Lin Feng

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Lin Feng (Traditional Chinese: 林風; Simplified Chinese: 林风; pinyin: Lín Fēng) was a Chinese pirate and warlord who invaded the northern Philippine Islands in 1574.

Lin Feng was born to a poor family in China. He later became a notorious criminal who raided the eastern coast-line of China and committed many robberies, murders and rapes. He was constantly on the run from the law and from the Chinese Emperor, who wanted Lin Feng brought to justice.

In late 1573, he gathered an army of 3,000 chinese warriors, renegades and vagabonds and fled to the island of Luzon. There, he and his band of outlaws sought refuge, established their own kingdom and waged war with the Spaniards.

Lin Feng and his troops first arrived in Ilocos Sur in early 1574 where they quarrelled with the Spanish commander, Juan de Salcedo. After a brief struggle with the Spanish army, his troops were driven away from the city. Feng then went to the city of Manila where he and his warriors besieged the settlement there.

Arriving in Manila, he attacked and killed most of the small Spanish force stationed in the area, including captain-general Martín de Goiti and the native Tagalogs. Lin Feng then took possession of the city and burned it to the ground. However, he failed to keep the Spaniards out of the city.

Spanish forces, led by Salcedo, besieged Manila and re-captured the settlements later that year. Lin Feng's troops were defeated and retreated to Pangasinan where he was killed and burned by the Spaniards in 1575.

[edit] References

Morga , Antonio de. (2004). The Project Gutenberg Edition Book : History of the Philippine Islands - 1521 to the beginning of the XVII century. Volume 1 and 2.