Battle of Bangkusay Channel

Battle of the Bangkusay Channel
Date June 3, 1571 Location Bangkusay Channel, Kingdom of Tondo Result Spanish victory Dissolution of the Kingdom of Tondo Death of Tariq Suleiman
Belligerents
Kapampangan forces from Hagonoy and Macabebe	Spanish forces from New Spain
Commanders and leaders
Tariq Suleiman and Raja Suleiman of Manila	Miguel López de Legazpi
Strength
40 caracoa warships, 2,000 men	27 ships, 280 Spaniards, 600 local allies

The Battle of the Bangkusay Channel on June 3, 1571 marked the last resistance to the occupation of Manila by the Spaniards, led by Miguel López de Legazpi. Tariq Suleiman, chief of Macabebe, refusing to ally with the Spanish as Lakandula of Tondo had done, decided to mount an attack at the Bangkusay Channel. His forces were defeated, and he himself was killed. The Spanish victory at Bangkusay and Legaspi's friendship with Lakandula, enabled the Spaniards to establish themselves throughout the city and its neighboring towns.

Background

Main article: Manila

Miguel López de Legazpi, searching for a suitable place to establish his capital after being compelled to move from Cebu to Panay by Portuguese pirates and imminent famine under Martin de Goiti and Captain Juan de Salcedo to discover the location and potentials of a sultanate in Luzon. De Goiti anchored at Cavite, and tried to establish his authority peaceably by sending a message of friendship to the Kingdom of Manila. Raja Suleiman, King of Manila, was willing to accept the friendship that the Spaniards were offering, but did not want to submit to its sovereignty. Thus, Sulayman waged war against them. As a result, De Goiti and his army attacked Maynila on June 1570. After a stout fight, Sulayman and his men were forced to flee uphill. The natives only came back to the city after the Spaniards had left.

In 1571, the Spaniards returned with their entire force (consisting of 280 Spaniards and 600 local allies), this time led by Legazpi himself. Seeing them approach, the Suleiman's forces set the city on fire and fled to Tondo. The Spaniards occupied the burnt ruins of the city and built a settlement. On May 19, 1571, Legaspi established the Spanish city of Manila. The title "city" became official on June 19, 1572. The Manila-Acapulco Galleon Trade between the Spanish East Indies and Mexico was established thereafter.

However, Tariq Suleiman, chief of Macabebe, refused to recognise Spanish rule and gathered a force composed of Kapampangan warriors after failing to get the support of the chieftains of Manila (Lakandula, Matanda) and Hagonoy.

Battle

On June 3, 1571, Tarik Sulayman, supported by Rajah Sulayman, led his troops down the Pampanga River and fought the battle in the bay of Bangkusay, off the port of Tondo.

The Spanish ships, led by Martin de Goiti, were ordered to be fastened two by two. This resulted in a formation of a solid mass which seemed to be an easy target. The Suleimans' warships were lured to surround the Spanish. After being surrounded, the Spanish fired at them. Soon, the Suleimans' fleet was scattered and destroyed.

Rajah Sulayman escaped to Pampanga. The Kapampangan chief on the other hand, then nameless to the Spaniards, died in battle.

Aftermath

Legazpi was able to establish a municipal government for Manila on June 24, 1571.

See also

• Kingdom of Tondo
• Kingdom of Maynila
• Tarik Sulayman
• Rajah Lakandula
• Rajah Sulaiman III
• Rajah Matanda
• Miguel López de Legazpi

Further reading

• Piedad-Pugay, Chris Antonette (6 June 2008). "The Battle of Bangkusay: A Paradigm of Defiance against Colonial Conquest". National Historical Institute Website. National Historical Institute. http://www.nhi.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=145&Itemid=2. 
• Tantingco, Robby (October 24, 2006). "First Filipino martyr for freedom". http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/pam/2006/10/24/oped/robby.tantingco.peanut.gallery.html. 
• San Agustin, Gaspar de (in Bilingual (Spanish and English)). Conquistas de las Islas Filipinas 1565–1615. Translated by Luis Antonio Mañeru (1st bilingual ed [Spanish and English] ed.). Intramuros, Manila, 1998: Pedro Galende, OSA.