Battle of Manila (1574)

Siege of Manila
Part of the Spanish colonization of the Philippines
DateNovember 29, 1574
Location
Result Spanish victory
Belligerents

Spain Spanish Empire

Chinese pirates
Wokou
Commanders and leaders
Spain Juan de Salcedo
Spain Guido de Lavezaris
Spain Martín de Goiti 
Spain Gaspar Ramírez
Spain Galo
Limahong
Sioco 
Strength
300 Spanish soldiers (150 Spaniards and 150 Mexicans)[1]
300 Ilocano warriors
Unknown number of militiamen[2]
62 war junks
4,000 fighters and seamen[3]
Casualties and losses
70 Spanish soldiers
Unknown number of militiamen
400 confirmed, much more presumably

The Battle of Manila (1574) (Spanish: Batalla de Manila en el 1574; Filipino: Labanan sa Maynila ng 1574) was a battle in the Manila area mainly in the location of what is now Parañaque, between Chinese and Japanese pirates, led by Limahong, and the Spanish colonial forces and their native allies. The battle occurred on November 29, 1574,[4] when Limahong's fleet landed in the town of Parañaque and from there, began to assault the fortifications of Intramuros. Initially, the inhabitants were disorganized, and Limahong's forces routed them. Furthermore, the Chinese killed the maestre de campo of the Spanish, Martin de Goiti. This caused them to delay their assault on Manila as Martin de Goiti's house was an obstacle in their march.[5]

Limahong's forces laid siege to Manila until a force led by Juan de Salcedo of fifty Spanish musketeers broke the siege.[3] Having been defeated at Manila, Limahong retreated and abandoned his plans to invade Manila and instead settled in Pangasinan.[6] A year later, forces again led by Salcedo defeated Limahong. This led to the Viceroy of Fukien to travel to the Philippines for the initial purpose of securing the release of Limahong, but ultimately establishing diplomatic relations between China and the Spanish Philippines.[3]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference MexicoManila was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Basq was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b c Charles A. Truxillo (2012). Crusaders in the Far East: The Moro Wars in the Philippines in the Context of the Ibero-Islamic World War. Jain Publishing Company. p. 92. ISBN 978-0-89581-864-5.
  4. ^ Marciano R. De Borja (2005). Basques in the Philippines. University of Nevada Press. p. 33. ISBN 978-0-87417-590-5.
  5. ^ Bourne, Edward Gaylord (16 June 2004). Blair, Emma Helen; Robertson, James Alexander (eds.). "The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803 — Volume 04 of 55". Gutenberg.org. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
  6. ^ Lee Khoon Choy (26 March 2013). Golden Dragon And Purple Phoenix: The Chinese And Their Multi-ethnic Descendants In Southeast Asia. World Scientific. p. 62. ISBN 978-981-4518-49-9.