How would it be different?
A foothold in Asia
Sailing from Mexico, Miguel López de Legazpi establishes the first Spanish settlement in the Philippines. 1565
Battle of Manila
Spanish forces conquer the Muslim trading port of Manila. It becomes the capital of the Spanish East Indies, shipping Chinese luxury goods to Mexico. 1570
‘The China Project’
Spanish officials representing the crown, the military and religious brotherhoods meet in Manila and discuss how best to invade China. 1586
King Philip II defers
Though initially supportive of the conquistadors’ plan, Philip II is distracted by the destruction of the Spanish Armada by England in 1588 and never revisits the plan to invade China. 1588
Philip approves
Aware that Chinese treasure could replenish his war chest after the defeat of the Armada, Philip II commits to the plan of the conquistadors. 1588
Japan invades Korea
Roughly 158,000 Japanese troops land in Korea with the ultimate goal of invading China. Despite initial success, combined Sino-korean forces repel the surprise attack. 1592
War on two fronts
When word reaches the conquistadors that Japan has invaded Korea, the Spanish attack from the south with an imperial army from Central America. 1592
Cambodia expedition
Seeing Cambodia as a launch pad for larger conquests in southeast Asia, the Spanish sends troops and missionaries to help the king defeat Siamese invaders. 1596 Fall of Nanjing Unable to cope with the ferocious Spanish attackers, China falls province by province as the conquistadors swiftly march their way through the country. 1594
Japan renews offensive
After peace negotiations break down, Japan attacks Korea again only to reach a military stalemate. After a change in leadership, Japan retreats in 1598. 1597 The Japanese break through With China unable to provide many soldiers to support Korea, Japan conquers the peninsula and marches onwards into Ming territory. 1597
Spanish defeat
The Cambodian expedition is a spectacular failure in which the Cambodians and Malays ultimately turn on their Iberian allies and massacre a considerable amount of them. 1599 China is carved up
Manchurian candidate
After years of fighting, the Spanish maintain control of southern China, Japan rules the northeast and the Ming only retain central provinces. 1600 The various clans of the Manchu people in northern China unify under the leadership of Nurhaci and later his son Hong Taiji, establishing the Qing dynasty. 1636 A new dynasty rises Having been defeated by foreign powers, Ming China’s generals and aristocrats abandon the ruling dynasty in favour of new leadership. 1605
Chinese financial crisis
An economic breakdown is partially caused by King Philip IV of Spain regulating the amount American silver exported to China. It leads to widespread peasant revolts led by Li Zicheng, a former minor Ming official. 1640 New New Spain Spanish China is governed by newly appointed dukes, marquises and viceroys while Catholic missionaries begin converting the population to Christianity. 1610
Fall of the Ming dynasty
After a rebel army invades Beijing, the last Ming ruler, the Chongzhen Emperor, hangs himself in a tree outside the Forbidden
City. The Qing fill the power vacuum. 1644 Thirty Years’ War Bankrolled by Chinese loot, Philip IV is able to build a bigger and better mercenary army that helps tip the balance in Spain’s favour during the European power struggle. 1618