page_title: Spanish–Moro conflict
section_title: Campaigns against Mindanao Moros
hierarchical_section_title: Spanish–Moro conflict / Wars in the 1800s / Campaigns against Mindanao Moros
caption_attribution_description: English: Two Spanish missionaries baptising a Moro convert to Roman Catholic, circa 1890.
context_page_description: The Spanish–Moro conflict was a series of battles in the Philippines lasting over several centuries. It began during the Spanish Era until the Spanish–American War when Spain finally began to subjugate the Moro people after centuries of failing to do so.
context_section_description: On January 5, 1888, Lieutenant-General Weyler became captain-general in succession to General Terrero. Upon his arrival the military forces of the Philippines numbered 12,800 men, of whom 1,400 were Spaniards (of the artillery regiment) and the balance natives. The years 1888 and 1889 were without important military operations, and in the latter year the infantry regiments were renumbered. The new names and numbers, dating from October 31, 1889, were as follows: Sixty-eighth, Sixty-ninth, Seventieth, Seventy-first, Seventy-second, Seventythird, and Seventy-fourth. The disciplinary battalion was also retained.
  The fortified isthmus from Lintogup to Tucuran, begun by Terrero, was finished in 1890, the fort of Infanta Isabel being midway at Lubig. Posts were established at Parang-Parang, Tinancu, and Macar, the latter on the Bay of Sarangani. Relations with the Mindanao Moros, especially those of Lake Lanao, a region which had not been visited by Spanish forces since the days of Corcuera, two and a half centuries before, began to be strained through the establishment of those posts, and Weyler decided that operations were necessary against further aggressions. However, the outbreak in the Caroline Islands in June, 1890, made an expedition to that distant part of the colony necessary and delayed operations in Mindanao until April, 1891. On October 15, 1890, a band of Moros surprised the settlement of Monticao, near Iligan. killing 20 natives and carrying off 24. Other attacks of a minor nature also took place. On April 16, 1891, General Weyler sailed for Mindanao, and on the 20th arrived at Parang-Parang, where 4 companies of the Spanish artillery regiment, 3 companies of the Sixty-eighth, 3 companies of the Seventysecond regiment, a section of cavalry, and 2 mountain guns were assembled.
  Two expeditionary columns were organized under Lieutenant-Colonels Marina and Hernandez and took the field on the 23d and 24 April, respectively. That of Marina, composed of the Spanish company and the three companies of the Sixty-eighth, marched from Parang upon the rancheria of Lipauan on the 23d, arriving at the place on the morning of the 24th, and discovered a fort garrisoned by 30 or 40 Moros. The place was attacked and captured, 1 Spaniard being severely wounded, and at 11 that night the return march for Parang was taken up, the latter place being reached in a sixteen-hour march of great difficulty.
  The column under Lieutenant-Colonel Hernandez, composed of one Spanish company and three companies of the Seventy-second Regiment, left Parang on the 24th against the rancheria of Buldung. The first day six rivers had to be crossed, the column bivouacking, the march being resumed the next morning. The camp that night was beside the Rio Sumased, the advance being resumed at dawn on the 26th. At half past 8 the column arrived before the cota of Buldung, which was defended by about 200 Moros. The column immediately attacked and took the fort with a loss of 2 killed, 3 severely wounded, and 5 slightly wounded, one of the latter being Lieutenant-Colonel Hernandez. Six dead Moros were seen and many were wounded. The following day the column returned to its base.
  On the 28th a force consisting of 6 companies left Parang for Baras, where a fort was constructed with a capacity of 200 men. Expeditions were also sent out through the country between Parang and Tucuran and to the lake called Lanao Chico by the Spaniards (now Dapao). The Lanao Moros. however, attacked the forces at Baras several times, in one of which attacks the Sultan of Bayat was wounded.
  On April 30 a column composed of 8 companies, commanded by Colonel Hore, of the artillery, left Baras for Maladi. where a body of Malanao Moros were reported to be fortified, and after a few hours' march the vanguard, under Lieutenant-Colonel Hernandez, discovered the Moros in a fort strongly protected. Upon seeing the Spanish force, many Moros attacked the column, but Hernandez advanced and took the fort after a hard fight. No less than 85 dead Moros. including the Sultan Benidel and 11 datos, wer
caption: Two Spanish missionaries baptising a Moro convert to Roman Catholicism, circa 1890.
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