Battle of Manila (1574)

The Battle of Manila (1574) ( es, 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 when Limahong's fleet landed in the town of Parañaque and from there, began to assault the fortifications of Intramuros. Initially, the inhabitants where disorganized and Limahong's forces routed them. Furthermore, the Chinese killed the Master-of-Camp 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.

Limahong's forces laid siege to Manila until a force, led by Juan de Salcedo, of fifty Spanish musketeers broke the siege. Having been defeated at Manila, Limahong retreated and abandoned his plans to invade Manila and instead settled in Pangasinan. A year later, forces again led by Salcedo defeated Limahong, leading 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.

Background

The first Spanish expedition arrived in the region in 1565, but the city would not be founded until 1571. Once established, Manila became a central center of commerce with multiple nations from south Asia, as well as China and Japan, which traded with porcelain, silk and wood. Manila's fame as a rich city spread quickly around southern Asia, attracting the interest of pirates and marauders.Dennis O. Flynn, Arturo Giráldez, ''European Entry into the Pacific: Spain and the Acapulco-Manila Galleons'', 2017, Routledge, 9781351938624

In 1574, Chinese warlord Limahong set out for Manila. He had been just expelled from China by the imperial fleet in a battle in Guangdong, and was looking for moving his headquarters to the Filipinas islands, where he could obtain greater gains with less difficulty.Graham Gerard Ong-Webb, ''Piracy, Maritime Terrorism and Securing the Malacca Straits'', 2006, Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, 9789812304179 After capturing a Chinese trader ship that carried Spanish sailors, he found out Manila only had a garrison of around 200 Spanish soldiers available, so he judged it would be easy to capture the city in a surprise attack.''Fei Hua Li Shih Hsüeh Pao, Volúmenes 8-12'', 1978, Philippine Chinese Historical Association

In November, guided by the Spanish prisoners, Limahong arrived in Luzón with a fleet formed by around 60 junks, gathered to expel the Spaniards and take the city. His contingent was composed by 2000 soldiers, 2000 sailors and 1500 colonists, including entire families, ransom women captured in China and Japan, farmers, carpenters, artisans, doctors and all goods necessary to establish a settlement.César V. Callanta, ''The Limahong Invasion'', 1979, Pangasinan Review Press He only left a small part in the island of Batán, where he had taken refuge from the Chinese imperial fleet.

Limahong was helped by a Japanese lieutenant, Sioco (likely a Spanish language corruption of "Shoko"), and according to Japanese sources, he acted in alliance with factions of wokou'', along with more traditional Chinese weapons. It is also apparent he had a Portuguese translator in his fleet.Juan Caro y Mora
Ataque de Li-ma-hong á Manila en 1574; reseña histórica de aquella memorable jornada
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Opposing forces

According to all sources, both sides were matched in weapons and equipment. The main difference in the battle was seemingly the superior experience and training of the Spanish soldiers, as well as their defensive positions, the opportune arrivals of reinforcements and other tactical considerations. Both armies employed arquebuses and small artillery pieces, as well as swords and daggers, and the Asians carried long-tipped pikes (described as being "enough by themselves to undo the thickest hauberks") and several kinds of sabers, catanes and scimitars. Among protective equipment there were steel armors, mails and cloth gambesons, those especially worn by the Asians. The pirates also used a great quantity of gunpowder hand grenades and incendiary artifacts.“La relación del suceso de la venida del tirano chino del gobernador Guido de Lavezares: Épica española en Asia en el siglo XVI:”
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Battle

Limahong's fleet was spotted by Spanish posts in the northern part of Luzón, commanded by Juan de Salcedo and Francisco de Saavedra. Three messengers were sent by sea, but lack of wind caused the pirate fleet to catch up with them, forcing the Spaniards to abandon the boats and continue on foot by land. As a consequence, it was not possible to send the message in time.

First attack

On 30 November, Limahong deployed Sioco to perform a night raid with 400-600 pirates and capture the unaware city by surprise. However, the plan failed, as Limahong had ordered to execute the Spanish prisoners upon arriving to the beach; as the pirates did not have the prisoners' knowledge of the whereabouts anymore, Sioco's expedition fell in dangerous currents, losing three boats and being drifted by mistake towards Parañaque. Sioco decided to continue on foot to Manila while towing the launches with ropes.

The pirates were spotted after a handful of attacks on Manila locals, who believed mistakenly that Sioco and his group were Muslims bandits from Borneo. Governor Martín de Goiti was informed in his house near the old San Agustin Church, but he dismissed it and only sent ten guards to find out what was happening, without sounding alarms or informing the garrison. The pirates quickly killed the guards and besieged the house, where Goiti's wife Lucía del Corral taunted them from the window. Infuriated by the insults and checking out the house was still well fortified, Sioco ordered it to be set in fire. Finally understanding the dire situation, Goiti and the few men inside sallied out against the pirates in a suicide attack. The governor was elderly and sick at the time, but tradition has that he jumped from a low window in his rush to engage his enemies. It is also believed that the Chinese pirates cut his nose and ears as human war trophies. The house was destroyed, the only survivors being Del Corral and soldier Francisco de Astigarribia.Gaspar de Agustín, ''Conquistas de las islas Filipinas (1565-1615)'', 1698

With Goiti dead, Sioco resumed his march towards Manila, but the locals had heard the battle and warned the garrison in time for the defense to be prepared. The next in command was Lavezaris, whose house was located in the opposite point to the city. Sioco's force was met outside the walls by a nearby team of 20 ''arcabuceros'' commanded by Lorenzo Chachón, who harassed them into stopping. However, their numerical advantage allowed the pirates to encircle Chacón and press on them, killing eight before the rest could cut their way towards the city. The Chinese pirates gave them pursuit, but another company of 80 Spanish soldiers under Alonso Velázquez attacked them from the flank. Sioco, realizing tactical advantage was lost and likely fearing the intervention of more Spanish reinforcements, called for a retreat to Cavite, where they had accorded to reunite with Limahong.

Sioco and his forces embarked in Limahong's fleet and planned a second attack after resting for two days. For his part, Lavezaris summoned to Manila all the nearby soldiers and built fortifications, rightly predicting a new assault. The situation in Manila was conflicted, as many still believed the pirates worked for the raja of Borneo, so Lavezaris arrested two local Muslim chieftains, Numanatay and Rajabago, suspecting they might be enemy insiders. The truth is unknown, although the two later were revealed to have been strangled in their cells. Shortly after, Salcedo reached Manila with his own reinforcements, so Lavezaris promoted him to the '' Maestre de Campo'' title vacated by Goiti, leaving Salcedo's own command to Gaspar Ramírez, Velázquez's ensign. Spanish forces by this point were 150-200 Iberian soldiers and 200 Ilocano warriors from Bauang, along with some militiamen.Marciano R. De Borja, ''Basques in the Philippines'', University of Nevada Press, 2012,

Second attack

On the night of December 2, Limahong's fleet was spotted arriving in Manila. The first artillery exchanges happened at daybreak, when the fleet anchored down and deployed 1,500 pirates commanded again by Sioco. Their launches were sent back to the ships so they would be properly motivated to fight without possible retreat. After setting fire many coastal houses with incendiary grenades, including the San Agustín Church, Sioco ordered his troops to divide in three contingents, hoping to attract the Spaniards outside where they could envelope them from three sides. However, Lavezaris deduced his strategy and forbad his soldiers to leave the walls, not even when the Chinese fleet moved to find better shooting positions, as the Spanish defensive positions allowed them greater safety to return fire and inflict damage. Finally, Sioco's hand was forced under fire, and he gave the order to assault the walls in a two-pronged attack, leaving his third company in rearguard.

The citizens initially repulsed all attacks, but one of the Spanish commanders of ''alabarderos'', Ensign Sancho Ortiz, was overwhelmed and shot down, with