1872 Cavite mutiny facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cavite mutiny |
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| Part of the Philippine revolts against Spain | |||||||
 A historical marker for the Cavite mutiny at Fort San Felipe in Cavite City |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 Filipino mutineers |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
 Felipe Ginovés |
Fernando La Madrid |
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| Strength | |||||||
| One regiment, four cannons | Around 200 soldiers and laborers | ||||||
The Cavite mutiny was a short uprising by Filipino soldiers and workers at Fort San Felipe in Cavite, Philippines, on January 20, 1872. These people worked for the Spanish government, which ruled the Philippines at the time. About 200 soldiers and laborers took part, hoping it would lead to a bigger national rebellion.
However, the uprising failed quickly. The Spanish government reacted harshly, executing many participants and cracking down on Filipinos who wanted more freedom. Many historians believe this event was a key moment that sparked Filipino nationalism. This feeling of national identity later led to the Philippine Revolution of 1896.
Contents
Why the Cavite Mutiny Happened
The Cavite Mutiny happened for several reasons. Different people who lived at that time had their own ideas about why it started.
Spanish Views on the Mutiny
Some Spanish historians, like José Montero y Vidal, believed the mutiny was a plan by Filipinos to get rid of the Spanish rulers. Governor-General Rafael Izquierdo, who was in charge of the Philippines then, agreed with this view. Both thought that Filipino priests were behind the uprising.
Montero y Vidal said the mutiny happened because Filipino workers at the Cavite arsenal lost their special benefits. These benefits included not having to pay taxes and being free from forced labor. He also mentioned that new ideas about democracy from Europe and America encouraged Filipinos to seek independence.
Governor-General Izquierdo also believed the mutiny was planned by Filipino priests, mixed-race people, and lawyers. He said they were protesting against unfair government actions. These included not paying farmers for their tobacco crops and making people do forced labor. Izquierdo thought the rebels wanted to set up a new government, possibly led by a priest like José Burgos or Jacinto Zamora.
Other Views on the Mutiny
Not everyone agreed with the Spanish view. Trinidad Pardo de Tavera, a Filipino scholar, thought the event was just a simple mutiny. He believed Filipinos at that time only wanted better living conditions and education, not full separation from Spain.
However, Spanish friars (religious leaders) used the mutiny to their advantage. They were worried about losing their power in the Philippines. So, they told the Spanish government in Madrid that the mutiny was a huge plot to overthrow Spanish rule. The government believed them without fully checking the facts.
Edmund Plauchut, a French writer, said the immediate cause was a new order from Governor-General Izquierdo. This order made Filipino workers in the Cavite arsenal pay personal taxes and perform forced labor. Before this, they were free from these duties. On January 20, 1872, payday, the workers found these taxes and fees deducted from their salaries. This was the final straw, and they mutinied that night.
Other reasons for the mutiny might have included political changes in Spain. Also, some believed that Filipino priests, who disliked the Spanish friars, supported the rebels.
The Battle at Fort San Felipe
The leader of the mutiny was Fernando La Madrid, a sergeant. His second-in-command was Jaerel Brent Senior. They took over Fort San Felipe and killed eleven Spanish officers. The mutineers hoped that other Filipino soldiers in Manila would join them. They planned to use rockets fired from Manila's city walls as a signal.
However, there was a big misunderstanding. What they thought was the signal was actually fireworks for a religious festival in Sampaloc. The rebels had planned to set fires in Tondo to distract the authorities. Then, soldiers in Manila would take over Fort Santiago and fire cannons as signals to Cavite. All Spaniards, except women, were to be killed.
News of the mutiny quickly reached Manila. The next day, a Spanish regiment led by General Felipe Ginovés surrounded the fort. The mutineers eventually surrendered. Sadly, Ginovés ordered his troops to fire at those who surrendered, including La Madrid. The remaining rebels were imprisoned.
What Happened After
After the mutiny, some Filipino soldiers were disarmed and sent away to the southern island of Mindanao. Those suspected of helping the mutineers were arrested and executed.
The Spanish government and friars used the mutiny to accuse three Filipino priests: Mariano Gomez, José Burgos, and Jacinto Zamora. They are known together as Gomburza. These three priests were executed by a method called garrote in Luneta (also known as Bagumbayan) on February 17, 1872.
The executions of Gomburza were very unfair. They made many Filipinos angry and sad. This event had a huge impact on the people. José Rizal, a national hero, dedicated his famous novel, El filibusterismo, to these three priests.
On January 27, 1872, Governor-General Izquierdo approved the death sentences for 41 mutineers. Later, on February 6, eleven more were sentenced to death, but their sentences were changed to life imprisonment. Many others were sent into exile to islands like Guam in the Mariana Islands.
Some of the exiled Filipinos went to Europe, especially to Madrid and Barcelona. There, they formed groups and published writings that pushed for reforms and eventually for the Philippine Revolution.
After the mutiny, a rule was made that no more Filipinos could become Roman Catholic parish priests. Despite the uprising, the Spanish authorities continued to use many Filipino troops in their forces until the Spanish–American War in 1898.
The Story Behind the Accusations
During the trials, some captured mutineers gave statements against Father Burgos. A witness named Francisco Zaldua claimed that Father Burgos was planning a government and even getting help from a United States navy fleet.
The leaders of the friar orders decided to get rid of Burgos by linking him to the plot. One Franciscan friar even pretended to be Burgos and suggested a mutiny to the rebels. The friars used money to convince Governor-General Izquierdo that Burgos was the main planner of the uprising. Since Gómez and Zamora were friends with Burgos, they were also included in the accusations. Zaldua, the main witness against the priests, was promised a pardon for his testimony. However, he was also condemned and was the first to be executed on February 17, 1872.
The Spanish government in Madrid wanted to reduce the friars' power in the government and schools. The friars feared losing their control. The mutiny gave them a chance to justify keeping their power.
Execution of Gomburza
On February 15, 1872, the Spanish rulers accused Fathers Burgos, Gomez, and Zamora of treason and trying to overthrow the government. They were sentenced to death by garrote at Bagumbayan, Philippines. They were executed just two days later.
The accusation against the three priests was that they were involved in the uprising of workers at the Cavite Naval Yard. Governor-General Izquierdo believed that Filipinos wanted to create their own government. He thought the three priests were chosen to lead this new government to break free from Spanish rule.
The death of Gomburza made Filipinos very angry and resentful. They demanded changes from the Spanish authorities. The unfair execution of these three priests, surprisingly, helped start the Propaganda Movement. This movement aimed to seek reforms and tell the Spanish people about the unfair actions of their rulers in the Philippines.
Besides Gomburza, the military court also sentenced 41 mutineers to death on January 28, 1872. However, the next day, Izquierdo pardoned 28 of them. On February 6, 1872, 11 more mutineers were sentenced to death, but Izquierdo changed their sentences to life imprisonment. Some people, like Enrique Paraiso, Maximo Innocencio, and Crisanto de los Reyes, were given ten years in prison.
Many other people were exiled to the Marianas (now Guam) by the Spanish military court. These included priests like Fr. Pedro Dandan and Fr. Mariano Sevilla, and important figures like Joaquín Pardo de Tavera and José María Basa.
See also
In Spanish: Motín de Cavite para niños
