Limahong

From WikiPilipinas: The Hip 'n Free Philippine Encyclopedia

Invasion of Limahong - painted by Carlos "Botong" Francisco, 1956.

Lim Ah Hong (a.k.a. Limahong or Lin Tao Kien) was a Chinese pirate who invaded the northern islands of the Philippines and tried to seize the City of Manila from the Spanish in 1574.

1 Origin
2 Arrival in the Philippines
3 Attempts to take over Manila
4 Legends
5 Reference
6 Citation

[edit] Origin

Limahong was born as Dim Mhon to parents with questionable morals, in a province of China called Cuytan. Exposed to vices, he resorted to criminal activities, including robbery, at an early age. He met and became a protege of an old pirate, Tial-lao. When Tial-lao died, Lim became his heir, inheriting the old pirate's fleet and around 2,000 pirates. His numerous attacks on ports and ships throughout southern China made the authorities issue a warrant for his capture. This brought him to pursue his criminal activities on higher seas, far from China's reach.

He was able to accumulate 40 ships which increased to 95 ships when he took over the fleet of another pirate, Vin To Quiam. He came to be the notorious king of the waters of southern China.

[edit] Arrival in the Philippines

It was in late 1573 that an army of 3,000 outlaws, bandits, and pirates led by Limahong arrived at the island of Luzon. There, they established a kingdom and waged war against the Spaniards.

In early 1574, their fleet fled to Ilocos Sur and had a run-in with its Spanish commander, Juan de Salcedo. The pirates were driven away by the Spaniards.

[edit] Attempts to take over Manila

When they fled from Ilocos Sur, Limahong learned that Manila was an unprotected city though already occupied by the Spaniards. He decided to take over Manila and make it his kingdom. He attacked the city in 1574 with 64 ships but failed. However, he was able to kill Martin de Goiti of the first Spanish expeditionary force and several Filipinos under the leadership of Rajah Lakandula. He also burned the city.

From this unsuccessful attempt, he led his fleet to what is now Pangasinan. He was trailed by a ship under Governor-General Guido de Lavezaris, who found him settling a colony in Lingayen, Pangasinan. The people of Pangasinan became hostages in their own province as Limahong fought against a seven-month siege by Juan de Salcedo's army. He was defeated and fled the province in 1574.

The "Limahong Channel," dug over six months, served as the pirate's escape route. According to Restituto Basa, author of Footnotes on Pangasinan History and The Story of Dagupan, Limahong married a certain Princess Kabontatala who helped him dig this channel^[1]. A marker has been placed at the channel commemorating his failed attempts to occupy Manila.

[edit] Legends

There are many different tales told about Limahong, with unknown degrees of historical accuracy. From Filipino-Chinese website, tsinoy.com:

“

He was from a Chinese Noble family; did something that offended the Emperor or Empress of the day, to the extent that his life was forfeit; his family being noble by birth hired a pirate to scurry him away from danger. He was leaving his homeland forever. This pirate sailed south to the natural harbor at Batangas, Nasugbu and as far north as safe harbor in Pampanga with Lim Ah Hong in tow. Lim Ah Hong, took to the pirate who saved him; became as a son. When the pirate died, Lim Ah Hong being as a son inherited the fleet; and being of noble birth was a natural leader.

He was very successful at relieving the Spanish Armada of their gold which is why he began to appear in history books and ships' logs. One of his safe harbors was Batangas with its deep waters. Lim Ah Hong found the local ladies to his liking. He took a wife but as a Chinese Warlord was allowed as many concubines as he could afford, thus he populated the province of Batangas with his wife and countless concubines; who gave forth progeny, of whom we are the direct descendants. The name Lim Ah Hong became bastardized into Limjoco because of the Spanish influence of pronouncing the 'J' as 'H'. ^[2]

”

[edit] Reference

"LIMAHONG : Pirate Prince of Pangasinan." (accessed on January 17, 2008)
Morga, Antonio de. (2004). The Project Gutenberg Edition Book: History of the Philippine Islands - 1521 to the Beginning of the XVII Century. Volume 1 and 2.