Miguel López de Legazpi

Timeline

1. c. 1502–1564New Spain · MexicoLegazpi was born in Spain and later went to New Spain as a municipal official, accumulating administrative and colonial management experience; in 1564 he was appointed governor of the Philippine expedition, tasked with completing the eastern colonial enterprise left unfinished by Magellan.
2. 1565–1570Cebu · CebuIn 1565 the fleet arrived in Cebu and established the first permanent settlement, allying with local chieftains; over the following years they gradually explored and conquered the Visayas and Luzon, paving the way for Spanish rule in the Philippines.
3. 1571–1572Manila · LuzonIn 1571 he captured Maynila on Manila Bay, driving out the local sultanate forces and establishing it as the capital; he died in Manila the following year (1572), and the colonial structure he built became the political center of Spanish Philippines thereafter.