abstract
| - The Kingdom of Tondo (Tagalog: Kaharian ng Tundu; Early Han: 王国⼟東都, tr. Hwanggwou no Tondo) was a Han kingdom centred on present-day Hanyang – specifically the historical Maynila district (now referred to as the Imperial district). Tondo dates as early as at least the ninth century, though the feudalistic barangay principalities that comprise it originate as early as the third century. The earliest written text from Tondo is the Laguna Copperplate Inscription. Originally confined to the surrounding maritime area, Tondo grew rapidly territoriality under the campaigns of thirteenth century monarch Rajah Alon. It affirmed independence after emerging triumphant from the Battle of Maynila. Capitalizing on the Hai jin policy, it monopolized maritime trade and became a major thalassocratic regional power. This led to an extensive trading network that ranged as far west as the Maldives, and as far north as Japan, becoming a maritime segment of the famous Silk Road. Tondo cooperated with the Bruneian Empire to further cement this monopoly. However, under the reign of Sultan Bolkiah, Brunei betrayed Tondo and with the aid of the newly converted Prince Sulayman, almost annexed Tondo. However, intervention from the Ming allowed it to retain its independence; at a cost. For the next century, Tondo was partly forced to become a protectorate of the Ming. The powers of the Lakandula was greatly marginalized, subject to heavy Ming influence, they became de facto puppet rulers. In order to further control its tributaries, the Ming allowed Tondo to absorb the sinicized Pangasinan and Ma-i, while the gradual adoption of Chinese culture began. Eventually, the rapid Spanish colonization of Shonanmin alarmed Ming authority, who saw Tondo's importance as a buffer state. Tondo was modernized under Chinese models and the Lakandula reconsolidated royal power. Spanish efforts towards colonization were repelled in the Han–Spanish War, securing its independence. Furthermore, the arrival of hundreds upon thousands of Ming royalist migrants (known as Chuugwourin) bolstered territorial legitimacy. However, a combination of a long entrenched power struggle with the orthodox and reformist factions of the imperial court, the withdrawal of Ming support, and fiscal crisis led to a brief dynastic change. The succeeding dynasty's collapse was followed by the Warring States period, under which former Tondo balkanized into a dozen states. Tondo established the layout of a unified Han state, whereas feudalism and the inclusion of only mostly kinships within barangay had impeded trans-island unity in the past. Tondo also marked the beginning of Chinese influence, and the nationalization of Tagalog culture (the ancestral group of the Han people).
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