The naval Battle of Gibraltar took place on 25 April 1607, during the Eighty Years' War, when a Dutch fleet surprised and engaged a Spanish fleet anchored at the Bay of Gibraltar. During the four hours of action, most of the Spanish ships were destroyed.
A Dutch fleet of 26 warships was led by Jacob van Heemskerk. The Dutch flagship was Æolus. Other Dutch ships were De Tijger, De Zeehond, De Griffioen, De Roode Leeuw, De Gouden Leeuw, De Zwarte Beer, De Witte Beer, and De Ochtendster.
A Spanish fleet of 21 ships, including 10 galleons, was led by Don Juan Álvarez de Avilés. The Spanish flagship San Augustin was commanded by Don Juan's son. Other ships were Nuestra Señora de la Vega and Madre de Dios. The Spanish fleet was covered by a fortress, although the Dutch fleet was out of range of its guns at all times and they could not intervene in the battle.[1]
Battle
The battle
Van Heemskerk left some of his ships at the bay entrance to prevent the escape of any Spanish ships. Twenty from the Dutch fleet were ordered to focus on the Spanish galleons while the rest attacked the smaller vessels.[2] Van Heemskerk was killed during the first approach on the Spanish flagship as a cannonball severed his leg. The Dutch then doubled up on the galleons and a few of the galleons caught fire. One exploded due to a shot that penetrated its powder magazine. The Dutch captured the Spanish flagship but let it go adrift.
Following the destruction of the Spanish ships, the Dutch deployed boats and killed hundreds of swimming Spanish sailors. The Dutch lost 100 men including Admiral Van Heemskerk. Sixty Dutch were wounded. Depending on the sources, most or all of the Spanish ships were lost and between 350 and 4,000 Spaniards were killed or captured. Álvarez de Avilés was amongst the dead.
The battle resulted in a 12-year truce in which the Dutch Republic achieved de facto recognition by the Spanish Crown.
The battle had an important indirect effect on the History of Ireland, specifically the key event known as "Flight of the Earls". Hugh O'Neill, 2nd Earl of Tyrone, and Rory O'Donnell, 1st Earl of Tyrconnell, left Ulster in Ireland with the intention of getting a Spanish army to invade Ireland on their behalf. The destruction of the Spanish fleet ruled out any such option, and the Earls found themselves in irrevocable exile - with major consequences for the later history or Ireland, and especially of Ulster.
battle, gibraltar, 1607, other, uses, battle, gibraltar, disambiguation, this, article, includes, list, general, references, lacks, sufficient, corresponding, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, more, precise, citations, april. For other uses see Battle of Gibraltar disambiguation This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations April 2014 Learn how and when to remove this template message The naval Battle of Gibraltar took place on 25 April 1607 during the Eighty Years War when a Dutch fleet surprised and engaged a Spanish fleet anchored at the Bay of Gibraltar During the four hours of action most of the Spanish ships were destroyed Battle of GibraltarPart of the Eighty Years WarBattle of Gibraltar by Cornelis van WieringenDate25 April 1607 1607 04 25 LocationBay of GibraltarResultDutch victory Twelve Years TruceBelligerents Dutch Republic SpainCommanders and leadersJacob van Heemskerk Juan Alvarez de Aviles Strength26 warships10 galleons 12 smaller vesselsCasualties and losses100 killed60 wounded350 4 000 killed5 10 galleons9 12 smaller vessels Contents 1 Forces 2 Battle 3 Footnotes 4 Sources 5 External linksForces EditA Dutch fleet of 26 warships was led by Jacob van Heemskerk The Dutch flagship was AEolus Other Dutch ships were De Tijger De Zeehond De Griffioen De Roode Leeuw De Gouden Leeuw De Zwarte Beer De Witte Beer and De Ochtendster A Spanish fleet of 21 ships including 10 galleons was led by Don Juan Alvarez de Aviles The Spanish flagship San Augustin was commanded by Don Juan s son Other ships were Nuestra Senora de la Vega and Madre de Dios The Spanish fleet was covered by a fortress although the Dutch fleet was out of range of its guns at all times and they could not intervene in the battle 1 Battle Edit The battle Van Heemskerk left some of his ships at the bay entrance to prevent the escape of any Spanish ships Twenty from the Dutch fleet were ordered to focus on the Spanish galleons while the rest attacked the smaller vessels 2 Van Heemskerk was killed during the first approach on the Spanish flagship as a cannonball severed his leg The Dutch then doubled up on the galleons and a few of the galleons caught fire One exploded due to a shot that penetrated its powder magazine The Dutch captured the Spanish flagship but let it go adrift Following the destruction of the Spanish ships the Dutch deployed boats and killed hundreds of swimming Spanish sailors The Dutch lost 100 men including Admiral Van Heemskerk Sixty Dutch were wounded Depending on the sources most or all of the Spanish ships were lost and between 350 and 4 000 Spaniards were killed or captured Alvarez de Aviles was amongst the dead The battle resulted in a 12 year truce in which the Dutch Republic achieved de facto recognition by the Spanish Crown The battle had an important indirect effect on the History of Ireland specifically the key event known as Flight of the Earls Hugh O Neill 2nd Earl of Tyrone and Rory O Donnell 1st Earl of Tyrconnell left Ulster in Ireland with the intention of getting a Spanish army to invade Ireland on their behalf The destruction of the Spanish fleet ruled out any such option and the Earls found themselves in irrevocable exile with major consequences for the later history or Ireland and especially of Ulster Footnotes Edit in Spanish Fernandez Duro p 234 Vier eeuwen varen p 64 Sources EditFernandez C 1898 Armada Espanola desde la union de los reinos de Castilla y Aragon in Spanish Madrid Rivedeneyra Vere F 1955 Salt in their Blood the lives of the famous Dutch admirals De Jonge J C Geschiedenis van het Nederlandse zeewezen in Dutch Akveld L M et al 1973 Vier Eeuwen Varen in Dutch Warnsinck J C M 1941 Twaalf Doorluchtige Zeehelden in Dutch External links Edit Media related to Battle of Gibraltar 1607 at Wikimedia CommonsCoordinates 36 08 20 N 5 23 55 W 36 138887 N 5 398607 W 36 138887 5 398607 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Battle of Gibraltar 1607 amp oldid 1119775186, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
