The Battle of Mactan on April 21, 1521 is the earliest reported resistance of the natives in the Philippines against foreign invaders. Lapu-Lapu a chieftain of Mactan Island, defeated Spanish colonizers led by the Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan.
After Magellan landed on the island of Homonhon March 16, 1521, he parleyed with Rajah Calambu of Limasawa, who guided him to Cebu Island on April 7. Through Magellan's interpreter, Enrique, Rajah Humabon of Cebu became an ally. Suitably impressed by Spanish firearms and artillery, Rajah Humabon suggested that Magellan project power to cow Lapu-Lapu.
Magellan deployed 48 armored men, less than half his crew, with crossbows and guns, but could not land on Mactan since the island has a coral shoreline and lacks anchorage suitable for Spanish galleons. His crew had to wade through the surf to make landing. Eight crewmen were killed. Antonio Pigafetta, a supernumerary on the voyage who later returned to Seville, Spain, records that Lapu-Lapu had at least 1500 warriors in the battle.
Magellan was wounded in the leg, while still in the surf. As the crew were retreating, they record that Magellan was surrounded by natives and killed.
