The conflict
between the European powers during the period of 1756–1763 spilled over to
their colonies in Asia. One of the outcomes was a two-year period of British
control over the Philippine Islands.
between the European powers during the period of 1756–1763 spilled over to
their colonies in Asia. One of the outcomes was a two-year period of British
control over the Philippine Islands.
This was after the
Age of Discovery and the establishment of European colonies around the
world—when the power of the western nations was measured in terms of the
colonies they possessed. In the 1700s, the battle for dominance in the “new
world,” or current-day North America, was being waged between France and the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. In 1756, the two
countries formally declared war upon each other, which likewise drew into the
conflict their allies: Prussia and Portugal, who were allied with Britain; and
the Spanish Empire and Austria, who were allied with France. Although several
battles were fought in mainland Europe, the battle for dominance reached the
colonies, thus spreading the war across the globe.
Age of Discovery and the establishment of European colonies around the
world—when the power of the western nations was measured in terms of the
colonies they possessed. In the 1700s, the battle for dominance in the “new
world,” or current-day North America, was being waged between France and the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. In 1756, the two
countries formally declared war upon each other, which likewise drew into the
conflict their allies: Prussia and Portugal, who were allied with Britain; and
the Spanish Empire and Austria, who were allied with France. Although several
battles were fought in mainland Europe, the battle for dominance reached the
colonies, thus spreading the war across the globe.
When the war broke,
both Britain and Spain had a presence in Asia. The British had already
established the East India Company—the trading outpost and colonizing authority
of the United Kingdom in India. The British were on their way to establishing
their empire, which would eventually span the globe.
both Britain and Spain had a presence in Asia. The British had already
established the East India Company—the trading outpost and colonizing authority
of the United Kingdom in India. The British were on their way to establishing
their empire, which would eventually span the globe.
between the United Kingdom and the Spanish Empire, a British fleet—under the
East India Company—was dispatched from their colony in India toward Southeast
Asia to conquer colonies under the Spanish crown. The fleet was under the
command of Rear-Admiral Samuel Cornish and Brigadier General William Draper,
and its land forces were comprised of Regiments of British Soldiers, Royal
Artillery, and Indian Sepoys. The “little army,” as Brig. Gen. Draper described
it in his journal, arrived in the Philippine Archipelago on September 23, 1762.
News of a fleet on
its way to the archipelago came to Manila the day before, September 22, 1762.
This was forwarded to the Archbishop of Manila, Miguel Rojo, who was then the
acting Governor-General. According to Archbishop Rojo’s journal, the Spanish
forces in the city were unaware of a declaration of war, but nonetheless made
necessary preparations against a hostile fleet. Manila was put in a State
of Defense and a force was sent to Cavite to protect the port.
its way to the archipelago came to Manila the day before, September 22, 1762.
This was forwarded to the Archbishop of Manila, Miguel Rojo, who was then the
acting Governor-General. According to Archbishop Rojo’s journal, the Spanish
forces in the city were unaware of a declaration of war, but nonetheless made
necessary preparations against a hostile fleet. Manila was put in a State
of Defense and a force was sent to Cavite to protect the port.
Upon the British
fleet’s arrival in Manila Bay, an emissary from the Spanish forces was sent to
deliver a letter to the Commanding Officer, to ask about their nationality and
reason for their arrival. The British replied by sending two messengers of their
own, which bore the orders of King George III: Capture the city of Manila and
order the Spanish in the city to surrender. At this point, Archbishop Rojo
had likewise been informed of the ongoing war between France and the United
Kingdom.
fleet’s arrival in Manila Bay, an emissary from the Spanish forces was sent to
deliver a letter to the Commanding Officer, to ask about their nationality and
reason for their arrival. The British replied by sending two messengers of their
own, which bore the orders of King George III: Capture the city of Manila and
order the Spanish in the city to surrender. At this point, Archbishop Rojo
had likewise been informed of the ongoing war between France and the United
Kingdom.
The British fleet
originally planned to attack the port of Cavite that night in order to confuse
the Spaniards, but opted instead to attack Manila, recognizing the
likelihood of a domino effect should they take down the capital first. (Cavite
would eventually fall to the British on October 11, 1762.)
originally planned to attack the port of Cavite that night in order to confuse
the Spaniards, but opted instead to attack Manila, recognizing the
likelihood of a domino effect should they take down the capital first. (Cavite
would eventually fall to the British on October 11, 1762.)
On the morning of
September 24, Brig. Gen. Draper sent scouts to survey the surroundings for the
impending attack on Manila. The British proceeded to deploy their troops on the
shore, but met resistance. Archbishop Rojo recounts that the Spanish opened fire
at the British to little effect: the British had taken cover in a church in
Malate. Malate was taken within the day, but as the Spanish retreated they
burned parts of the village in their wake.
September 24, Brig. Gen. Draper sent scouts to survey the surroundings for the
impending attack on Manila. The British proceeded to deploy their troops on the
shore, but met resistance. Archbishop Rojo recounts that the Spanish opened fire
at the British to little effect: the British had taken cover in a church in
Malate. Malate was taken within the day, but as the Spanish retreated they
burned parts of the village in their wake.
The next day,
British forces advanced and captured the fort of Polverista, which had been
abandoned by the Spanish after the battle of the previous day. According to
Brig. Gen. Draper’s account, Polverista proved to be good cover for the British
repelling the Spanish forces, who had attacked throughout the night. The
Spanish had 50 regular troops, some militiamen, and 800 native soldiers.
British forces advanced and captured the fort of Polverista, which had been
abandoned by the Spanish after the battle of the previous day. According to
Brig. Gen. Draper’s account, Polverista proved to be good cover for the British
repelling the Spanish forces, who had attacked throughout the night. The
Spanish had 50 regular troops, some militiamen, and 800 native soldiers.
The fighting
continued until the next day, and was marked by increasing violence. According
to Brig. Gen. Draper’s account, straggling seamen were murdered by “savages”—among
other atrocities committed during the skirmishes. On the 26th,
Draper sent a letter to Archbishop Rojo, ordering the surrender of the Spanish
forces, likewise informing the acting Governor-General that he might not be
able to restrain his soldiers from taking revenge for the barbaric acts
committed by the Spanish forces to the invaders. The next day, the Spanish
sent a flag of truce.
continued until the next day, and was marked by increasing violence. According
to Brig. Gen. Draper’s account, straggling seamen were murdered by “savages”—among
other atrocities committed during the skirmishes. On the 26th,
Draper sent a letter to Archbishop Rojo, ordering the surrender of the Spanish
forces, likewise informing the acting Governor-General that he might not be
able to restrain his soldiers from taking revenge for the barbaric acts
committed by the Spanish forces to the invaders. The next day, the Spanish
sent a flag of truce.
On September 27,
1762, the Spanish sent an emissary to the British commanding officer, to
apologize for the atrocities committed by the native soldiers and to negotiate
the release of Antonio Tagle, a nephew of the Archbishop who had been captured.
1762, the Spanish sent an emissary to the British commanding officer, to
apologize for the atrocities committed by the native soldiers and to negotiate
the release of Antonio Tagle, a nephew of the Archbishop who had been captured.
Tagle was released the next
day, escorted by British Lieutenant Fryar. Upon their arrival, they were
attacked by the native troops, under the command of the Spanish authorities. In
his journal, Brig. Gen. Draper mentions that the two were murdered in a “manner
too shocking to mention.” Archbishop Rojo, however, details the death of
the two men in his logs that the natives cut off the head of the British
soldier and stabbed Tagle seven times, mortally wounding him.
day, escorted by British Lieutenant Fryar. Upon their arrival, they were
attacked by the native troops, under the command of the Spanish authorities. In
his journal, Brig. Gen. Draper mentions that the two were murdered in a “manner
too shocking to mention.” Archbishop Rojo, however, details the death of
the two men in his logs that the natives cut off the head of the British
soldier and stabbed Tagle seven times, mortally wounding him.
This map shows the chronological advance of British troops toward parts
of Northern Luzon. Click the image to enlarge.
of Northern Luzon. Click the image to enlarge.
Bombardment resumed
the next day, the 29th. Shells from British ships were fired at the
city of Intramuros, as British soldiers continued their advance on the ground,
even through the rough weather at the onset of October. The British troops, on
October 2, 1762, deployed a battery of twenty-four pounders to continue their
siege of the walled city. On October 3, 1762, natives under the command of the
Spanish forces launched a counterattack against the advancing British regiment.
There were approximately 5,000 native soldiers, 2,000 of which came from
Pampanga. This was Spain’s final push against the British in the city of
Manila, but the British successfully pushed them back. British bombardment
continued until the 4th of October.
the next day, the 29th. Shells from British ships were fired at the
city of Intramuros, as British soldiers continued their advance on the ground,
even through the rough weather at the onset of October. The British troops, on
October 2, 1762, deployed a battery of twenty-four pounders to continue their
siege of the walled city. On October 3, 1762, natives under the command of the
Spanish forces launched a counterattack against the advancing British regiment.
There were approximately 5,000 native soldiers, 2,000 of which came from
Pampanga. This was Spain’s final push against the British in the city of
Manila, but the British successfully pushed them back. British bombardment
continued until the 4th of October.
The final siege of
the walled city of Intramuros began on October 5, 1762. Archbishop Rojo
recounts that at 6:00 a.m., British troops began leaving the lines to head for
the breach. The British seized the foundry and attacked the Royal Gate, which
they battered down with axes and iron levers. On the night of the 5th,
final preparations were made for the final push into the walled city.
the walled city of Intramuros began on October 5, 1762. Archbishop Rojo
recounts that at 6:00 a.m., British troops began leaving the lines to head for
the breach. The British seized the foundry and attacked the Royal Gate, which
they battered down with axes and iron levers. On the night of the 5th,
final preparations were made for the final push into the walled city.
Brig. Gen. Draper’s
account shows that at 4:00 a.m. of October 6, 1762, the British troops started
their offensive by firing mortar shells against the Spanish. At daybreak, a
large body of Spanish troops formed in front of St. Andrew’s Church. However,
the resistance proved futile; the Spaniards eventually surrendered the city to
the British.
account shows that at 4:00 a.m. of October 6, 1762, the British troops started
their offensive by firing mortar shells against the Spanish. At daybreak, a
large body of Spanish troops formed in front of St. Andrew’s Church. However,
the resistance proved futile; the Spaniards eventually surrendered the city to
the British.
The British occupation
would extend toward the north, including Bulacan, Pampanga, and parts of
Ilocos. It would last for two years. Within those two years, the occupation
would bring about supporters of British rule manifested in rebellions by local
leaders such as Diego and Gabriela Silang.
http://malacanang.gov.ph/the-british-conquest-of-manila/
would extend toward the north, including Bulacan, Pampanga, and parts of
Ilocos. It would last for two years. Within those two years, the occupation
would bring about supporters of British rule manifested in rebellions by local
leaders such as Diego and Gabriela Silang.
http://malacanang.gov.ph/the-british-conquest-of-manila/
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