Miguel Lopez de Legaspi appointment as Governor of Cebu

In the book “Glimpses in History of Early Cebu” Lina Quimat quotes the royal decree from the King of Spain conferring Legaspi as the Governor and Captain-General of Cebu.

For brevity, excerpts of the order is quoted: “…and inasmuch as he was pleased with you, Miguel Lopez de Legaspi, and with your merits and services rendered, and name and appointed you captain general of the abovementioned fleet and its men; and inasmuch as having pursued our voyage and route, you discovered the islands and settled in one of them, called Cubu; and with your men disembarked there, fought against several towns, and built a fortress for the defense of the said island and its inhabitants…”

“...It is our will that henceforth, as long as you live, you shall be our governor and captain general of the island of Cubu, and of the other settlements which you or any other person whatsoever may hereafter make in the island. You are also empowered to administer our civil and criminal justice, in company with the officers of justice who may be appointed in the said island and settlement. By this our ordinance, we command municipal bodies, courts, magistrates, knights, squires, officials, and good men, in all the cities, towns, and hamlets, which shall exist or be colonized in the said island and province, and our officials and others residing therein, each and every one of them, as soon they shall be required-without awaiting or expecting any other ordinance, second order, or third injunction from us- to take and receive from you, the said Miguel Lopez de Legaspi, the oath and formality requisite in such case, and which you must fulfill. After you have done this, you shall be recognized, received, and regarded as our captain-general of the said island and settlement, as long as you live… It is, moreover, our pleasure and order that you shall have and receive an annual salary of two thousand ducats or seven hundred and fifty thousand maravedas in consideration of the said offices… Let no person act in any manner contrary to this decree. Given in Madrid, August fourteen, one thousand five hundred and sixty-nine. I, the King”

The official founding of the Province of Cebu should have been August 14, 1569, the date of the appointment of Legaspi as Governor of Cebu. The officialdom of Legaspi was, however, short-lived as he was driven out of Cebu to Manila by King Tupas on April 27, 1571. Legaspi died on August 20, 1572, he was succeeded by his nephew, Juan de Salcedo. Years later, Manila was bestowed by king Felipe II on June 21, 1574 the title “Distinguished and Ever Loyal City.”