June 1, 1823, it was a very dark, gloomy night in Manila[1], the center of Spanish power and prestige in one of its remaining colonial possessions, the Philippine islands. Being detached from the rebellious New Spain in which declared itself an empire two years later, it became a royalist bastion of the former viceroyalty of the felon king Ferdinand VII, which recently cracked down on liberalism and ideas of the Enlightenment once the war in Europe had finally ended. All those who were inside the city, including the predecessor and now liutenenant-general Mariano Fernandez de Folgueras, were asleep with comfort and ready for the next day. The current captain-general, Jose Antonio Martinez, was outside the capital for relative reasons.
Manila, capital of the Spanish East Indies
On the very same night, at around 10:00pm, a certain captain aged approximately 27 by the name of Andres Novales, along with his camp-de-aide Ruiz Calba[2] and various disgruntled, mostly criollo officers revolted in the capital, gradually took over the entirety of the capital, including important government buildings such as the cabildo, the Manila Cathedral, military facilities, etc.
Rebels confronting loyalists to join the mutiny, 1823
During the chaos, the mutineers turned their attention to find Martinez, which was outside of the capital at the time. Failing to find the peninsular, they instead turned towards Folgueras, where he was stabbed by Calba in the name of his superior, who otherwise declared himself Emperor of the Philippines. Other authorities who opposed were subsequently arrested. Novales, on the other side of the mutiny detained several European officers, including some fellow criollos, which he treated as brothers-in-arms with great courtesy although their arrest was deemed necessary to prevent them from escaping. The only obstacle left to secure absolute freedom for them was Fort Santiago, guarded by the emperor's own brother Mariano.
Around this time, Andres arrived near at the fort, in which he persuaded his brother on joining the revolt. Mariano at first refused, until the younger brother promised to grant him the title of commander-in-chief of an army soon to be established in the future. This finally persuaded his brother to join the movement, and by the next day, the entirety of the capital was in rebel hands. With all of this happening, the soldiers shouted and cheered for their emperor, while the townsfolk, to the surprise of the rebels, joined their cause.
Martinez, learning through two Indios who escaped the city in order to alert him about the incident, immediately gathered soldiers, and from there galloped and presented themselves outside the Manila walls to an engagement with the rebels. As this was happening, Novales prepared to defend the town; and at the first gun that was fired, the valorous governor fled, leaving his division without a Commandant. Lieutenant- colonel Santa-Romana, who was senior officer, seeing this specimen of his General's bravery, took the command, and commenced a vigorous attack.
However, after a brief success, artillery and ammunition were carried by the orders of Mariano were brought to the frontlines, initiating a brutal attack where cannons tore down enemy lines, and in a mode of panic, the Spanish soldiers ran for their lives, having taken refuge in the surrounding towns.
Manila townsfolk celebrating the rebel victory in a game
Having achieved victory against the Spanish, the emperor triumphantly marched towards the Plaza, and in front of an enthusiastic crowd, remarked his short speech before them:
The crowd and the soldiers once again cheered the emperor with enthusiasm, and the military officers celebrated all night in the Palacio del Gobernador.
[1] - Only consisted of Intramuros before 1901
[2] - Known only by the name of Ruiz in OTL
Manila, capital of the Spanish East Indies
Rebels confronting loyalists to join the mutiny, 1823
During the chaos, the mutineers turned their attention to find Martinez, which was outside of the capital at the time. Failing to find the peninsular, they instead turned towards Folgueras, where he was stabbed by Calba in the name of his superior, who otherwise declared himself Emperor of the Philippines. Other authorities who opposed were subsequently arrested. Novales, on the other side of the mutiny detained several European officers, including some fellow criollos, which he treated as brothers-in-arms with great courtesy although their arrest was deemed necessary to prevent them from escaping. The only obstacle left to secure absolute freedom for them was Fort Santiago, guarded by the emperor's own brother Mariano.
Around this time, Andres arrived near at the fort, in which he persuaded his brother on joining the revolt. Mariano at first refused, until the younger brother promised to grant him the title of commander-in-chief of an army soon to be established in the future. This finally persuaded his brother to join the movement, and by the next day, the entirety of the capital was in rebel hands. With all of this happening, the soldiers shouted and cheered for their emperor, while the townsfolk, to the surprise of the rebels, joined their cause.
Martinez, learning through two Indios who escaped the city in order to alert him about the incident, immediately gathered soldiers, and from there galloped and presented themselves outside the Manila walls to an engagement with the rebels. As this was happening, Novales prepared to defend the town; and at the first gun that was fired, the valorous governor fled, leaving his division without a Commandant. Lieutenant- colonel Santa-Romana, who was senior officer, seeing this specimen of his General's bravery, took the command, and commenced a vigorous attack.
However, after a brief success, artillery and ammunition were carried by the orders of Mariano were brought to the frontlines, initiating a brutal attack where cannons tore down enemy lines, and in a mode of panic, the Spanish soldiers ran for their lives, having taken refuge in the surrounding towns.
Manila townsfolk celebrating the rebel victory in a game
On this very day of June 2, the one thousand-eight hundred-twenty-third year of our Lord, I stand beside the townsfolk of the former Spanish capital that, from now on, the battle for the independence of our beloved country has now began against the tyrannical forces of the felon king in Madrid. For over 2 centuries and a half, we, the Indios, mestizos, sangleyes and criollos served faithfully to the cause of Mother Spain in quelling various revolts and uprisings, and even foreign invasions that would otherwise cause the destruction of our beloved home, here in the Far East.
But now, Mother Spain has fallen into a deep state of decline steered even more by the oppressive and corrupt friars and peninsulars who otherwise claimed that God had chosen them to ran this empire. This, my fellows was the cause for our brethren on the other side to revolt and fight to the last man for their independence as well.
I, now therefore, declare that this archipelago of the Far East, shall now be an independent nation just like the former British colonies of the New World that inspired our Hispanic brothers from the other side to revolt for theirs. Not even a single inch of Philippine soil shall remain in Spanish hands and the Almighty shall guide us into this road of independence. Long live the Empire! Long live the Philippines and its people! Long live this freedom!
Down to the oppressive friars and of the Peninsulars!
Andres I, Emperor of the Philippines at the Palacio del Gobernador, June 2, 1823
The crowd and the soldiers once again cheered the emperor with enthusiasm, and the military officers celebrated all night in the Palacio del Gobernador.
[1] - Only consisted of Intramuros before 1901
[2] - Known only by the name of Ruiz in OTL
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