The Spanish East Indies (Indias orientales españolas) were the Spanish territories in Asia-Pacific from 1565 until 1898. With the seat of government in Manila, they extended to the Philippine Islands, Guam and the Mariana Islands, the Caroline Islands (Palau and the Federated States of Micronesia), and for a period of time, Sabah, and parts of Formosa (Taiwan) and the Moluccas. From 1565 to 1821 these territories were part of the Viceroyalty of New Spain based in Mexico City, and after Mexican independence they were ruled directly from Madrid. Following the Spanish–American War in 1898, most of the islands were occupied by the United States while the remaining territories were sold to Germany during the German–Spanish Treaty of 1899. The King of Spain traditionally styled himself "King of the East and West Indies" (Rey de las Indias orientales y occidentales). Administrative affairs were handled by the Captaincy General of the Philippines and the Royal Audience of Manila.
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Famous quotes containing the words spanish, east and/or indies:
“The Bermudas are said to have been discovered by a Spanish ship of that name which was wrecked on them.... Yet at the very first planting of them with some sixty persons, in 1612, the first governor, the same year, “built and laid the foundation of eight or nine forts.” To be ready, one would say, to entertain the first ship’s company that should be next shipwrecked on to them.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“Senta: These boats, sir, what are they for?
Hamar: They are solar boats for Pharaoh to use after his death. They’re the means by which Pharaoh will journey across the skies with the sun, with the god Horus. Each day they will sail from east to west, and each night Pharaoh will return to the east by the river which runs underneath the earth.”
—William Faulkner (1897–1962)
“It is my duty to prevent, through the independence of Cuba, the U.S.A. from spreading over the West Indies and falling with added weight upon other lands of Our America. All I have done up to now and shall do hereafter is to that end.... I know the Monster, because I have lived in its lair—and my weapon is only the slingshot of David.”
—José Martí (1853–1895)