Chapter One
Introduction | Arrival of Islam | Spanish Incursions | 1600-1850 Spanish Occupation
Spanish Rule | Objectives | Significance | Methodology | The Setting
Spanish Rule | Objectives | Significance | Methodology | The Setting
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Spanish Rule in the Moro Heartland
"The first era of consolidation in the Maguindanao sultanate having come to an end, the eighteenth century opened with the forebodings of dynastic rivalry." (Mastura, A Short History of Cotabato City and Its Historic Places). Such dynastic rivalry, often involving warfare among the various groups, considerably weakened the forces of the Maguindanaos and allowed the Spanish authorities to play off opposing claimants to the Sultanate for various concessions. Rival claimants to the throne sought the recognition of the Spanish authorities and or other colonial powers in the region such as the Dutch and the British. This also came to be the case among the Tausugs of Sulu.
In 1837, Sultan Kudarat II accepted the title Feudatory King of Tamontaka from the Spanish government. In 1845, Kudarat further agreed to the establishment of a Spanish trading station in Cotabato (Dolor). In 1851, the Spaniards occupied Polloc and developed the place into a naval station. From this facility Spanish war vessels sallied up the great river toreduce Moro fortifications and effect the surrender of the ruling Sultan or Datu of the area. In 1857, the Sultan of Tumbao submitted to Spanish sovereignty. In 1861, Sultan Makakwa of Cotabato also did the same.
Though Maguindanao resistance continued upriver under the leadership of Datu Utu of Buayan, the Spanish authorities were so assured of their dominance downriver that in the reorganization of the Spanish government of Mindanao, Cotabato and Polloc constituted the central district. In 1871, the capital of the politico-military government of Mindanao was moved to Cotabato. However, the capital would later be moved back to Zamboanga.
In 1872, the Jesuits started their mission in Tamontaka to begin the process they and other missionaries had very successfully implemented in Luzon and the Visayas, gathering the populace to permanent settlements. A unique feature of this Jesuit mission was their boarding school for ransomed young slaves whom they educated to become the nucleus of the Christian community they were forming.
Because of the continuing resistance from the forces of Datu Utu and the occasional uprisings in already pacified areas, the Spaniards established camps, forts, and watchtowers in strategic places, particularly along the banks of the great river such as Cotabato, Parang, Polloc, Tamontaka, Taviran, Libungan, Reina Regente, Pikit, and Tumbao. (NDU, Historical Documentation of Spanish Landmarks in the Cotabato Valley).
In 1887, effective resistance against Spanish rule in the Cotabato region ended with the capitulation of Datu Utu. The stage was finally set for the peaceful exploitation of the area by the Spanish authorities. The stage was also set for the entrance in the Cotabato scene of the Caballeros.
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Introduction | Arrival of Islam | Spanish Incursions | 1600-1850 Spanish Occupation
Spanish Rule | Objectives | Significance | Methodology | The Setting
Spanish Rule | Objectives | Significance | Methodology | The Setting