Death
On 2 April 1672, Mata'pang and Hirao killed San Vitores and his Visayan assistant, St. Pedro Calungsod. San Vitores had baptized Mata'pang's newborn daughter without the chief's permission; Mata'pang's wife consented to the baptism according to some accounts. Some records state that Mata'pang had believed holy water used in baptism had caused the recent deaths of babies due to European diseases.
The death of the Spanish mission leader led to Spanish army reprisals against Chamorro chiefs who had decided to defend their homeland from Spanish subjugation. Bounties were offered for these chiefs' decapitated heads and many were hunted down. Under Spanish military governors, Chamorros who were anti-Spanish were massacred in their villages. European plague and warfare eventually contributed to the defeat of the Chamorros. The Chamorro - Spanish Wars lasted more than 25 years.
Read more about this topic: Diego Luis De San Vitores
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