Ternate expedition (1582)

Ternate expedition (1582)
Part of Ternatean–Portuguese conflicts
Date 1582 Location Ternate, Moluccas Result Ternatean victory
Belligerents
Spanish Empire Captaincy General of the Philippines	Sultanate of Ternate
Commanders and leaders
Sebastian Ronquillo	Babullah of Ternate
Strength
1,800	Unknown
Casualties and losses
1,200 dead	Unknown

The Ternate expedition was a military expedition by the Spanish to establish their rule on Maluku island. The expedition failed and was the Spanish's first attempt to seize Malukus.

Background

In 1582, the Spanish governor of Philippines, Gonzalo Ronquillo de Peñalosa, was ordered by the Spanish king, Philip II, to seize the Maluku islands and other Portuguese areas and establish the Spanish authority there. An expedition was launched with a force of 300 Spaniards and 1,500 Filipinos. The command was given to the governor's nephew, Sebastian Ronquillo.

Battle

The expedition left Manilla and first sailed to Borneo then Ternate. Sebastian took Pablo de Lima, who was married to the niece of the King of Tidor, and appointed him to be the governor of Ternate. The Spanish proceeded to Ternate, where the Ternateans were determined to resist the Spanish landing, but their resistance was short as they were forced to retreat to their fort. The Spanish began erecting artillery and bombarded the walls but to no avail. The Spanish then laid a regular siege. However, a Beri-Beri epidemic broke out in the camp which wiped out two-thirds of the men, forcing Sebastian to raise the blockade and sail to Manilla.

Sources

• Zaide, Gregorio F (1957). Philippine political and cultural history. Manila: Philippine Education Co.
• Martínez de Zúñiga, Joaquín (1814). An Historical View of the Philippine Islands. Vol. I. Black, Parry, and Company.
• Sawyer, Frederic Henry Read (1900). The Inhabitants of the Philippines. S. Low, Marston.