Capitania General de Filipinas

The Capitania General de Filipinas, Illustration by Wikimedia Commons

Just interesting the "Philippines" under Spanish Rule or the territories under the "Captaincy General of the Philippines" not only included the main Philippine Archipelago, but also Palau, Guam, the Marianas Islands and the Caroline Islands. 

This was the definition of the Philippines under Spain, when you say "Philippines" then, it meant all those territories, not just the main archipelago.

Below is the English Translation of an Article about the definition of Philippines under Spanish Rule.

*****************************

Captaincy General of the Philippines 1574

The Captaincy General of the Philippines was a territorial entity, member of the Spanish Empire, attached to the Viceroyalty of New Spain, established by the Spanish Crown in the so-called Spanish East Indies (areas of Asia and Oceania), with capital in Manila. It included, in addition to the Philippine archipelago, Palau, Guam, the Mariana Islands, the Caroline Islands.

The Viceroy of New Spain, which had its headquarters in Mexico City, exercised powers over these territories relative to economic matters, since otherwise the Captain General dealt directly with the king and the Council of the Indies.

After the conquest of the Philippines in 1565 by Miguel López de Legazpi , the islands of the archipelago received first the status of governorship and later of General Captaincy dependent on the Viceroyalty of New Spain in 1574. In 1584 the Real Audiencia de Manila was created, which he governed the captaincy when it became vacant; the captain general exercised the functions of governor and president of the Royal Audience (until 1861).

The Philippine Islands constituted the eastern limit of the Viceroyalty of New Spain. After being conquered by Legazpi, Governor Guido de Lavezares arrived, who declared the natives free, except those who opposed domination, who were enslaved. His freedom was combined with compulsory work in public works, in shipbuilding or as boats' boogas. Manila had Caja Real and three officers who administered the Royal Treasury.

The American model was completed with the founding of the bishopric of Manila, in 1579, and with the creation of three suffragan bishoprics of the archdiocese of Manila, in 1591 (Cebu, Nueva Segovia and Nueva Cáceres). The Augustinian religious, Franciscans, Jesuits and Dominicans were in charge of the evangelization of the natives. The secular clergy was very scarce.

Commerce was its most important activity. The Philippine geopolitical situation originated its intrusion into the war of markets that supported international trade at the beginning of the 17th century. The Dutch began their campaigns to seize the Moluccas, evicting the Portuguese from them and the Spanish Crown had to intervene in the conflict. At first, to defend Portuguese interests, then with the intention of displacing the Dutch. The counterpart of this were the numerous Dutch attempts to seize the Philippines, which did not cease until the Peace of Westphalia. In 1662, the Spanish abandoned their claims in the Moluccas and the Dutch in the Philippines, reestablishing a status quo that lasted until the end of the century.

SOURCE: Capitanía General de las Filipinas 1574 {Archived Link}

Check out my Links: https://linktr.ee/rhk111

Don’t forget to click on the Ads or to donate to help support this Website