Miguel López de Legazpi 

(b. 1502 - d. August 20 , Manila, 1572), also known as El

Adelantado(The Governor) and El Viejo (The Elder), was a Spanish conquistador who established
the first colony in the Philippine Islands in 1565.

Early years

Born in 1502, Miguel López de Legazpi was the youngest son of Don Juan Martínez de Legazpi
and Elvira Gurruchategui. He was born to a noble family and lived in the small town
of Zumárraga, in theBasque province of Guipúzcoa in Spain.

Between 1526 and 1527, Legazpi worked as a councilor in the municipal government of his
home town. In 1528, after Hernán Cortés had established settlements in Mexico, Legazpi went
to New Spain to start a new life. This was due to the death of his parents, and his dissatisfaction
with his eldest sibling who inherited all of the family fortune. In Tlaxcala, he worked with Juan
Garcés and Juan's sister, Isabel Garcés. Legazpi would go on to marry Isabel and have nine
children with her. Isabel died in the mid1550s.

Between the periods of 1528 and 1559, Legazpi worked as a leader of the Financial department
council, and as the civil governor of the city of Mexico. He was later commissioned by the
viceroy, Luis de Velasco, in early 1564 to lead an expedition in the Pacific Ocean, to find
the Spice Islands where the previous explorers Ferdinand Magellan and Ruy López de
Villalobos landed on in 1521 and 1543.

The expedition was ordered by King Philip II, after whom the islands were eventually named.
The viceroy died in July of that year, but the Audiencia and Legazpi completed the preparations
for the expedition. On the early morning of November 21, 1564, armed with five ships and 500
soldiers, Legazpi sailed from the port of Barra de Navidad in Jalisco, Mexico.

Arrival in the Philippine Islands

Legazpi and his men sailed the Pacific Ocean for 93 days. In early 1565, they landed in
the Mariana Islands, where they briefly anchored and replenished their supplies. They
encountered conflicts withChamorro tribes and left several huts burned to the ground.

Legazpi's troops arrived in the Philippine archipelago and landed in the shores
of Cebu on February 13,1565. After a brief struggle with the natives, they left the island for the
nearby islands of Leyte andCamiguin. Legazpi's ships drifted to the coast of Bohol on March
16,1565. There, he and his crew obtained spices and gold after convincing the natives that they
were not Portuguese. He made a blood compact with the chieftain, Datu Sikatuna, as a sign of
friendship between the two peoples.

On April 27, 1565, Legazpi and his men went back to Cebu, attacking and destroying the village
ofRajah Tupas. There, he founded the first Spanish settlements, naming it Villa del Santisimo
Nombre de Jesús (Town of the Most Holy Name of Jesus) and Villa de San Miguel (Saint
Michael's Town).

In 1567, 200 Spanish and Mexican soldiers arrived in Cebu under orders of the Spanish King.
They established a city and build the port of Fuerza de San Pedro which became their outpost for
trade with Mexico and protection from hostile native revolts.

In 1568, Legazpi sent one of his men back to Spain to report on his progress. Legazpi himself
remained in Cebu and did not accompany his men during the conquest of Manila, because of
health problems and advanced age. Having heard of the rich resources of Manila, he dispatched
two of his Lieutenant - commanders, Martín de Goiti and Juan de Salcedo, to explore the
northern region.

Conquest of Manila

In late 1569, a force of 300 Spanish soldiers, cavalrymen, and several local natives, led
by Martín de Goiti, left Cebu and began exploring the Northern regions of the Visayas. They
founded the islands of Panay, and Mindoro where they encountered quarrels with Chinese sea-
traders in the area. Goiti and Salcedo fought with insurgent Chinese pirates on the Eastern
coastline of Mindoro and defeated them off the island. The Spaniards later established
settlements in the area.

On May 8, 1570, they arrived in Manila, and enter Manila Bay. The Spaniards were overwhelmed
at the size of the harbour. There, they were welcomed by the Muslim natives. Goiti's soldiers
camped there for a few weeks, while pretending to form an alliance with the muslim king, Rajah
Suliman. However, the Spaniards had other plans. They tricked the natives into believing that
they were only visiting and staying for a short period.

On May 24, 1570, after quarrels had erupted between the two groups, they marched to the
Muslim settlements in Tondo and the city of Manila, were a battle was fought against Suliman's
warriors. The heavily armed Spanish soldiers defeated the natives and conquered the area.

In the same year, more reinforcements arrived in the Philippines, prompting Legazpi to leave
Cebu. He took 250 soldiers and 600 native warriors to explore the regions of Leyte and Panay.
Legazpi followed Goiti and Salcedo to Manila the following year, after hearing the city had been
conquered.

In Manila, he formed a peace pact with the native Muslim councils, Rajahs Suliman, Matanda,
and Lakandula. Both groups agreed to organize a city council, consisting of 2 mayors, 12
councilors and a secretary. Legazpi finally established a permanent settlement there on June
24, 1571, and he also ordered the construction of the walled city of Intramuros. He proclaimed
the town as the island's capital and permanent seat of the Spanish Government in the
western Pacific Ocean.

With the help of Augustinian and Franciscan Friars, he established a government on the islands.

He became the first Governor of the Philippines and converted the natives to
the Catholic religion. Those who opposed his rule were tortured and executed, while those who
supported him were awarded withencomiendas (Trusteeship Laws - acquiring land properties).

Last years
Legazpi governed the colony for a year before dying of heart failure in Manila in 1572. He died
poor and bankrupt, leaving only a few pesos left behind due to having spent most of his personal
fortune during the conquest. Legazpi was later laid to rest in San Agustin Church, Intramuros.
He did not live to see the commemoration of Manila in 1574, where the city was given the
title Distinguished and ever loyal city of Spain (Insigne y Siempre Leal Ciudad de España) by the
king of Spain.

By the time of Legazpi's death, the regions of Luzon, Visayas and parts of

Northern Mindanao had already passed to Spanish rule. For the next 256 years, the Philippines
was administered as a colony of New Spain, (present day Mexico).

Letters to the Spanish King

During his last years, Legazpi wrote several letters to Philip II about his journey to the East
Indies and the conquest he had achieved. These were collectively known as the Cartas al Rey
Don Felipe II: sobre la expedicion, conquistas y progresos de las islas Felipinas (Letters to the
King Philip II: on the expedition, conquests and progress of the Philippine Islands). The letters
are still preserved today at the archives of the indies in Seville, Spain.