The Rise and Fall and Rise of Magellan (Part 3): The Fall

Still wanting to reach the Moluccas, the fleet moved on, reaching Homonhon Island at the periphery of the Philippines on March 16. Enrique, Magellan's servant, who had accompanied him since Malacca days, successfully communicated with the island's inhabitants in Southern Leyte. The Filipino leaders Rajah Kulambu and Magellan proceed to perform a blood compact. Creating a small incision in their chest or arms to extract blood and mix it with rice wine, proceed to drink the concoction in a ceremony. They became blood brothers. Magellan was flattered by Rajah Kulambo's royal accommodation and, wanting to impress the host, demonstrated the Spaniards' weapons and offered their services to help subdue Raja's enemies. The wheels in Rajah Kulambo's mind started turning, and native pilots were presented to guide Magellan to a more powerful ally, Datu Humabon, in Cebu.

Datu Humabon, the ruler of Cebu, commanded several vassals under him. Lapulapu, the sovereign of Mactan, was among them, but Humabon considered him a thorn in his side. The bad blood between the two was an administration conflict about collecting taxes from traders. Similar to the present revenue-sharing issues between the national and local governments. Lapulapu insisted on exercising a certain level of autonomy, which was unacceptable to Humabon. For Datu Humabon, Lapulapu owed him big-time, since Lapulapu, a Bornean, requested to be allowed to settle in Mactan, part of his territory. Thus, Datu Humabon considered Lapulapu an ingrate, disloyal and an upstart. It was the political situation at the time Magellan arrived on the scene. Datu Humabon, a seasoned politician, considered Magellan his instrument to shift the situation in his favor, his ace in the hole. Immediately, they performed the blood compact, forming an iron-clad partnership, and together, his queen and subjects were baptized to embrace Christianity. Standard Philippine history books claimed that without a fight Humabon accepted the sovereignty of Spain. Apparently, it paints Humabon and Magellan walking, holding hands, in the background, birds chirping, rainbow in the sky, and "everything was hearts and roses." Despicable, it was a quid pro quo. Humabon agreed to all of Magellan's proposals because, in return, he would use the Portuguese to overcome his rebellious vassal, Lapulapu. The tribute, allegiance to Spain, and conversion to Christianity overinflated the ego of Magellan, which was part of Humabon's plot. He exploited and used Magellan. It was perfect opportunity for Humabon to consolidate his power in Cebu again.

Magellan the great explorer was clueless. Humabon confined to Magellan that all residents in neigboring island were willing to embrace Christianity except Lapulapu. Of course, it was a well-planned rouse. Magellan started planning to subdue the island of Mactan and bring the Visayas under the hegemony of Spain. Humabon suggested to allow several of his warriors to accompany Magellan. However, the Portuguese did not want to hear any of these because he sought to show off European military tactics and weapons prowess. The die was cast, Humabon was elated, he did not expect Magellan to swallow the bait, hook, sinker, barrel, etc. The Portuguese did the heavy lifting.

Naturally, Magellan needs to create a "casus belli" to seek justification for declaring war against Lapulapu. Hence, Magellan sends an emissary demanding that Lapulapu pay homage to Spain and convert to Christianity. For Lapulapu and his court, it displayed hubris, absurdity, and a comic play. They chased the emissaries out of the court laughing after learning that Magellan was lost, hungry, dressed in rags, several thousand miles from his country, and riding in slow carracks was threatening them with war. Unknown to Magellan, for several months, Mactan was preparing for a battle, since Humabon was intimidating them. Already, in the past, there were several clashes between the men of Humabon and Lapulapu. On the other side, Magellan's levelheaded officers and crew opposed the unnecessary battle. The Iberian "amor propio" kicked-in forcing Magellan to sail to Mactan on April 27, 1521. They arrived when the coastal water was shallow due to low tide forcing them to anchor their ship at a distance, rendering their canons useless.

The forty-nine men wearing 15 to 30-kilogram Spanish armor accompanied Magellan, wading through thigh-high water, dissipating their energy. Even before the Battle of Mactan started, the Europeans were already exhausted to challenge three divisions of experienced warriors and trained fighters. Lapulapu effectively used the terrain strategy to defeat Magellan.

Upon reaching the shores, eleven men stayed behind to guard the boat. They encountered more than one thousand men in three divisions charging down on them with loud war cries. Lapulapu used the pincer movement with two divisions on each flank and one in front. Magellan responded by forming his men into two groups, and they started fighting. The crossbow-men and musketeers shot from a distance for about half an hour. Though shots passed through the thin wooden shields, they never incapacitated the fighters. It was useless. Magellan told his men to stop firing, but his order was not heeded. The fighters covering themselves with their shields leaped, rolled, and swayed upon the discharge of muskets. Knowing that the European muskets were useless, the fighters shot so many arrows and bamboo spears at Magellan that they could hardly defend themselves. Intending to terrify the fighters, Magellan, using the same tactics in Guam, sent some men to burn the houses. When the fighters saw their houses burning, they were enraged. Some of them became "huramentado" (going amuck and suicidal) and killed two men near the houses. So many fighters charged down upon Magellan and shot his right leg with a poisoned arrow. At that point, Magellan ordered his men to retire slowly, but six or eight remained with him.

The Mactan fighters, knowing that their spears and arrows were useless in penetrating the thick armor of the Europeans, started shooting at the uncovered parts of the body, the arms and legs. So many warriors hurled spears and stones that Magellan's men could not resist. Even the canons in their ships were too far to aid them—hence the decision to slowly back down, yet still fighting with water up their knees. The men of Mactan press harder on them and continue to repeatedly pick and throw the same spear four or six times. Recognizing Magellan, so many warriors wanted a piece of him that they knocked the helmet off his head twice. The odds were overwhelming, and it is not cowardice if an average soldier decides to retreat or even surrender. However, Magellan was not an average man. He had balls of titanium alloy, so to speak, standing firmly, resolute, unyielding, a true warrior who inspired courage among his men. Thus, they continue to fight for more than an hour, refusing to take a step to retire.

Unfortunately, there were no written accounts of Lapulapu during the battle. A natural-born leader, Lapulapu defeated several Bornean pirates and soldiers raiding the Visayas. He promoted trade, helping enrich the population. He won the endearment of the people. Popular belief claimed that Lapulapu and Magellan had a sword duel, similar to Darth Vader and Obi-Wan. There was no evidence to support this story. We can imagine what he was doing during the battle. Sadly, there was no proof that Lapulapu had directly killed Magellan. Even historians were debating what he looked like. Nonetheless, as the chieftain, he successfully resisted the invaders and sent Magellan to the netherworld.

Lapulapu displayed a keen understanding of the political landscape in the Visayas region, including the dynamic interactions among various local leaders. Datu Humabon decided to align with Magellan and make a deliberate decision to strengthen his position through foreign alliances. Lapulapu knew that though Datu Humabon mas was a major chieftain, he was weak. A traitor, willing to connive with foreign forces and become slave just to consolidate power. Lapulapu understand that Humabon's decision posed a potential risk to his sovereignty and the people of Mactan. Not taking the threat of Magellan lightly, Lapulapu effectively mobilized his warriors, rallied local forces by making them understand the endangerment of the situation, and united his people against the foreign enemy.

The showdown between Magellan and Lapulapu depcited in the figure above did not happened.

During the battle, a Mactan warrior hurled a bamboo spear that grazed the face of Magellan, who instantly thrust his lance to the warrior, killing him. Unable to retrieve the lance still embedded in the warrior's body and with only a half-drawn sword, Magellan was wounded again in the arm with a bamboo spear. Seeing Magellan badly hurt, the men of Mactan hurled more spears, arrows, stones, mud, and shouts of damnation. One fighter managed to get close to Magellan, fatally wounding his left leg with a Kampilan. At that moment, Magellan knew it was the end. Memories flashed. He remembered the cry of his mother, "Don't bring your guns to town, son," thereby he fell face downward. Immediately, they rushed upon him with swords, javelins, and curses. Magellan's men, who saw their captain fall, panicked and fled to their ships. For Magellan, it was an undignified end. The Mactan warriors hacked his body into pieces and kept it as a memorial.

For the expedition, it was calamitous. They were so close to the goal. Magellan, the man bigger than his name, succeeded in navigating dangerous waters, discovered the strait that now bears his name, and bravely led his men across the uncharted Pacific Ocean but met his demise in a useless skirmish. It was an abrupt and inglorious death in the Battle of Mactan, utterly diverging his voyage's magnitude and historical significance. He was a visionary who conceived and embarked on this unprecedented journey to circumnavigate the globe. Unfortunately, he did not survive to reap the rewards of his daring adventure. Instead, he fell into a local conflict that was not even part of the plan and was a mere footnote in the grand scheme of his expedition. This sudden and seemingly senseless end of Magellan happened when they overcame the expedition's most challenging parts. It was entirely ironic and anticlimactic to his story, especially considering that another man took the glory of finally completing the historic circumnavigation he had started.

The aftermath story after the undignified death of Magellan was seldom told. The men who survived the battle would complete the drama. Remember Enrique of Malacca, the servant of Magellan who accompanied the Europeans on their voyage, serving as the interpreter. Before Magellan embarked on the Battle of Mactan, he gave instructions to free Enrique. However, his men negated. In retribution, Enrique schemed with Humabon. Death leads to more death. The expedition was in a greater uncertain situation just days after Magellan died. The remaining leaders, Juan Serrano, and Duarte Barbosa, tried their best to stay in control and deliberated on their succeeding steps.

Meanwhile, Datu Humabon's rise to power in the Visayas was attributed to his uncanny ability to control events by taking the initiative. For Datu Humabon, the Europeans were a tool already serving its purpose. After the debacle, he considered them a burden and a liability. Above all, he was seething in anger for these Europeans who failed him and their complete defeat at the hands of his sworn nemesis, Lapulapu, who dented his reputation as an ingenious strategist. It was time time to dispatch this load.

Datu Humabon knew that Enrique of Molucca had an axe to grind against the men of Magellan. He conspires with Enrique, Magellan's slave and interpreter. The new leadership, after Magellan's death, mistreated Enrique and denied his freedom. Thus, feeling betrayed, Enrique hatched a plot with Datu Humabon to trap the Spaniards. Taking the initiative, Humabon prepared a lavish farewell banquet to present a gift to his European guest before their departure. It was an elaborate and carefully concocted conspiracy. At the height of the festivities, at a prearranged signal, Humabon's men attacked and killed many of the Spanish, including Duarte Barbosa, while Juan Serrano was captured alive. The speed and brutality of the attack completely caught the Spaniards off guard. Those who remained on the ships, witnessing the massacre on shore, bailed out to completely abandon their comrades and took sail, leaving Juan Serrano on his knees, begging for rescue on the beach. The massacre reduced their numbers to weaken the expedition further. It was a renewal of the nightmarish events they faced in the past. They have to relive the horrors of murder and the terror of death. In particular, Enrique's role assumed the often disregarded but crucial part of interpreters and cultural mediators in the age of explorations. The overlooked personal conflict and loyalties can influence historical events.

If the Spaniards' battle with Lapulapu was a disaster their encounter with Humabon was a tragedy. The surviving crew of the expedition were trapped between a rock and a hard place. Losing several men, including the key leaders, severely affected their morale. They were ready to throw in the towel. They started to chew on the idea that led to a series of critical decisions defining their expedition's final phase - to burn the Concepcion. However, there were no other alternatives, and there were not enough men to sail all three remaining ships. Hence, they were left with the Trinidad and Victoria, allowing them to consolidate men and resources into the remaining vessels. Burning the Concepcion was a distressing moment, a token of how far they have fallen from its original ambition. The Armada de Molucca was a mere shadow of its former self.

During difficult times, good leaders rise to the occasion. They step up, struggle with the situation, and shape the future. Often, these men are unassuming and humble. In this case, such a man existed on the expedition. He was Juan Sebastian Elcano.