When Tlaxcalan Natives Went to War in the Philippines
After a fierce battle against the Spaniards in current Tlaxcala, Mexico, Tlaxcalan natives opted to ally themselves with the invaders on September 23, 1519. In exchange for joining forces and becoming christianized, the Tlaxcalans were promised several benefits that other natives would not receive.[1] With their new ally, Tlaxcalans along with other native groups would take revenge against their mortal enemy, the Mexica (Aztec) empire, and defeat them on August 13, 1521. They would accompany the Spaniards in several military expeditions in far away lands including present-day: Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Peru, Cuba and the Philippines.[2]
In 1564 by order of King Felipe II, a fleet of Spanish ships sailed from New Spain to the Philippines. The objective was to establish the Manila Galleon Trade Route and to reclaim territories that Fernando Magallanes had claimed as his. Historians differ on the number of ships and where they sailed from; as well as how many Tlaxcalan warriors went on the expedition. There were anywhere between three to five ships and two hundred to four hundred Tlaxcalans. Some historians claim the ships sailed from Barra de Navidad, Nueva Galicia (present-Day Jalisco) while others state they sailed from Acapulco. The men were commanded by General Miguel Lopez de Legazpi.[3,4]
On May 8, 1565 the troops arrived in Cebu (Philippines) and an intense battle began with the same native tribe that killed Fernando Magallanes.[5,6] Not much is known about the details of the battle. Fernando Cañas states that a Tlaxcalan warrior was taken prisoner by Philippine natives. The Tlaxcaltecan could not speak Spanish and all he could say was “Castilla '', in reference to the Spanish kingdom of Castile. Legazpi is said to have negotiated the natives' release.[7] In 1571 Miguel Lopez de Legazpi would establish Manila and it was later made capital of the Philippines.[8] The country would keep its name in honor of King Felipe II, (Philip II).
In 1624 a Spanish veteran corroborated that there were native soldiers in his campaign in the philippines as he requested a pension from the Spanish crown.[9] In 1630 the cabildo (local council) of Tlaxcala exercised their privilege to address the King and complained that they had received many grievances from native officers that were sent to the Philippines and Havana. They protested the treatment of the Spanish officers towards native soldiers. The cabildo did not complain about the practice of the crown recruiting Tlaxcaltecan soldiers and sending them abroad.[10]
The Philippine islands were managed from Mexico City by way of the Acapulco port. It was not until Mexico’s independence in 1821 that the Philippines were managed from Madrid, Spain.[11] It is believed that some Tlaxcalans along with mestizos and Spaniards settled in the Philippines. Many words in nahuatl were adopted by natives of the Philippines such as: atole, camote, tamal, tianguis, tocayo, jicara, mecate, metate and others.[12] Without a doubt, the Tlaxcalan natives had an important role in establishing the Philippines as a Spanish colony and the founding of Manila as its capital.
In 1564 by order of King Felipe II, a fleet of Spanish ships sailed from New Spain to the Philippines. The objective was to establish the Manila Galleon Trade Route and to reclaim territories that Fernando Magallanes had claimed as his. Historians differ on the number of ships and where they sailed from; as well as how many Tlaxcalan warriors went on the expedition. There were anywhere between three to five ships and two hundred to four hundred Tlaxcalans. Some historians claim the ships sailed from Barra de Navidad, Nueva Galicia (present-Day Jalisco) while others state they sailed from Acapulco. The men were commanded by General Miguel Lopez de Legazpi.[3,4]
On May 8, 1565 the troops arrived in Cebu (Philippines) and an intense battle began with the same native tribe that killed Fernando Magallanes.[5,6] Not much is known about the details of the battle. Fernando Cañas states that a Tlaxcalan warrior was taken prisoner by Philippine natives. The Tlaxcaltecan could not speak Spanish and all he could say was “Castilla '', in reference to the Spanish kingdom of Castile. Legazpi is said to have negotiated the natives' release.[7] In 1571 Miguel Lopez de Legazpi would establish Manila and it was later made capital of the Philippines.[8] The country would keep its name in honor of King Felipe II, (Philip II).
In 1624 a Spanish veteran corroborated that there were native soldiers in his campaign in the philippines as he requested a pension from the Spanish crown.[9] In 1630 the cabildo (local council) of Tlaxcala exercised their privilege to address the King and complained that they had received many grievances from native officers that were sent to the Philippines and Havana. They protested the treatment of the Spanish officers towards native soldiers. The cabildo did not complain about the practice of the crown recruiting Tlaxcaltecan soldiers and sending them abroad.[10]
The Philippine islands were managed from Mexico City by way of the Acapulco port. It was not until Mexico’s independence in 1821 that the Philippines were managed from Madrid, Spain.[11] It is believed that some Tlaxcalans along with mestizos and Spaniards settled in the Philippines. Many words in nahuatl were adopted by natives of the Philippines such as: atole, camote, tamal, tianguis, tocayo, jicara, mecate, metate and others.[12] Without a doubt, the Tlaxcalan natives had an important role in establishing the Philippines as a Spanish colony and the founding of Manila as its capital.
Sources
[1] Ana Carolina Gonzalez, “La alianza de los tlaxcaltecas con los españoles, el inicio de una larga amistad”, Noticonquista, UNAM, 2019. https://www.noticonquista.unam.mx/portada/semanal/1733. Accessed 24 January 2023. [2] Alejandro González Acosta. “Migraciones Tlaxcaltecas hasta centro y sudamérica La otra Frontera: El Sur.” Revista de Historia de América, no. 129 (2001): 103–44. http://www.jstor.org/stable/44732856. P. 109, 117.
[2] Alejandro González Acosta. “Migraciones Tlaxcaltecas hasta centro y sudamérica La otra Frontera: El Sur.” Revista de Historia de América, no. 129 (2001): 103–44. http://www.jstor.org/stable/44732856. P. 109, 117.
[3] Manuel C. Gonzalez, “Soldados en Filipinas:1564-1898.” Andelma: Boletin informativo del centro de estudios Históricos Fray Pasqual Salmerón, Vol. VII, 18, (2009), p 25. https://www.academia.edu/19610435/Soldados_en_Filipinas_1564_1898.
[4] O.H.K Spate, El Lago español, (Australia: ANU Press, 1979), 11,154.
[5] O.H.K Spate, p. 155.
[6] Fernando Cañas, “De como 400 tlaxcaltecas partieron a conquistar las Filipinas”, 2019, PREMIUM GRADUS, IVOOX. https://www.ivoox.com/en/de-como-400-tlaxcaltecas-partieron-a-conquistar-las-audios-mp3_rf_34143595_1.html
[7] Fernando Cañas, 2019.
[8] Manuel C. Gonzalez, p. 25.
[9] Eric Taladoire, “De América a Europa: Cuando los indígenas descubrieron el Viejo Mundo (1493-1892)” (Fondo de Cultura Económica, 2017), 96. https://ebin.pub/de-america-a-europa-cuando-los-indigenas-descubrieron-el-viejo-mundo-1493-1892-9786071655431.html
[10] José Gómez, De América a Europa: Cuando los indígenas descubrieron el viejo mundo, 1493-1892 (México: Fondo de Cultura Económica, 2008).
[11] Ignacio Ruiz Rodriguez, “Más allá de los mares conocidos. Cinco siglos de la expedición Magallanes-Elcano ", (Editorial Dykinson, S.L., 2019), 187.
[12]Taladoire, “De América a Europa,” 96.
[1] Ana Carolina Gonzalez, “La alianza de los tlaxcaltecas con los españoles, el inicio de una larga amistad”, Noticonquista, UNAM, 2019. https://www.noticonquista.unam.mx/portada/semanal/1733. Accessed 24 January 2023. [2] Alejandro González Acosta. “Migraciones Tlaxcaltecas hasta centro y sudamérica La otra Frontera: El Sur.” Revista de Historia de América, no. 129 (2001): 103–44. http://www.jstor.org/stable/44732856. P. 109, 117.
[2] Alejandro González Acosta. “Migraciones Tlaxcaltecas hasta centro y sudamérica La otra Frontera: El Sur.” Revista de Historia de América, no. 129 (2001): 103–44. http://www.jstor.org/stable/44732856. P. 109, 117.
[3] Manuel C. Gonzalez, “Soldados en Filipinas:1564-1898.” Andelma: Boletin informativo del centro de estudios Históricos Fray Pasqual Salmerón, Vol. VII, 18, (2009), p 25. https://www.academia.edu/19610435/Soldados_en_Filipinas_1564_1898.
[4] O.H.K Spate, El Lago español, (Australia: ANU Press, 1979), 11,154.
[5] O.H.K Spate, p. 155.
[6] Fernando Cañas, “De como 400 tlaxcaltecas partieron a conquistar las Filipinas”, 2019, PREMIUM GRADUS, IVOOX. https://www.ivoox.com/en/de-como-400-tlaxcaltecas-partieron-a-conquistar-las-audios-mp3_rf_34143595_1.html
[7] Fernando Cañas, 2019.
[8] Manuel C. Gonzalez, p. 25.
[9] Eric Taladoire, “De América a Europa: Cuando los indígenas descubrieron el Viejo Mundo (1493-1892)” (Fondo de Cultura Económica, 2017), 96. https://ebin.pub/de-america-a-europa-cuando-los-indigenas-descubrieron-el-viejo-mundo-1493-1892-9786071655431.html
[10] José Gómez, De América a Europa: Cuando los indígenas descubrieron el viejo mundo, 1493-1892 (México: Fondo de Cultura Económica, 2008).
[11] Ignacio Ruiz Rodriguez, “Más allá de los mares conocidos. Cinco siglos de la expedición Magallanes-Elcano ", (Editorial Dykinson, S.L., 2019), 187.
[12]Taladoire, “De América a Europa,” 96.
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