Spice Islands
Urdaneta and the dwindling remnants of the expedition remained in the Spice Islands for more than eight years, fighting a losing effort against the Portuguese to maintain a presence in the region. Unbeknownst to them, in 1529 Charles V signed the Treaty of Zaragoza which effectively recognized Portuguese control of the Spice Islands. Late in 1530, when Urdaneta first learned of the treaty from the new Portuguese commander, Gonçalo de Pereira, he refused to believe it.