Battle of Manila (1574)

On November 30, 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 the execution of the Spanish prisoners upon arriving at 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 continued on foot to Manila while towing the launches with ropes.[10]

Modern San Agustín Church, built over the destroyed original.

The pirates were spotted after several attacks on Manila locals, who mistakenly believed that Sioco and his group were Muslim bandits from Borneo. Governor Martín de Goiti was informed in his house near the old San Agustin Church. Still, he dismissed it and only sent ten guards to find out what was happening without sounding alarms or informing the garrison.[8] 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 on fire. Finally understanding the dire situation, Goiti and the few men inside sallied out against the pirates in a suicide attack.[8] 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.[16] It is also believed that the Chinese pirates cut his nose and ears as human war trophies.[2] The house was destroyed, the only survivors being Del Corral and soldier Francisco de Astigarribia.[10]

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 at the opposite point to the city.[2] 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 toward 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.[10]

Sioco and his forces embarked on Limahong's fleet and planned a second attack after resting for two days. For his part, Lavezaris summoned all the nearby soldiers to Manila 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.[19] Shortly after, Salcedo reached Manila with his reinforcements, so Lavezaris promoted him to the Maestre de Campo title vacated by Goiti, leaving Salcedo's command to Gaspar Ramírez, Velázquez's ensign.[20] Spanish forces by this point were 150-200 Iberian soldiers and 200 Ilocano warriors from Bauang, along with some militiamen.[2]

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.[18] After setting fire to many coastal houses with incendiary grenades, including the San Agustín Church, Sioco ordered his troops to divide into three contingents, hoping to attract the Spaniards outside where they could envelop them from three sides. However, Lavezaris deduced his strategy and forbade 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 the rearguard.[10]

Late Fort Santiago in Manila.

The citizens initially repulsed all attacks, but one of the Spanish commanders of alabarderos, Ensign Sancho Ortiz, was overwhelmed and shot down, resulting in his bulwark becoming open to the Chinese pirates. The pirates entered the city and engaged the forces of Salcedo and Francisco de León, Manila's mayor. At the same time, Spanish artillery overpowered the Chinese fleet and pushed it out of the harbor. The main battle happened in the streets, where pirates killed León, but shortly after, Sioco was taken down by a Spanish marksman. Unsupported and with their prominent captains dead, the Chinese pirates were finally expelled from the walls.

While the battle raged, turbulence took place behind the Spanish lines. Assuming the Spaniards would be defeated, groups of natives capitalized on the battle to sack empty houses, and a mass of enslaved people broke out intending to escape. They stole launches and tried to flee through the Pasig River, but they did so with such haste that several boats were overturned and many enslaved people drowned; they were also attacked by other natives, who saw the chance to take revenge for previous servitudes and enmities. There were also riots in Tondo and Mindoro, where the locals sacked Christian churches and took hostages among the clergy members to offer to Limahong as tributes in case of his victory.[21]

Salcedo drove the pirates to the beach and inflicted many casualties. Still, they were forced to return to the walls when Limahong returned with several ships to deploy reinforcements of 400 soldiers. Limahong also called one of the three companies left by Sioco, gathering around 1000 men, but he judged it useless to try any more assaults and called out the attack. His men were sent to sack the nearby places while Limahong set two stranded ships on fire, hoping to deviate Salcedo's attention, but the Spanish captain saw through the ruse and fell over the sackers. Ultimately, Limahong summoned all his soldiers to his ships and abandoned the shore altogether under fire from Manila.[10]

Don Galo-Limahong Monument - November 30, 1574 - in Barangay Don Galo, Parañaque

Limahong headed to Parañaque, which he pillaged, while Salcedo rebuilt Manila and prepared for a possible third attack. Confusion occurred when many torches were spotted at the beach by night, but they were just locals of Luzón looting the Chinese pirates' corpses. Afterward, the city was informed that Limahong's fleet had retreated northwardly. After the battle, one of the local militiamen, Galo, was rewarded with the Spanish title of don due to his bravery and leadership.[22]

While Lavezaris called in forces from Panay, Camarines, and Cebu to gather a chase fleet, Salcedo was sent to solve the riots in Tondo and Mindoro. He convinced chieftain Lakandula to surrender and free the religious hostages, who had been tortured with fire.[21]