When the Kingdom of Portugal came under the rule of King Philip II of Spain (Philip I of Portugal), in 1580, the Portuguese had just finished building a large galleon named São Martinho. She was known by Castilians as San Martín. At the time of forming the Spanish Armada, São Martinho was found to be the best of the fleet and was chosen as the flagship of the Armada commander-in-chief, Duke of Medina Sidonia.
São Martinho had an overall length of about 180 feet with a beam of about 40 feet. She carried 48 heavy guns on two enclosed gun decks, plus multiple smaller weapons. According to a painting by Hendrik Cornelisz Vroom, National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, São Martinho had three masts, two square-rigged masts and a lateen mizzen-mast. She was shown with a stern gallery and with the long beakhead characteristic of a galleon. The foremast was set forward of the forecastle.
The São Martinho and crew played a crucial role in defending the armada throughout the English Channel. An example was the fighting of July 31 to August 2, 1588, from the English coast to Calais, such as the rescue ordered by Medina Sidonia of the galleon São João, commanded by Juan Martinez de Recalde, that after repairs and trying to join the formation, was intercepted and faced alone 12 English galleons and race galleons. In the process, the São Martinho fought, virtually isolated, for one hour, 15 English galleons. Howard, however, opted to kept some distance, preventing further approach and giving up the fight in duels of gunfire from both sides.[1]
São Martinho had suffered already heavy damage in the battle of Gravelines in July 1588 when a group of English ships led by Sir Francis Drake in Revenge bore down upon her. With the assistance of the galleon São Mateus she escaped the attack and led the Armada back to Spain through a ferocious storm, where she had to be towed into port at Santander. Because of a storm, São Martinho had to take refuge at Laredo, where Medina Sidonia found the galleassNapolitana and other ships in harbor. The ship was full of sick crew and was itself in sad condition.[2]
Citationsedit
^[1] "The Armada" by Garrett Mattinglyn - Mariner Books; Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2005
^"September 1588, 21-25". Simancas. British History Online.
Referencesedit
Wheatley, Joseph; Howarth, Stephen (2000). "Plate 41". Historic Sail. ISBN1-85367-399-4.
December 28, 2023
são, martinho, 1580, são, martinho, martín, meaning, saint, martin, built, portuguese, navy, galleon, became, flagship, duke, medina, sedonia, commander, chief, spanish, armada, são, martinho, são, martinho, combat, with, english, ships, painting, hendrik, cor. Sao Martinho or San Martin meaning Saint Martin built as a Portuguese Navy galleon became the flagship of Duke of Medina Sedonia commander in chief of the Spanish Armada Sao Martinho Sao Martinho in combat with English ships in a painting by Hendrik Cornelisz VroomHistoryNamesakeSaint MartinGeneral characteristicsTypeGalleonLength180 ft 55 m approx Beam40 ft 12 m approx Armament48 heavy gunsWhen the Kingdom of Portugal came under the rule of King Philip II of Spain Philip I of Portugal in 1580 the Portuguese had just finished building a large galleon named Sao Martinho She was known by Castilians as San Martin At the time of forming the Spanish Armada Sao Martinho was found to be the best of the fleet and was chosen as the flagship of the Armada commander in chief Duke of Medina Sidonia Sao Martinho had an overall length of about 180 feet with a beam of about 40 feet She carried 48 heavy guns on two enclosed gun decks plus multiple smaller weapons According to a painting by Hendrik Cornelisz Vroom National Maritime Museum Greenwich Sao Martinho had three masts two square rigged masts and a lateen mizzen mast She was shown with a stern gallery and with the long beakhead characteristic of a galleon The foremast was set forward of the forecastle The Sao Martinho and crew played a crucial role in defending the armada throughout the English Channel An example was the fighting of July 31 to August 2 1588 from the English coast to Calais such as the rescue ordered by Medina Sidonia of the galleon Sao Joao commanded by Juan Martinez de Recalde that after repairs and trying to join the formation was intercepted and faced alone 12 English galleons and race galleons In the process the Sao Martinho fought virtually isolated for one hour 15 English galleons Howard however opted to kept some distance preventing further approach and giving up the fight in duels of gunfire from both sides 1 Sao Martinho had suffered already heavy damage in the battle of Gravelines in July 1588 when a group of English ships led by Sir Francis Drake in Revenge bore down upon her With the assistance of the galleon Sao Mateus she escaped the attack and led the Armada back to Spain through a ferocious storm where she had to be towed into port at Santander Because of a storm Sao Martinho had to take refuge at Laredo where Medina Sidonia found the galleass Napolitana and other ships in harbor The ship was full of sick crew and was itself in sad condition 2 Citations edit 1 The Armada by Garrett Mattinglyn Mariner Books Houghton Mifflin Harcourt 2005 September 1588 21 25 Simancas British History Online References editWheatley Joseph Howarth Stephen 2000 Plate 41 Historic Sail ISBN 1 85367 399 4 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sao Martinho 1580 amp oldid 1169970098, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
