Caraga was a province of the Philippines located in Mindanao. Its former territory was currently divided between the regions of Caraga, Davao Region, and Northern Mindanao.
| Caraga | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Province of the Philippines | |||||||||
| 1609-1860 | |||||||||
 Location of the historical province of Caraga. | |||||||||
| Capital | Tandag (1609-1754) Surigao (1754-1860) | ||||||||
| Population | |||||||||
• | 15,957 (in 1,818)[1] 29,977 (in 1,837) | ||||||||
| Historical era | Colonial Period | ||||||||
• Established | 1609 | ||||||||
• Capital moved to Surigao | 1754 | ||||||||
• Southern areas separated to form Nueva Guipúzcoa. | 1850 | ||||||||
• Disestablished | 1860 | ||||||||
| |||||||||
History
editIt was one of the 35 provinces of the Philippines, and one of the 4 provinces in Mindanao. It borders the provinces of Nueva Guipúzcoa to the south, and the province of Misamis and the non-colonized areas of Mindanao to the west. [2]
Creation
editSpaniards formed Caraga through a military garrison in 1609 to reinforce their invasion of Tandag, which became the capital of Provincia de Caraga, covering the eastern part of Mindanao. [3]
Tandag was chosen as the capital because of its strategic location and because of the stonefort, which was primarily intended for protection from Moro attacks.
In 1754, the fort of Tandag was reduced to ashes by Moro attacks. The provincial capital was transferred to Surigao. This was triggered by the continuous attacks of the Moros and the final annihilation of Tandag Fort.
In 1848, José Oyanguren headed an exploration to occupy lands in the Davao Gulf. A year later, He also founded the town of Nueva Vergara.
In 1850, The southern portion of Caraga was separated to form the province of Nueva Guipúzcoa with the town of Nueva Vergara as its capital. Oyanguren served as its first governor.
Dissolution
editThe province was dissolved in 1860 when the royal decree of 1860 reorganized Mindanao into six politico-military districts. The areas controlled by Caraga was organized into the Eastern (Oriental) District, later named Surigao. [4]
References
edit- ^ Peru - Primates, Volume 18. 1840. p. 89.
- ^ A Descriptive Dictionary of the Indian Islands & Adjacent Countries. John Crawfurd. 1856. p. 83.
- ^ "About Caraga". nr13.neda.gov.ph. National Economic and Development Authority.
- ^ Neal, Charlotte Elizabeth (1915). Provincial Government in the Philippines. University of California. p. 102.