Spanish East Indies

The Spanish East Indies were colonies of the Spanish Empire in Asia and Oceania from 1565 to 1901. They were governed through a special area called the captaincy general in Manila for the Spanish Crown. At first, they reported to Mexico City, but later they reported directly to Madrid after the Spanish American Wars of Independence.

The king of Spain called himself "King of the East and West Indies." From 1565 to 1821, these places, together with the Spanish West Indies, were managed through the Viceroyalty of New Spain based in Mexico City. After the Mexican Empire became independent, Manila reported straight to Madrid. The lands ruled included what we now call the Philippines, Guam, the Mariana Islands, Palau, part of Micronesia, and for a time Northern Taiwan and parts of North Sulawesi and the Moluccas.

After the fall of Manila during the Spanish–American War in 1898, the United States took over the city. The Spanish moved their capital to Iloilo, but they gave it up to local groups before the United States took control. Spain later sold some smaller islands to Germany in the German–Spanish Treaty of 1899. The last few islands were given to the United States when the Treaty of Washington was signed in 1901.

History

Main articles: Magellan expedition, History of Guam, and History of the Philippines (1565–1898)

Exploration and settlement (1521–1643)

The Spanish Empire started exploring and settling parts of Asia and Oceania in the 1500s. After the Portuguese controlled routes around Africa, the Spanish found a way across the Pacific Ocean. In 1521, an expedition led by Ferdinand Magellan reached the Mariana Islands and the Philippines. Though Magellan died, the journey continued, and later explorers set up the first Spanish settlement in the Philippines in 1565. This became an important place for trade between Asia and the Americas.

From there, Spain built more settlements and controlled many islands. They traded goods like spices and silk and shared their culture with the local people. Though they faced challenges from other European powers, Spain kept these territories for many years.

Colonial government

See also: Viceroyalty of New Spain, Captaincy General of the Philippines, and Governor-General of the Philippines

The Seven Years' War caused King Charles III to change how the Spanish colonies were managed. In 1784, he created a special office in Manila called an intendencia to help with money and the economy. Governor-General José Basco y Vargas also formed a group called the Economic Society of the Friends of the Country to bring new ideas to the islands.

For over 250 years, the Spanish East Indies were led by a governor-captain general and a group of judges called an audiencia. All the money matters for the Philippines were handled by leaders in Mexico. Because the sea route through Mexico was used for important jobs, most messages between leaders went through Mexico instead of straight to Spain, except for a short time in the late 1700s.

In 1821, after Mexico won independence from Spain, control of the Spanish East Indies was moved directly to Madrid. This continued until the United States took over most of Spain's lands in Asia and the Pacific after the Spanish–American War in 1898.

The Audiencia and Captaincy General

Main articles: Captaincy General of the Philippines and Real Audiencia of Manila

In 1574, the leaders created the Captaincy General of the Philippines, which was part of the group in Mexico. The Real Audiencia of Manila started on May 5, 1583, and its first meeting was on June 15, 1584. It was the top court in the Spanish East Indies, with the Governor-General as its main judge. Both groups were created by a command from King Felipe II.

Territories

The Spanish East Indies included places such as:

• Las Islas Filipinas (now the Philippines): Manila, Luzon, the Visayas, Palawan, and several other islands.
• Islas Carolinas (now the Federated States of Micronesia)
• Islas Marianas (now the Northern Mariana Islands and Guam)
• Islas Palaos (now Palau)

Spain ruled these areas at different times, such as the Philippines from 1565 to 1898, Palau from 1574 to 1899, and parts of other islands in between.

Cultural influence in the former Spanish East Indies

Spanish

Main article: Spanish influence on Filipino culture

Spain had a big effect on places it once ruled in Asia and the Pacific. Today, most people in the Philippines, Guam, and the Mariana Islands follow the Catholic faith, which Spanish missionaries brought there long ago. Many people in these places also use Spanish names from that time. Spanish words are part of the local languages because the Spanish brought new tools, crops, and ideas. Art, music, buildings, and even the way people dress show Spanish influence. The food in these places also has Spanish touches.

Filipino

Many people living today in the Northern Marianas Islands and Guam have Filipino ancestors. Some people in these places also use Filipino family names. The people of Guam, called the Chamorro, are thought to have some Filipino roots because of old ties between these islands and the Philippines. The food in Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and Palau includes many Filipino dishes like pancit, lumpia, kelaguen, halo-halo, and okoy.