Jump to content

Battle of Blaye: Difference between revisions

Coordinates: 45°07′48″N 0°40′12″W / 45.1300°N 0.6700°W / 45.1300; -0.6700
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Content deleted Content added
Monkbot (talk | contribs)
m Task 15: language icon template(s) replaced (7×);
names of sea-officers as per sources.
Line 26: Line 26:
|combatant1 ={{flagcountry|Kingdom of England}}<br>''Supported by'':<br>{{flagicon|Kingdom of France|valois}} [[Henry IV of France|France of Henry IV]]
|combatant1 ={{flagcountry|Kingdom of England}}<br>''Supported by'':<br>{{flagicon|Kingdom of France|valois}} [[Henry IV of France|France of Henry IV]]
|combatant2 ={{flag|Spain|1506}}
|combatant2 ={{flag|Spain|1506}}
|commander1 =[[Peter Houghton (naval officer)|Peter Houghton]] {{KIA}}<br>Captain Lallmiraille
|commander1 =[[Wilkenson (naval officer)|Admiral Wilkenson]] {{KIA}}<br>[[Brailford (naval officer)|Vice-Admiral Brailford]] {{KIA}}<br>Captain Limaille
|commander2 =[[Pedro de Zubiaur]]<br>[[Joanes de Villaviciosa Lizarza|Joanes de Villaviciosa]]
|commander2 =[[Pedro de Zubiaur]]<br>[[Joanes de Villaviciosa Lizarza|Joanes de Villaviciosa]]
|strength1 =''First battle:'' 6 [[galleon]]s<ref name="José Ortiz y Sanz 01"/><br>''Supported by'':<br>11–19 to 40–60 French and English ships<ref name="Fernández Duro 02"/><br>(Including 6 [[galleass]]es)<ref name="Fernández Duro 03">''Al ruido de la artillería bajaron de Burdeos 19 navíos con otros menores de Broage, que llegaban en suma 60 velas, tratando de cerrar el paso y envolver a los españoles, para lo que mucho hicieron seis galeazas de la Rochela apoyando al capitán Lallmiraille, jefe superior.'' [[Cesáreo Fernández Duro|Fernández Duro]] p.85 {{in lang|es}}</ref>
|strength1 =''First battle:'' 6 [[galleon]]s<ref name="José Ortiz y Sanz 01"/><br>''Supported by'':<br>11–19 to 40–60 French and English ships<ref name="Fernández Duro 02"/><br>(Including 6 [[galleass]]es)<ref name="Fernández Duro 03">''Al ruido de la artillería bajaron de Burdeos 19 navíos con otros menores de Broage, que llegaban en suma 60 velas, tratando de cerrar el paso y envolver a los españoles, para lo que mucho hicieron seis galeazas de la Rochela apoyando al capitán Lallmiraille, jefe superior.'' [[Cesáreo Fernández Duro|Fernández Duro]] p.85 {{in lang|es}}</ref>
Line 37: Line 37:
The '''Battle of Blaye of 1593''', also known as the '''Battle of Bec d'Ambès''' (in [[French language|French]]) or '''Battle of the Gironde Estuary''', was a naval Spanish victory that took place on 18 April 1593 off [[Blaye]] and [[Bec d'Ambès]], [[Gironde estuary|Gironde Estuary]], [[France]], during the seven-month [[Siege of Blaye (1593)|siege of Blaye]] between the French-[[Protestantism|Protestant]] forces of [[Henry IV of France|Henry of Navarre]] and the French-[[Catholic]] garrison of the city led by Governor [[Jean-Paul d'Esparbès de Lussan d'Aubeterre]], in the context of the [[French Wars of Religion]] and the [[Anglo-Spanish War (1585–1604)]].<ref name="Fernández Duro 01"/><ref name="Rivas 01"/><ref name="Gustav Ungerer 01"/><ref name="Ortega y Medina 01">Ortega y Medina p.200</ref>
The '''Battle of Blaye of 1593''', also known as the '''Battle of Bec d'Ambès''' (in [[French language|French]]) or '''Battle of the Gironde Estuary''', was a naval Spanish victory that took place on 18 April 1593 off [[Blaye]] and [[Bec d'Ambès]], [[Gironde estuary|Gironde Estuary]], [[France]], during the seven-month [[Siege of Blaye (1593)|siege of Blaye]] between the French-[[Protestantism|Protestant]] forces of [[Henry IV of France|Henry of Navarre]] and the French-[[Catholic]] garrison of the city led by Governor [[Jean-Paul d'Esparbès de Lussan d'Aubeterre]], in the context of the [[French Wars of Religion]] and the [[Anglo-Spanish War (1585–1604)]].<ref name="Fernández Duro 01"/><ref name="Rivas 01"/><ref name="Gustav Ungerer 01"/><ref name="Ortega y Medina 01">Ortega y Medina p.200</ref>


==Background==
In 1592, some ships were adquired by farmer Peter Houghton and a group of London merchants, to help Marshal Matignon attack Leaguer Blaye and defend the Gironde against a Spanish squadron from Pasajes.<ref>Richards, p. 8</ref>. Of these, six were English warships commanded by Admiral Wilkinson, Vice-Admiral Brailford and captains Johnson, Meriall, Bower and Courtney.
==Battle==
==Battle==
In April 1593, a Spanish naval force of 16 warships ([[flyboat]]s and [[Pinnace (ship's boat)|pinnaces]]) commanded by Admiral [[Pedro de Zubiaur]] and General [[Joanes de Villaviciosa Lizarza]] set out to relieve [[Blaye]]. The city was controlled by the [[Catholic League (French)|Catholic League of France]], but under heavy siege by French Royal troops, supported by English and [[Huguenots|Huguenot]] forces, commanded by Marshal [[Jacques II de Goyon de Matignon|Jacques de Goyon d'Matignon]], and blocked by sea by six English [[Galleon|warship]]-squadron under Admiral Sir [[Peter Houghton (naval officer)|Peter Houghton]].<ref name="Rivas 01"/><ref name="Fernández Duro 04">Duro p.85</ref> On 18 April the English naval force was defeated and dispersed by Zubiaur's fleet, and the Spanish troops disembarked at Blaye, relieving the [[Catholic]] forces.<ref name="Rivas 01"/><ref name="Gustav Ungerer 01"/><ref name="Fernández Duro 04"/>
In April 1593, a Spanish naval force of 16 warships ([[flyboat]]s and [[Pinnace (ship's boat)|pinnaces]]) commanded by Admiral [[Pedro de Zubiaur]] and General [[Joanes de Villaviciosa Lizarza]] set out to relieve [[Blaye]]. The city was controlled by the [[Catholic League (French)|Catholic League of France]], but under heavy siege by French Royal troops, supported by English and [[Huguenots|Huguenot]] forces, commanded by Marshal [[Jacques II de Goyon de Matignon|Jacques de Goyon d'Matignon]], and blocked by sea by six English [[Galleon|warship]]-squadron under Admiral Wilkenson. <ref>Richards, p. 279</ref> <ref name="Rivas 01"/><ref name="Fernández Duro 04">Duro p.85</ref> On 18 April the English naval force was defeated and dispersed by Zubiaur's fleet, and the Spanish troops disembarked at Blaye, relieving the [[Catholic]] forces.<ref name="Rivas 01"/><ref name="Gustav Ungerer 01"/><ref name="Fernández Duro 04"/>


Soon after, another Anglo-French fleet of 11 to 19 warships from [[Bordeaux]], supported by about 40 small vessels (including six [[galleass]]es from the port of [[La Rochelle]]), arrived at Blaye, trying to block the Spanish fleet.<ref name="Fernández Duro 04"/> After a fierce and unequal battle, amid an intense storm, the Spaniards were victorious,<ref name="Rivas 02">Rivas p.163</ref> with significant loss of life on both sides due to heavy musket fire. In the end, many ships of both fleets were dispersed by the storm, and the Spanish fleet managed to return safely to the port of [[Pasaia|Pasajes]].<ref name="Fernández Duro 04"/><ref name="Ortiz y Sanz 02">Ortiz y Sanz p.43</ref>
Soon after, another Anglo-French fleet of 11 to 19 warships from [[Bordeaux]], supported by about 40 small vessels (including six [[galleass]]es from the port of [[La Rochelle]]), arrived at Blaye, trying to block the Spanish fleet.<ref name="Fernández Duro 04"/> After a fierce and unequal battle, amid an intense storm, the Spaniards were victorious,<ref name="Rivas 02">Rivas p.163</ref> with significant loss of life on both sides due to heavy musket fire. In the end, many ships of both fleets were dispersed by the storm, and the Spanish fleet managed to return safely to the port of [[Pasaia|Pasajes]].<ref name="Fernández Duro 04"/><ref name="Ortiz y Sanz 02">Ortiz y Sanz p.43</ref>
Line 58: Line 61:


==References==
==References==
* Bruce Wernham, Richard. ''List and Analysis of State Papers, Foreign Series: May 1592-June 1593''. H.M. Stationery Office, 1964.
* Fernández Duro, Cesáreo (1898). ''Armada Española desde la unión de los reinos de Castilla y Aragón.'' Vol. III. Madrid. {{in lang|es}}
* Fernández Duro, Cesáreo (1898). ''Armada Española desde la unión de los reinos de Castilla y Aragón.'' Vol. III. Madrid. {{in lang|es}}
* José Ortiz y Sanz. [https://books.google.com/books?id=SGaxhsBFs1EC&printsec=frontcover&hl=es#v=onepage&q&f=false ''Historia General de España''. Vol. VII]. Third Edition, Madrid (1846). {{in lang|es}}
* José Ortiz y Sanz. [https://books.google.com/books?id=SGaxhsBFs1EC&printsec=frontcover&hl=es#v=onepage&q&f=false ''Historia General de España''. Vol. VII]. Third Edition, Madrid (1846). {{in lang|es}}

Revision as of 06:16, 4 October 2020

Battle of Blaye (1593)
Part of the Anglo-Spanish War (1585–1604) and the French Wars of Religion

View of the Gironde Estuary from the ruins of the Citadel of Blaye (2010)
Date18 April 1593
Location
Result

Spanish victory[1][2]

Belligerents
 England
Supported by:
Kingdom of France France of Henry IV
 Spain
Commanders and leaders
Admiral Wilkenson  
Vice-Admiral Brailford  
Captain Limaille
Pedro de Zubiaur
Joanes de Villaviciosa
Strength
First battle: 6 galleons[5]
Supported by:
11–19 to 40–60 French and English ships[3]
(Including 6 galleasses)[6]
First battle: 4 pinnaces[2]
Spanish fleet: 16 flyboats and pinnaces[3]
Casualties and losses
2 galleons sunk (Flagship destroyed)[2][5]
Several ships damaged and 6 English merchant vessels captured[3][5]
2 ships burned[3]

The Battle of Blaye of 1593, also known as the Battle of Bec d'Ambès (in French) or Battle of the Gironde Estuary, was a naval Spanish victory that took place on 18 April 1593 off Blaye and Bec d'Ambès, Gironde Estuary, France, during the seven-month siege of Blaye between the French-Protestant forces of Henry of Navarre and the French-Catholic garrison of the city led by Governor Jean-Paul d'Esparbès de Lussan d'Aubeterre, in the context of the French Wars of Religion and the Anglo-Spanish War (1585–1604).[1][2][4][7]

Background

In 1592, some ships were adquired by farmer Peter Houghton and a group of London merchants, to help Marshal Matignon attack Leaguer Blaye and defend the Gironde against a Spanish squadron from Pasajes.[8]. Of these, six were English warships commanded by Admiral Wilkinson, Vice-Admiral Brailford and captains Johnson, Meriall, Bower and Courtney.

Battle

In April 1593, a Spanish naval force of 16 warships (flyboats and pinnaces) commanded by Admiral Pedro de Zubiaur and General Joanes de Villaviciosa Lizarza set out to relieve Blaye. The city was controlled by the Catholic League of France, but under heavy siege by French Royal troops, supported by English and Huguenot forces, commanded by Marshal Jacques de Goyon d'Matignon, and blocked by sea by six English warship-squadron under Admiral Wilkenson. [9] [2][10] On 18 April the English naval force was defeated and dispersed by Zubiaur's fleet, and the Spanish troops disembarked at Blaye, relieving the Catholic forces.[2][4][10]

Soon after, another Anglo-French fleet of 11 to 19 warships from Bordeaux, supported by about 40 small vessels (including six galleasses from the port of La Rochelle), arrived at Blaye, trying to block the Spanish fleet.[10] After a fierce and unequal battle, amid an intense storm, the Spaniards were victorious,[11] with significant loss of life on both sides due to heavy musket fire. In the end, many ships of both fleets were dispersed by the storm, and the Spanish fleet managed to return safely to the port of Pasajes.[10][12]

For his part in the fighting, Pedro de Zubiaur was decorated by King Philip II of Spain, receiving the title of "de general como a lo demás de escuadra para que antes que muera deje esto a los míos".[13]

On 14 July the same year another Spanish force, composed of six pinnaces, under the command of Joanes de Villaviciosa Lizarza,[10] and 120 soldiers led by Captain Antonio Manrique de Vargas, sailed from the Basque port of Castro Urdiales, to reinforce the Catholic forces of Blaye.[12][14] After the Spanish troops under Villaviciosa launched a successful assault against the Protestant positions, which resulted in over 800 Protestants killed or wounded,[14] the siege finally ended with the withdrawal of the French-Protestant troops.[4][12][15]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b Armada española desde la unión de los reinos de Castilla y Aragón. Vol III. Fernández Duro p.85
  2. ^ a b c d e f En el IV Centenario del fallecimiento de Pedro Zubiaur, un marino vasco del siglo XVI. Gracia Rivas p.163
  3. ^ a b c d e Fernández Duro p.85
  4. ^ a b c d Gustav Ungerer p.53
  5. ^ a b c d Historia General de España. Vol. VII. Ortiz y Sanz p.43
  6. ^ Al ruido de la artillería bajaron de Burdeos 19 navíos con otros menores de Broage, que llegaban en suma 60 velas, tratando de cerrar el paso y envolver a los españoles, para lo que mucho hicieron seis galeazas de la Rochela apoyando al capitán Lallmiraille, jefe superior. Fernández Duro p.85 (in Spanish)
  7. ^ Ortega y Medina p.200
  8. ^ Richards, p. 8
  9. ^ Richards, p. 279
  10. ^ a b c d e Duro p.85
  11. ^ Rivas p.163
  12. ^ a b c Ortiz y Sanz p.43
  13. ^ Fernández Duro p.86
  14. ^ a b Fernández Duro pp.86–87
  15. ^ Con esta brillantísima acción se levantó el sitio, que duraba ya siete meses, quedando las pinazas al abrigo de los cañones del fuerte hasta el 4 de Agosto en la noche, aprovechada por Villaviciosa para dar otro golpe audaz. Fernández Duro p.86 (in Spanish)

References

  • Bruce Wernham, Richard. List and Analysis of State Papers, Foreign Series: May 1592-June 1593. H.M. Stationery Office, 1964.
  • Fernández Duro, Cesáreo (1898). Armada Española desde la unión de los reinos de Castilla y Aragón. Vol. III. Madrid. (in Spanish)
  • José Ortiz y Sanz. Historia General de España. Vol. VII. Third Edition, Madrid (1846). (in Spanish)
  • Gustav Ungerer. A Spaniard in Elizabethan England: The Correspondence of Antonio Pérez's Exile. Vol. I. London 1974. ISBN 0-900411-84-8
  • Mac Caffrey, Wallace T. (1994). Elizabeth I: War and Politics, 1588–1603. Princeton. Princeton University Press. USA. ISBN 978-0-691-03651-9
  • Ortega y Medina, Juan Antonio. El conflicto anglo-español por el dominio oceánico. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. 1994. ISBN 968-58-0150-9 (in Spanish)
  • Gracia Rivas, Manuel. En el IV Centenario del fallecimiento de Pedro Zubiaur, un marino vasco del siglo XVI[permanent dead link]. Itsas Memoria. Untzi Museo Naval. San Sebastián 2006. (in Spanish)

45°07′48″N 0°40′12″W / 45.1300°N 0.6700°W / 45.1300; -0.6700