Warfare in pre-colonial Philippines

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Warfare in pre-colonial Philippines refers to the military history of the Philippines prior to Spanish colonization.

Background

In the pre-colonial era, the Filipinos had their own forces, divided between the islands, each one with its own ruler. These forces were called Sandigs ("Guards"), Kawal ("Knights"), and Tanods. As well as military operations, the forces provided policing and coastal watching functions.^{[citation needed]}

Tactics and strategies

The tactics and strategies prevalent during the Philippines' early historic period were shaped by the archipelagic nature of the islands.^[7]

Raiding and coastal defense

Participating in land and sea raids were an essential part of the duties of the timawa and maharlika. These raids, locally known as pangangayaw, are usually regular annual expeditions undertaken by the community (similar to the

Scorched earth tactics

The

Sri Lumay was noted for his strict policies in defending against Moro raiders and slavers from Mindanao. His use of scorched earth tactics to repel invaders gave rise to the name Kang Sri Lumayng Sugbo (literally "that of Sri Lumay's great fire") to the town, which was later shortened to Sugbo ("scorched earth").

Ambush and surprise attack tactics

Another strategy used throughout the islands were ambushes where they would lead large enemy troops into an ambush of surrounding men or attacking enemies from behind when their defenses are down. The Spanish conquistador Miguel de Loarca described the preparations and the undertaking of such raids in his book Relacion de las Yslas Filipinas (1582).^[9]

Artillery

Native bronze cannons known as

against enemy settlements during raids.

In the

Battle of Bangkusay Channel on 1571, a Spanish chronicler mentioned that the native warships was equipped with one or two culverins

, probably mistaken the lantakas due to lack of knowledge on native names.

Military technology

Melee weapons

The making of swords involved elaborate rituals that were based mainly on the auspicious conjunctions of planets. The passage of the sword from the maker entailed a mystical ceremony that was coupled with beliefs. The lowlanders of Luzon no longer used the bararao, while the Moros and animists of the south still continue the tradition of making kampilan and kris.^[10] Swords (kalis and kampilan) were either straight or wavy double-edged, with bronze or iron blades and hilts made of hardwoods, bone, antler, shell, or, for high ranking individuals, gold encrusted with precious stones.

Firearms

Firearms in the form of matchlock

Pre-colonial Filipinos also used larger cannons made of iron and resembling culverins that provided heavier firepower. They were sometimes mounted on a boat or fortification that can be wheeled, allowing the gunner to quickly track a moving target.^[10] The iron cannon at Rajah Sulayman's house was about 17 feet (5.18 m) and was made out of clay and wax moulds.^[10]

Shields

Shields were important defensive weapons in all lowland societies of the Philippines. Visayan shields, kalasag, were made of light, fibrous wood designed to enmesh any spear or dagger that penetrated its surface and to prevent their retrieval by the enemy. Shields were strengthened and decorated with an elaborate rattan binding on the front, which was also coated with a resin that turned rock-hard upon drying. These shields were generally 0.5 meters by 1.5 meters in size and, along with missile deflecting helmets, provided full body protection that was difficult to penetrate. Thus, it is not surprising that most of the raids that were successful in terms of taking captives and heads, were surprise ambushes that literally caught the enemy with their shields down.

Armor

Ancient

The Ivatan people of the northern islands of Batanes often built fortifications to protect themselves during times of war. They built their so-called idjangs on hills and elevated areas.^[17] These fortifications were likened to European castles because of their purpose. Usually, the only entrance to the castles would be via a rope ladder that would only be lowered for the villagers and could be kept away when invaders arrived.

Naval technologies

The Karakoa

Philippine ships, such as the karakoa or korkoa, were of excellent quality and some of them were used by the

Arabic author Al Ya'akubi writing in 800 CE recorded that the kingdom of Musa (Muja, which is old Brunei) was in alliance with the kingdom of Mayd (either Ma-i or Madja-as in the Philippines), against the Chinese Empire which they waged war against.^[1]

Between 1174 and 1190 CE, Chau Ju-Kua, a travelling

In 1547 CE, Luções warriors supported the Burmese king in his invasion of Siam. At the same time, Lusung warriors fought with the Siamese king against the elephant army of the Burmese king in the defence of the Siamese capital at Ayuthaya, where they were employed as traders and mercenaries.^[22][23]

In 1521, the Visayan ruler of the indigenous polity of

In 1570, the Battle of Manila was fought in Manila between the native Filipinos led by Rajah Sulayman, a vassal to the Sultan of Brunei, and the Spaniards led by Martin de Goiti, Maestre de Campo, on May 24, 1570. The forces under Goiti were victorious and as a result, Manila became the capital of the Spanish East Indies.

The Battle of Bangkusay, on June 3, 1571, was a naval engagement that marked the last resistance by locals to the Spanish Empire's occupation and colonization of the Pasig River delta, which had been the site of the indigenous polities of Maynila and Tondo. Tarik Sulayman, the chief of Macabebes, refused to ally with the Spanish and decided to mount an attack at Bangkusay Channel on Spanish forces, led by Miguel López de Legazpi. Sulayman's forces were defeated, and Sulayman himself was killed. The Spanish victory in Bangkusay and Legazpi's alliance with Lakandula of Tondo, enabled the Spaniards to establish themselves throughout the city and its neighboring towns.

When the Spanish forces of Miguel López de Legazpi first established the City of Manila in 1571, Cainta was one of the surrounding polities who went to Manila to negotiate for friendship with Manila. However, Cainta's envoys noted the small size of Legaspi's forces and decided to withdraw their offer of friendship, since Cainta was a fortified polity which was perfectly capable of defending itself. In August 1571, Legazpi assigned his nephew, Juan de Salcedo, to "pacify" Cainta. After travelling several days upriver, Salcedo lay siege to the city, and eventually found a weak spot on the wall. The final Spanish attack over 400 residents of Cainta killed.

From 1660 to 1673, the

• History of the Philippines
• History of the Philippines (900–1521)
• Armed Forces of the Philippines
• Philippine Revolutionary Army
• Burmese–Siamese War
• Cultural achievements of pre-colonial Philippines
• Maharlika
• Timawa
• Juramentado
• List of wars involving the Philippines
• List of conflicts in the Philippines
• Battle of the Philippines

References