel 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...
, searching for a suitable place to establish his capital after being compelled to move from 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...
to Panay
Panay
Panay may refer to*Panay Island*Panay *Panay, Capiz*Panay River*Panay Gulf* USS Panay *Panay incident...
by Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
pirates and hearing of the existence of a prosperous Kingdom 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...
, sent an expedition under Martín de Goiti
Martin de Goiti
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...
and 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...
to explore its location and potentials.
Goiti anchored at Cavite and established his authority peaceably by sending a message of friendship to various tribes in Manila. Rajah Sulayman, who had been ceded authority over their settlements by his aging uncle Rajah Matanda, was willing to accept the friendship that the Spaniards were offering, but did not want to submit to its sovereignty unto them, and waged war against them due to disputes and hostility. As a result, Goiti and his army attacked the Muslim tribes on June 1570, and occupied the villages, before returning to Panay.
In 1571, the Spaniards returned, this time led by López de Legazpi himself along with his entire force (consisting of 280 Spaniards and 600 native allies). Seeing them approach, the natives set their villages on fire and fled to Tondo, and neighboring villages. The Spaniards occupied Manila and established a settlement.
With this victory, Rajah Matanda, Lakan Dula and Rajah Sulayman eventually accepted Spanish rule and were converted to Christianity. López de Legazpi granted them with encomienda
Encomienda
The encomienda was a system that was employed mainly by the Spanish crown during the colonization of the Americas to regulate Native American labor....
(trusteeship) of Manila and Tondo under the dominion of Spain
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...
. With this recognition came an exemption from tribute and forced labor, which their families enjoyed until 1884 and the exclusive right for the Lakan Dula and Sulaiman Dynasty
Dynasty
A dynasty is a sequence of rulers considered members of the same family. Historians traditionally consider many sovereign states' history within a framework of successive dynasties, e.g., China, Ancient Egypt and the Persian Empire...
to keep their family names.
After the establishment of settlements, Rajah Matanda died and Rajah Sulayman ascended to his uncle's position. With Spanish approval, López de Legazpi gave Rajah Sulayman the settlements of Manila on April 1572.
The "Sulayman Revolt"
When López de Legazpi died in 1572, his successor, Governor-General Guido de LavezarisGuido de Lavezaris
Guido de Lavezaris was the second Spanish Governor General of the Philippines. He succeeded Miguel López de Legazpi in 1572 as governor, and was succeeded by Francisco de Sande on August 25, 1575.-Early life:...
, did not honor the agreements with Rajah Sulaiman III and Lakan Dula. He sequestered the properties of the two chieftains and tolerated Spanish atrocities. In response, Rajah Sulaiman III and Lakan Dula led a revolt in the villages of Navotas in 1574, taking advantage of the confusion brought about by the attacks of Chinese pirate 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...
. This is often referred to as the "Manila revolt of 1574" but is sometimes referred to as the "Sulaiman revolt" and the "Lakan Dula revolt." Since it involved naval forces, the Sulayman Revolt is also known as the "First Battle of Manila Bay".
Friar Geronimo Marían and Juan de Salcedo were tasked with pursuing conciliatory talks with various tribes. Lakan Dula and Rajah Sulaiman III agreed on Salcedo's peace treaty and an alliance were formed between the two groups.
Tarik Sulayman and the Battle of Bangkusay
Some controversy exists about the identity of the leader of the Macabebe people that initiated the Battle of Bangkusay in 1571. That chieftain, is referred to by Philippine historians as Tarik SulaymanTarik Sulayman
Tarik Sulayman, also spelled Tarik Soliman , is the name attributed by Kapampangan Historians to the individual that led the forces of Macabebe against the Spanish forces of Miguel López de Legazpi during the Battle of Bankusay on June 3, 1571...
. In some versions of the Battle of Bangkusay, Tarik Sulayman of Macabebe and Rajah Sulaiman III of Manila are the same person. Other versions contend that they are different people with the same name. Some have even suggested that the two men were related.
Spanish documents do not identify the leader of the Macabebe people by name, but record that he died during the Battle of Bangkusay, resulting in a Macabebe retreat and a Spanish victory. Rajah Sulaiman III of Manila is clearly recorded as participating in the battle in 1574.
See also
- Lakandula
- Rajah MatandaRajah MatandaRajah Ache Matanda was a 16th century Muslim chieftain of the Kingdom of Maynila, a Tagalog kingdom on the region of the Pasig River in the Philippines...
- Kingdom of MaynilaKingdom of MaynilaThe Kingdom of Seludong , or Maynila, which after colonization became Manila, capital of the Philippines, was one of three major city-states that dominated the area around the upper portion of the Pasig River before the arrival of Spanish colonizers in the 16th century.The early inhabitants of the...
- Kingdom of Tondo
- Rajah
- SultanSultanSultan is a title with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic language abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", and "dictatorship", derived from the masdar سلطة , meaning "authority" or "power". Later, it came to be used as the title of certain rulers who...
- DatuDatuDatu is the title for tribal chiefs, sovereign princes, and monarchs in the Visayas and Mindanao Regions of the Philippines. Together with Lakan , Apo in Central and Northern Luzon, Sultan and Rajah, they are titles used for native royalty, and are still currently used in the Philippines...
- LakanLakanLakan originally referred to a rank in the pre-Hispanic Filipino nobility in the island of Luzon, which means "paramount ruler." It has been suggested that this rank is equivalent to that of Rajah, and that different ethnic groups either used one term or the other, or used the two words...
- History of the PhilippinesHistory of the PhilippinesThe history of the Philippines is believed to have begun with the arrival of the first humans via land bridges at least 30,000 years ago. The first recorded visit from the West is the arrival of Ferdinand Magellan, who sighted Samar on March 16, 1521 and landed on Homonhon Island southeast of Samar...
- History of the Philippines (900–1521)
- Philippine revolts against SpainPhilippine revolts against SpainDuring the Spanish colonial period in the Philippines, there were several revolts against of the Spanish colonial government by native-born Filipinos and Chinese, often with the goal of re-establishing the rights and powers that had traditionally belonged to tribal chiefs and Chinese traders...