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The Spaniards in the Moluccas: 1606-1663/1671-1677. The history of the Spanish presence in the spice islands
Written by Marco Ramerini. 2005-2020/23
CHAPTER EIGHT: THE GOVERNMENT OF D. LUIS DE BRACAMONTE, February 1620-1623
THE ARRIVAL OF D. LUIS DE BRACAMONTE IN TERNATE
The new governor D. Luis de Bracamonte arrived in Ternate on February 10, 1620, with a fleet including 2 galleys and three “barcos mayores”, the “patache” S. Buenaventura was also part of the same fleet, which however was captured by the Dutch during the journey to Ternate, right in sight of the Spanish fortress.
In command of the captured Spanish boat was the accountant Don Alonso Fajardo de Villalobos, who most likely lost the boat due to his inexperience and lack of courage, in fact, according to what the chronicler la Llave tells us, he surrendered to the Dutch without attempting to flee and to allow a resistance to his soldiers. In this action the Dutch captured a total of more than 100 people including 60 Spaniards, as well as much food (3,000 fanegas of rice) and ammunition destined for the Spanish garrisons of the Moluccas. As a partial relief for this serious loss, the Spaniards managed to capture a ship loaded with supplies from Ternate.
According to the “Report of events, 1620” Bracamonte’s fleet consisted of 2 galleys and 4 or 5 “pataccos”, with a large quantity of provisions on board and more than 200 soldiers. In the opinion of the governor of the Philippines Alonso Fajardo y Tenza, this army was the most abundant in money and men since the Spaniards had conquered Ternate. 1
In the same period, not only Dutch ships, but also ships from other European nations arrived in the waters of the Moluccas, attempting to establish bases or to undertake the lucrative spice trade. The French, English2 and Danes established trading farms in Macassar on the island of Sulawesi (Celebes). Bloody battles often take place between other European nations, especially between the Dutch and the British.
THE SPICE TRADE
In an attempt to revitalize the revenues of the Spanish possessions in the Moluccas, the development of the spice trade was attempted. This trade was almost completely in Dutch hands. The king orders the construction of a clove storage farm in Ternate and plans to develop a profitable trade for the crown. The costs of the Spanish garrisons in the islands are enormous and attempts are made to reduce the wages of the soldiers and precisely to develop trade in order to make the maintenance of garrisons less burdensome for the royal coffers. However, the Spanish presence in the islands is deemed necessary, because otherwise the Dutch would have had ample freedom to practice their lucrative spice trade.3
According to Rios Coronel, the Moluccas annually produce 4,400 bares of cloves, each bares containing 640 pounds, for a total of 2,816,000 pounds, since in Europe a pound of cloves was sold for a ducat, the total production amounted to 2,816,000 ducats. The cost of the entire annual production of cloves can be purchased in the Moluccas for 100,000 ducats. These large profits were almost entirely the prerogative of the Dutch, who bought the fabric in Coromandel at 10, which they resold in the Moluccas at 50 in exchange for the cloves which were finally resold on the European market.4
In order to reduce the expenses of the crown, it was proposed to the king to use the island of Celebes, located two days of navigation from the Moluccas, as a food supply point. The island is rich in food that has a reduced cost compared to that of Manila, and finally the king of those parts is well disposed towards the Spaniards. From a military point of view, the massive use of galleys is recommended, 8 of them are requested to be stationed in Ternate, with them it will be easy to be able to capture or sink the Dutch ships in moments of calm wind, condition that occurs almost every day, and for 6-8 hours, in these islands.5
THE SPANISH TROOPS IN THE ISLANDS
Interesting information is given to us in the “Report of wages and expenses that His Majesty has to pay in the Moluccas Islands”. This report describes in detail the troops and expenses that the Spanish crown supports for the occupation of the Moluccas. In addition to the troop commander, there are seven troop captains of foot and seven ensigns, seven sergeants …. 20 artillery men. In total, the Spanish forts are garrisoned by about 600 simple soldiers, of whom 140 are musketeers. Then there are two companies of pampangos made up of a total of 200 soldiers. The personnel assigned to the two galleys stationed on the islands. In the payroll of the King of Spain there are also 10 religious divided between Jesuits, Franciscans and a vicar. The presence of a hospital is also indicated. The total annual expenses for the crown of Spain amount to over 218,000 pesos.6 In this period the wages of the garrison soldiers stationed in the Moluccas and Manila were equalized by order of the king by the governor of the Philippines Alonso Fajardo y Tenza.7
In 1620-21, the relief fleet for the Moluccas arrived safely despite being awaited by three Dutch boats, this was possible thanks to the skill and courage of Antonio Gomez, captain of one of the ships of the fleet, who engaged the three Dutch ships in a fight that lasted three long hours and which allowed the other ships of the flotilla to take refuge under the artillery of the Spanish fort. With this expedition, more than 120 Spanish soldiers arrived on the islands to reinforce the garrisons, as well as rice, provisions, clothing and ammunition. These supplies were among the most abundant ever received by the Spanish troops at the Moluccas.8
In this year, problems are recorded with the traditional ally of the Spanish, the king of Tidore. The Spaniards discover that the Tidorese have poisoned a well where the Spanish troops go to get water, but the immediate discovery allows the Spaniards not to suffer damage, then later the problems with the Tidorese are resolved anyway. Good relations were also continued with the king of Macazar with whom the Spaniards exchanged gifts. Despite the climate of war, D. Luis de Bracamonte agrees with the Dutch on an exchange of prisoners. However, despite the reinforcements sent, the Spanish troops are always few for the needs of the garrisons, in addition there are many dead and sick due to the climate of the places and the continuous skirmishes with the Dutch. On the other hand, the Dutch continue to send ships and troops and enjoy an indisputable naval superiority over the Spanish.9
INITIALLY THE DUTCH ARE NOT TOO INTERESTED IN ELIMINATING THE SPANISH PRESENCE FROM THE ISLANDS
However, the great Dutch naval power did not succeed in unhinging the Spanish presence, also because the Dutch did not have much interest in eliminating it completely from the islands, in fact the Spanish helped to curb the ambitions of the inhabitants of Ternate who, being sworn enemies of the Spanish, had of things to rely on the Dutch to be able to support themselves. Furthermore, the control of the clove-rich islands allowed the Dutch to dominate their trade without worrying much about the meager Spanish trade, to finish the agreement between the English and Dutch companies, had made the conquest of the Spanish forts unattractive for the latter because the English could request possession of it by virtue of the treaty, and this from the Dutch point of view was far more serious than the presence of Spanish garrisons on some islands. The Dutch pursued a policy of conservation of the current situation which was more congenial to them, they also tried to hinder the establishment of peace agreements between Ternate and Tidore.
SUBSEQUNTLY, DUE TO THE RAPPROCHEMENT BETWEEN TERNATE ANS THE SPANISH, THE DUTCH CHANGE THEIR ATTITUDE
A few years later, in 1621, however, the high costs for maintaining the garrisons in the forts that the Dutch are forced to occupy due to the Spanish presence, led to a completely opposite reasoning, in fact the fear of the Dutch, also due to a a certain cooling of relations with their ally Ternate, was now that of a rapprochement between Ternate and the Spaniards. And in fact a certain rapprochement took place for mere commercial interest, through the Tidorese with whom a truce was stipulated, the Ternatese sold cloves to the Spaniards, who generally paid at higher prices than those agreed with the Dutch.10
The attempt also by the Spanish to get closer to the Ternatese was also continued later by the governor Pedro de Heredia who tried to play again the card of a return of the old sultan of Ternate, Said Berkat, to try to pacify the islands under the Spanish flag, but the death of the sultan in Manila in 1628 thwarted all negotiations. The cause of this rapprochement of the Spaniards towards the people of Ternate is certainly to be found in the cooling of relations with Tidore.11
The hunger and basic necessities for soldiers was a constant throughout the period of Spanish occupation in the islands. Also in this period which is among the best in terms of sending aid from the Philippines. In a letter dated July 21, 1621, D. Fajardo de Tenca declares that, starting from the moment he took charge of the government of the Philippines, he sent almost 400 Spanish soldiers to the Moluccas.12
THE FORTS OF JAILOLO AND MANADOS ARE ABANDONED BY THE SPANISH
To try to reduce the expenses for the garrisons, under the government of Brancamonte the evacuation of some Spanish garrisons was proposed “propuso retirar algunas de las fuezas, que se hallaban repartidas por aquel archipelago”. Surely the garrisons stationed in Manados and Jailolo were withdrawn. This decision was made mainly due to the escalation of relations between the Spaniards and the Prince of Tidore. An attempt at rapprochement carried out by Brancamonte who sent an embassy to the King of Tidore, bypassing the Prince, had the opposite effect. The latter offended, approached the Ternatese and the Dutch, making agreements with them and causing the population of Tidore to rebel against the Spanish. The Tidorese also made contact with the British at Makassar.13
The abandonment of the two forts of Gilolo took place shortly after the month of March 1620, this was done to reinforce the garrisons of Ternate and Tidore. The control of the two forts was ceded by the Spaniards to the troops of the king of Tidore, their ally, but in August 1620, after repelling an initial attack carried out by 30 Ternatese korakoras against the low fort (which took place on 3 August), the troops of Tidore, surrendered to a Dutch ship coming to the aid of the besiegers, the first fort to surrender was the lower fort and shortly after the higher fort also capitulated. The two forts were taken over by a garrison of troops from Ternate. This occupation of the Jailolo forts by the Ternatese was viewed with an evil eye by Coen, who was concerned with skilfully maintaining the power relations maintained up to now.14 The Manados garrison was probably evacuated in 1621.15
THE DUTCH ABANDON THE MARIEKO FORT AT TIDORE
Already in June 1621 Coen gave the order to dismantle the forts of Kalamata, Marieko and Sabua. This order caused the firm opposition of the sultan of Ternate and his council, who judged at least the forts of Kalamata and Sabua to be of fundamental importance, the first for the defense of Malayo from Spanish incursions, the second for the supply of food. To appease the spirits of Ternatese, the order to dismantle the forts of Kalamata and Sabua was not carried out, on condition that at least 100 families of Ternate were left in Kalamata to provide for the maintenance of the fort.
Instead, only the fort of Marieko was dismantled and abandoned, which the Spaniards promptly occupied and rebuilt the fortifications and placed a garrison there. Even, mockingly, the Spanish offered the Dutch governor Frederik Houtman the powder in case he wanted to destroy and abandon other forts. The dates of the abandonment of Marieko by the Dutch and the occupation of the fort by the Spanish are to be placed between the end of 1621 and the beginning of 1622.16
However, the episodes of skirmishes between the Spanish and the Dutch and their allies continued even in this historical period. Between 1622 and 1621, upon Dutch request, a flotilla of 25 Ternatese Korakoras attacked and captured a Spanish galleon in the waters of Ternate, 130 people were captured, the other 200 of whom 40 Spaniards died in the battle.17
As far as religious affairs are concerned, from 1620 to 1623 the Augustinian friar Silvestre de Torres was prior of Ternate.18 There is also an episode of martyrdom to record: On 30 August 1622 the Franciscan friar Blas de Palomino was killed in the kingdom of Tagolanda (he had arrived in Ternate in 1619).19 At the end of December 1622, Jacques Lefebre became Dutch governor of the Moluccas he will remain in office until 1628.20
INDEX
1: The first contacts of the Spaniards with the Moluccas
2: The conquest of Ternate
3: The government of Juan de Esquivel, May 1606-March 1609
4: The government of Lucas de Vergara Gabiria (acting the functions), March 1609-February 1610
5: The government of Cristóbal de Azcueta Menchaca (who performs the duties), February 1610-March 1612
6: The government of D. Jerónimo de Silva, March 1612-April 1617
7: The government of Lucas de Vergara (Bergara) Gabiria (second term), April 1617-February 1620
8: The government of D. Luis de Bracamonte (who performs the functions), February 1620-1623
9: The government of Pedro de Heredia, 1623-1636
10: The government of D. Pedro Muñoz de Carmona y Mendiola (who performs the functions), March (?) 1636-January 1640
11: The last Spanish governors of the Moluccas
12: Bibliography
NOTES:
1 (La Llave “Trienio” 13, cap. 14, p. 1210) (“Report of events, 1620” Blair vol. 19 pp. 60-61) (Pérez pp. 621-622) (Letter from Fajardo to King Felipe III, 1620 in Blair vol. 19 pp. 110-111)
2 (“Report of events, 1620” Blair vol. 19 pp. 59-60)
3 (Letter from Fajardo to King Felipe III, 1620 in Blair vol. 19 p. 123, 140)
4 (Rios Coronel, Hernando de los “Memorial y relacion…” 1621, Madrid, Spagna. In: Blair, E. H. e Robertson, J. A. “The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898” vol. 19 (1620-1621), p. 290)
5 (Rios Coronel, Hernando de los “Memorial y relacion…” 1621, Madrid, Spagna. In: Blair, E. H. e Robertson, J. A. “The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898” vol. 19 (1620-1621), p. 259-264)
6 (Rios Coronel, Hernando de los “Memorial y relacion…” 1621, Madrid, Spain. In: Blair, E. H. e Robertson, J. A. “The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898” vol. 19 (1620-1621), pp. 292-297)
7 (Letter from Fajardo to King Felipe III, 1620 in Blair vol. 19 p. 110)
8 (“News from the province of Filipinas, 1621” In: Blair, E. H. e Robertson, J. A. “The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898” vol. 20 (1621-1624), p. 31) (“Letter from Fajardo to the King, July 21, 1621” In: Blair, E. H. and Robertson, J. A. “The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898” vol. 20 (1621-1624), pp. 58-59 and p. 73) ( “Letter from Jeronimo de Silva to the King, August 1, 1621” In: Blair, E. H. and Robertson, J. A. “The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898” vol. 20 (1621-1624), p. 107)
9 (“News from the province of Filipinas, 1621” In: Blair, E. H. e Robertson, J. A. “The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898” vol. 20 (1621-1624), p. 31) (“Letter from Fajardo to the King, July 21, 1621” In: Blair, E. H. and Robertson, J. A. “The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898” vol. 20 (1621-1624), pp. 58-59 and p. 73) ( “Letter from Jeronimo de Silva to the King, August 1, 1621” In: Blair, E. H. and Robertson, J. A. “The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898” vol. 20 (1621-1624), p. 107)
10 (Tiele “De Europeërs in den Maleischen archipel” 1887 pp. 271-277) (“Instructie voor F. Houtman, gegeven te Ambon, 11 Juni 1621”)
11 (AGI “Carta de Niño de Távora con noticias de Terrenate de Heredia, 20-07-1626” Filipinas,20,R.20,N.140 ) (AGI “Carta de Niño de Távora sobre liberar a rey de Terrenate, 30-10-1626” Filipinas,20,R.20,N.151)
12 (“Letter from Fajardo to the King, 21 July 1621” In: Blair, E. H. e Robertson, J. A. “The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898” vol. 20 (1621-1624), p. 49)
13 (Pérez pp. 622-623)
14 (Tiele, P.A. “De Europeans in the Malayan Archipelago, 1618-1623” pp. 272-273)
15 (AGI Filipinas,7,R.5,N.65 “Carta de Fajardo de Tenza sobre asuntos de gobierno, 10-12-1621”)
16 (“Instructie voor F. Houtman, gegeven te Ambon, 11 Juni 1621”)(Tiele, P.A. “De Europeans in the Malayan Archipelago, 1618-1623” pp. 272-273) (Pérez p. 622) (Fr. Gregorio de S. Esteban “Historia de las Islas Malucas” p. 133) (“Rapport gedaen by verscheyden persoonen (1622)” In: “Kronijk Hist. Gen. 1871, p. 327)
17 (Tiele, P.A. “De Europeans in the Malayan Archipelago, 1618-1623” p. 276)
18 (Friar Juan de Medina “History of the Augustinians in the Philippine Islands” In: Blair, E. H. e Robertson, J. A. “The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898” vol. 22, p. 80 nota 34)
19 (“Early Franciscan Missions” In: Blair, E. H. e Robertson, J. A. “The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898” vol. 35 p. 293 nota 79)
20 (Generale Missiven I p. 177 nota 4)
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