The Battle of Bordeaux was a naval engagement of the Franco-Spanish War of 1635–1659 fought on 20 October 1653 in the Gironde estuary. A Spanish fleet under Álvaro de Bazán, 3rd Marquis of Santa Cruz, sent to relieve Bordeaux, at that time held by the nobles rose up against Louis XIV during the Fronde, encountered a great concentration of French warships belonging to Duke of Vendome's army in the channel of Blaye and captured or destroyed most of it. Shortly after a landing was made by some 1,600 soldiers of the Spanish Tercios which sacked the village of Montagne-sur-Gironde.[4] A similar attempt in the Island of Ré was repulsed,[5] so Santa Cruz, having accomplished his orders, returned to Spain.
In 1650, during the Fronde, King Philip IV of Spain allied with the Duchess of Longueville and Vicomte de Turenne, offering them warships, soldiers and money to fight his enemy Louis XIV of France.[6] Most of the Spanish fleet, however, was occupied in the blockade of Barcelona,[7] and only three frigates commanded by José de Osorio could be sent to Girdonde estuary (although they were later reinforced by at least eight galleons under Baron of Vatteville).[8]Archduke Leopold Wilhem succeeded in attacking the French fleet at Dunkirk and defeated it with great loss,[9] while the Grand Admiral Duke of Vendôme captured the fortress of Bourg-sur-Gironde from the Spanish on 4 July 1653, investing Bordeaux shortly after.[10]
King Philip IV then ordered a fleet composed of eight galleons, eight fireships and all the frigates and pinnaces available to sail with urgency to relieve Bordeaux from the port of Pasaia.[2] In addition, Marquis of Santa Cruz and Admiral Manuel de Buñuelos were urged to sail from Cádiz in command of the Armada del Mar Océano with the same purpose.[2] Despite all the efforts, when the Spanish fleet arrived, Bordeaux, due to lack of supplies, had capitulated to the French Royal Army. Santa Cruz was, however, ordered then attack the French fleet of the Grand Admiral Duke of Vendôme.[3]
As the position of the French warships remained unknown to the Spanish, Santa Cruz spent some time searching them along the estuary. I was not until 14 October when a French squadron of 3 galleys and 8 brigantines was sighted entering the Blaye's channel.[3] Santa Cruz immediately dispatched 4 frigates and 2 fireships to block the mouth of the channel and sent Lieutenant General Luis de Guzmán to explore the area.[3] It proved to be a gut inaccessible for the biggest ships, as during the low tide the water level was extremely low, so it was planned attack the French squadron by land.[3]
By 20 October the preparations were ready.[3] At 3:00 AM. of that day Melchor de la Cueva's, Duke of Veragua's and Francisco de Meneses' tercios landed on both shores of the channel and moved towards the French vessel's concentration, located in front of a castle garrisoned by a French and a Scottish regiments.[3] These troops, along with a cavalry corps coming from a nearby village, skirmished with the Spanish tercios until 5:00 PM., when the high tide allowed the Spanish seamen to sail 3 galleys and 7 brigantines out of the channel.[4] 2 frigates, 2 brigantines and 15 barges were set on fire due to the impossibility of refloating them, as well as the houses of the bourg after being sacked.[4] The whole operation was carried out with no casualty.[4]
Aftermathedit
The day following the battle, the Spanish ships shelled the village of Montagne, after which 1,600 soldiers were landed and looted it,[4] capturing large amounts of cattle, wine, wheat and other provisions.[1]Royan and several other nearby places were also plundered.[1] Few days later, a surprise attack on the Island of Ré failed due to the errors of Santa Cruz and Buñuelos. After that Santa Cruz returned to Spain. His fleet anchored in the port Pasaia, near Donostia, despite he had no orders to do it. For this reason or for his failure against Ré, he was imprisoned in the Castle of San Torcaz.[4] Admiral Manuel de Buñuelos was also punished, being recluded in the Castle of Vélez.[4]
Fernández Duro, Cesáreo (1898). Armada española desde la Unión de los Reinos de Castilla y de León. Vol. V. Madrid: Est. tipográfico Sucesores de Rivadeneyra.
Israel, Jonathan Irvine (1997). Conflicts of empires: Spain, the low countries and the struggle for world supremacy, 1585-1713. London, UK: Continuum International Publishing Group. ISBN978-1-85285-161-3.
Michaud, Joseph François (1854). Nouvelle collection des mémoires relatifs à l'histoire de France depuis le 13e siècle jusqu'à la fin du 18e siècle, par mm. Michaud et Poujoulat. Paris, France: Joseph François Michaud.
Valladares, Rafael (1998). La rebelión de Portugal: guerra, conflicto y poderes en la monarquía hispánica, 1640-1680. Junta de Castilla y León, Consejería de Educación y Cultura.
Gómez de Blas, Juan: Ataque español en Burdeos, 1653.Revista de Historia Naval(in Spanish)
March 17, 2024
battle, bordeaux, 1653, battle, bordeaux, naval, engagement, franco, spanish, 1635, 1659, fought, october, 1653, gironde, estuary, spanish, fleet, under, Álvaro, bazán, marquis, santa, cruz, sent, relieve, bordeaux, that, time, held, nobles, rose, against, lou. The Battle of Bordeaux was a naval engagement of the Franco Spanish War of 1635 1659 fought on 20 October 1653 in the Gironde estuary A Spanish fleet under Alvaro de Bazan 3rd Marquis of Santa Cruz sent to relieve Bordeaux at that time held by the nobles rose up against Louis XIV during the Fronde encountered a great concentration of French warships belonging to Duke of Vendome s army in the channel of Blaye and captured or destroyed most of it Shortly after a landing was made by some 1 600 soldiers of the Spanish Tercios which sacked the village of Montagne sur Gironde 4 A similar attempt in the Island of Re was repulsed 5 so Santa Cruz having accomplished his orders returned to Spain Battle of BordeauxPart of the Franco Spanish War 1635 The Gironde estuary seen from the citadel of Blaye Date20 October 1653LocationGironde estuary near Montagne FranceResultSpanish victoryBelligerents France SpainCommanders and leadersDuke of VendomeMarquis of Santa CruzStrengthUnknown naval forces 3 000 soldiers and militia 1 30 warships 2 Three tercios 3 Casualties and losses3 galleys captured 7 brigantines captured 2 frigates burnt 2 brigantines burnt 15 barges burnt 4 None 4 Contents 1 Background 2 Battle 3 Aftermath 4 Notes 5 ReferencesBackground editIn 1650 during the Fronde King Philip IV of Spain allied with the Duchess of Longueville and Vicomte de Turenne offering them warships soldiers and money to fight his enemy Louis XIV of France 6 Most of the Spanish fleet however was occupied in the blockade of Barcelona 7 and only three frigates commanded by Jose de Osorio could be sent to Girdonde estuary although they were later reinforced by at least eight galleons under Baron of Vatteville 8 Archduke Leopold Wilhem succeeded in attacking the French fleet at Dunkirk and defeated it with great loss 9 while the Grand Admiral Duke of Vendome captured the fortress of Bourg sur Gironde from the Spanish on 4 July 1653 investing Bordeaux shortly after 10 King Philip IV then ordered a fleet composed of eight galleons eight fireships and all the frigates and pinnaces available to sail with urgency to relieve Bordeaux from the port of Pasaia 2 In addition Marquis of Santa Cruz and Admiral Manuel de Bunuelos were urged to sail from Cadiz in command of the Armada del Mar Oceano with the same purpose 2 Despite all the efforts when the Spanish fleet arrived Bordeaux due to lack of supplies had capitulated to the French Royal Army Santa Cruz was however ordered then attack the French fleet of the Grand Admiral Duke of Vendome 3 Battle edit nbsp Engraved portrait of Duke of Vendome by Balthasar Moncornet As the position of the French warships remained unknown to the Spanish Santa Cruz spent some time searching them along the estuary I was not until 14 October when a French squadron of 3 galleys and 8 brigantines was sighted entering the Blaye s channel 3 Santa Cruz immediately dispatched 4 frigates and 2 fireships to block the mouth of the channel and sent Lieutenant General Luis de Guzman to explore the area 3 It proved to be a gut inaccessible for the biggest ships as during the low tide the water level was extremely low so it was planned attack the French squadron by land 3 By 20 October the preparations were ready 3 At 3 00 AM of that day Melchor de la Cueva s Duke of Veragua s and Francisco de Meneses tercios landed on both shores of the channel and moved towards the French vessel s concentration located in front of a castle garrisoned by a French and a Scottish regiments 3 These troops along with a cavalry corps coming from a nearby village skirmished with the Spanish tercios until 5 00 PM when the high tide allowed the Spanish seamen to sail 3 galleys and 7 brigantines out of the channel 4 2 frigates 2 brigantines and 15 barges were set on fire due to the impossibility of refloating them as well as the houses of the bourg after being sacked 4 The whole operation was carried out with no casualty 4 Aftermath editThe day following the battle the Spanish ships shelled the village of Montagne after which 1 600 soldiers were landed and looted it 4 capturing large amounts of cattle wine wheat and other provisions 1 Royan and several other nearby places were also plundered 1 Few days later a surprise attack on the Island of Re failed due to the errors of Santa Cruz and Bunuelos After that Santa Cruz returned to Spain His fleet anchored in the port Pasaia near Donostia despite he had no orders to do it For this reason or for his failure against Re he was imprisoned in the Castle of San Torcaz 4 Admiral Manuel de Bunuelos was also punished being recluded in the Castle of Velez 4 Notes edit a b c Gomez de Blas a b c Fernandez Duro p 8 a b c d e f g Fernandez Duro p 9 a b c d e f g h i Fernandez Duro p 10 Michaud p 612 Fernandez Duro p 5 Valladares p 129 Fernandez Duro p 6 Fernandez Duro p 7 Israel p 131References editFernandez Duro Cesareo 1898 Armada espanola desde la Union de los Reinos de Castilla y de Leon Vol V Madrid Est tipografico Sucesores de Rivadeneyra Israel Jonathan Irvine 1997 Conflicts of empires Spain the low countries and the struggle for world supremacy 1585 1713 London UK Continuum International Publishing Group ISBN 978 1 85285 161 3 Michaud Joseph Francois 1854 Nouvelle collection des memoires relatifs a l histoire de France depuis le 13e siecle jusqu a la fin du 18e siecle par mm Michaud et Poujoulat Paris France Joseph Francois Michaud Valladares Rafael 1998 La rebelion de Portugal guerra conflicto y poderes en la monarquia hispanica 1640 1680 Junta de Castilla y Leon Consejeria de Educacion y Cultura Gomez de Blas Juan Ataque espanol en Burdeos 1653 Revista de Historia Naval in Spanish Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Battle of Bordeaux 1653 amp oldid 1004996071, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
