Sack of Campeche (1663)
The Sack of Campeche was a 1663 raid by
pirates led by Christopher Myngs and Edward Mansvelt which became a model for later coastal pirate raids of the buccaneering era
.
Background
Having successfully raided
volunteered their services, and Myngs amassed the largest pirate fleet ever seen with 14 ships and 1400 pirates. The primarily English fleet was subsequently joined by four French ships and three Dutch privateer ships for a total of more than 20 vessels.[1] Leading the fleet was Myngs' flagship HMS Centurion and the smaller vice-flagship the Griffin.[2] The fleet included already-well-known pirates Mansvelt, Henry Morgan and Abraham Blauvelt. It is likely it included other younger sailors who would later captain pirate vessels of their own and replicate Myngs' tactics. They left Port Royal in January, joined by other smaller vessels as they went but losing contact with the Griffin.[2]
The raid
Early the following month, the fleet arrived in Campeche Bay. By night, Myngs landed approximately 1000 men a short distance from the city on 8 February 1663.pieces of eight.[1]
Aftermath
The defeat of Campeche's defences was so comprehensive and the subsequent outrage so strong that
Governor Thomas Modyford. When he died in 1679, similar raids were organised including the attack on Veracruz in 1683 and the raid on Cartagena later that same year. Both plans involved landing a large ground-based force to attack a fortified settlement which otherwise might have been able to defend itself against a seaborne raid.[2]
Myngs returned to England the following year to recover from his injuries.
See also
References
- ^ ISBN 1455600148.
- ^ ISBN 978-1598842012.
