José Rizal was executed by the Spanish colonial government on December 30, 1896, primarily for the crime of rebellion, sedition, and conspiracy. Although Rizal was not actively involved in planning or conducting the Philippine Revolution that broke out in 1896, his writings inspired the revolutionaries. He was implicated in the revolution through his association with members of the Katipunan, a militant secret society that led the uprising against Spanish rule. Rizal had volunteered to serve as a doctor in Cuba and was arrested while en route, then brought back to Manila to stand trial. Despite opportunities to escape, he refused to do so. Convicted by a court-martial, he was sentenced to death and executed by firing squad in Manila. His execution was intended by the Spanish authorities to quell the revolution but ultimately intensified Filipino nationalist sentiments and the drive for independence.
