Juan Niño de Tabora facts for kids

Juan Niño de Tabora was an important Spanish general and official. He served as the Governor-General of the Philippines from June 29, 1626, until he passed away on July 22, 1632. During his time, he worked to protect the Spanish colony and improve its defenses.

Early Life and Military Career

Juan Niño de Tabora was born in Galicia, a region in Spain. Like many Spanish noblemen of his time, he spent some of his younger years in the Habsburg Netherlands. There, he served in the Army of Flanders, which was a powerful Spanish army.

He also worked at the court of the Archdukes Albert and Isabella. Thanks to his influential uncle, Rodrigo Niño y Lasso, he became a special assistant to the Archduke. He was also given command of a group of soldiers called lancers. He even received a special honor, becoming a knight in the Order of Calatrava.

Becoming Governor of the Philippines

Juan Niño de Tabora was chosen to be the governor and captain general of the Philippines. He also became the president of the Royal Audiencia of Manila. This was a very important court.

He left New Spain (which is now Mexico) for the Philippines on March 25, 1626. He traveled on a large ship called a galleon, named El Almirante. On this journey, he brought a special wooden statue of the Virgin Mary. People believed this statue protected the ship during a difficult three-month trip. The ship faced many storms and even a fire.

When he arrived on June 29, 1626, Niño de Tabora made sure the statue was welcomed with a big celebration. This statue became known as Nuestra Señora de la Paz y Buen Viaje. It became a protector for the famous Manila-Acapulco galleons. Today, you can find this important statue in the church in Antipolo.

Expedition to Formosa (Taiwan)

In 1627, Governor Niño de Tabora led a group of naval ships. Their mission was to resupply the Spanish fort on Formosa (Taiwan). They also wanted to try and remove the Dutch from their fort on the island.

The group of ships was supposed to include four large galleons and other smaller vessels. However, one of the main galleons, the Concepción, was too heavy with cargo and started leaking. So, it had to stay behind. Niño de Tabora sailed on the new main ship, the San Yldefonso.

The ships set sail on August 17. This was late in the year, and bad weather was expected. The governor sent a small ship, the Rosario, ahead. It carried a lot of food for the Spanish and Filipino settlers.

Challenges at Sea

The fleet only reached northern Luzon before strong storms and winds forced the galleons to turn back. They returned to Cavite on September 6, 1627. The smaller galleys did manage to reach Formosa and saw the Dutch fort. But they also had to return. When they got back to Luzon, near Ylocos, a very strong storm sank them in the harbor.

The expedition had to be put off until the next year. Later, they learned that the Dutch in Formosa were very relieved. They were weak and had planned to leave their fort if the Spanish arrived.

Help Arrives in Formosa

Meanwhile, the Rosario successfully reached the Spanish fort with its food supply. This was the first resupply ship from Manila in over a year. The food was greatly needed because there was a shortage.

Earlier that year, the Spanish had sent Captain Antonio de Vera and twenty soldiers. They went to talk to a friendly chief near their fort to get food. At first, the Spanish and Filipinos were treated well. But then, during a hunting trip, the Formosans attacked them. Seven Spanish and Filipino soldiers, including Captain Vera, were killed. Some Formosans, including the chief, also died.

When the Rosario arrived with food and more soldiers, the Spanish decided to attack the Formosans. This was to get revenge for the earlier deaths. A force of 100 Spanish and Filipino soldiers went to the area. The Formosans ran away. The Spanish took four small ships full of rice and captured some people. They then returned to their fort without burning the villages. The Rosario returned to Manila on February 21, 1628.

Expedition to Macau

When the Spanish galleons returned to Manila, news arrived. Dutch ships were waiting to attack five Portuguese ships. These Portuguese ships were about to return to Macau from Manila, carrying valuable silver.

Since the ships were ready, Governor Niño de Tabora ordered two galleons to go with the Portuguese ships as protection. He did not go with them himself. The Portuguese paid 20,000 pesos for this escort.

Storms and Surprises

The Spanish galleons again faced many storms. After many dangers, they finally reached the coast of China, near Sanchuan. This was about 30 leagues from Macau. The Dutch had already been defeated by the Portuguese of Macau on August 25, 1627. They had left their positions. The Spanish ships had not seen any Dutch ships during their journey.

The Portuguese were upset that they had paid 20,000 pesos for an escort they didn't need. However, the Spanish ships did manage to capture some merchant ships. One was sailing from Siam to Canton with tribute for China. Two other Siamese ships were also captured. This was done to get back at Siam for taking a rich Spanish ship five years before.

The galleons finally returned to Manila on June 13, 1628. Their journey had lasted almost eight months. More than 40 men had died during this long trip.

Conflict with Jolo

In 1628, Governor Niño de Tabora set up a shipyard in the province of Camarines in Luzon. The sultan of Jolo, who had been peaceful for some years, attacked this shipyard. He captured some ships and the shipyard itself.

When the governor heard about this, he ordered a response against Jolo. A force of 200 Spanish soldiers and 1,600 Filipino allies sailed from Cebu. They landed on Jolo on April 22, 1628. They captured the village at the bottom of the hill where the king's fort was. They burned this village, along with many boats and valuable goods.

Following the governor's orders, they also found and destroyed three royal tombs. These tombs were very important to the people of Jolo. The Spanish soldiers were told not to attack the main fort, as it was too strong for their group.

Some Joloans were killed, and others were captured. Some of their prisoners were set free, but not all. A Spanish woman who had been captured by the Joloans at the shipyard was not freed. This was because they could not agree on a price for her release. The Spanish force took a lot of valuable items and did not lose any of their own men.

Other Important Events

In 1628, another Spanish force attacked rebels in the province of Cagayan, Luzon. They burned eight villages and destroyed the fields around them.

The parían, which was the Chinese living area outside the walls of Manila, was almost completely destroyed by fire in early 1628. Niño de Tabora created new rules for hiring Filipinos. These rules aimed to stop them from being treated unfairly. They also made sure Filipinos were paid for their work on public projects.

Fearing an attack from Japan, Governor Niño de Tabora worked to make Manila's defenses stronger. The old Sultan of Ternate, who had been held by the Spanish for many years, finally died in Manila.

On August 4, 1628, Niño de Tabora wrote to the king about the colony's money. He explained that the income for the previous year was 180,000 pesos from New Spain. Another 90,000 pesos came from licenses, including a tax on the Chinese. About 50,000 pesos came from other sources, like duties and selling official positions. However, the expenses were much higher, over 500,000 pesos. This money was used for church support, salaries for officials, soldier pay, and help for Ternate and Formosa. It also covered naval expenses, shipbuilding, and an embassy to China. The colony made up for the money shortage by taking forced loans and delaying salary payments.

The bridge over the Pasig River was finished after several years of building. The cost of this bridge and a Chinese hospital was paid for by the general fund of the Chinese residents.

Niño de Tabora died in Manila on July 22, 1632. The Audiencia, which had not always had a friendly relationship with the governor, took over the government. They managed the colony until the new governor, Juan Cerezo de Salamanca, arrived in 1633.

See also

In Spanish: Juan Niño de Távora para niños

• Spanish East Indies
• Spanish Filipino
• Philippine Spanish
• Chavacano
• Captaincy General of the Philippines
• Intramuros Grand Marian Procession
• Gates of Intramuros
• Fort Santiago