# Spanish settlement of the Philippines (1565)

URL: https://christianity-history.com/timeline/1565-spanish-settlement-of-the-philippines
Location: Cebu, Philippines
Themes: Mission

Miguel López de Legazpi establishes the first permanent Spanish settlement at Cebu, accompanied by Augustinian friars. Other orders follow, and the islands are largely Christianised within a century. At this point in the timeline (1565), the Bishop of Rome was Pope Pius IV (26 December 1559 – 9 December 1565).

## Why it matters
The Philippines became the first predominantly Christian country in Asia.

Pope at the time: [Pope Pius IV](https://christianity-history.com/popes/pope-pius-iv)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia — Miguel López de Legazpi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miguel_L%C3%B3pez_de_Legazpi)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica topic lookup — Spanish settlement of the Philippines](https://www.britannica.com/search?query=Spanish+settlement+of+the+Philippines)
- [Wikipedia — Reformation (period overview)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reformation)