Spanish Formosa

Spanish Formosa was a short-lived colony of the Spanish Empire in the northern tip of Taiwan, which Europeans then called Formosa. It was founded in 1626, when a Spanish expedition from Manila occupied Keelung and built the fort of San Salvador, partly to protect the Manila galleon trade and the Chinese and Japanese shipping that passed the island from Dutch interference. The colony depended on the Spanish East Indies and, through them, on New Spain. It never became self-supporting: Manila was unwilling to send enough soldiers and money, and the settlers suffered from disease and conflict with local communities. In 1642 a Dutch force from their own colony in the south besieged and captured the last Spanish fort, and the survivors were allowed to leave for Manila. Spanish friars ran missions in the surrounding villages, and the garrison depended on supplies shipped from Manila. The brief Spanish presence left few traces apart from forts and place names.