Singeing the King of Spain's Beard
Singeing the King of Spain's Beard | |||||||
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Part of the Anglo–Spanish War | |||||||
Drake's map of his attack on Cádiz. | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Elizabethan England | |||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Francis Drake | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
| Unknown number to disease |
Singeing the King of Spain's Beard is the derisive name given
Background
In the second half of the 16th century a series of economic, political, and religious circumstances created tensions in the relations between
The constant raids by English privateers against Spanish territories in the West Indies and against the Spanish treasure fleet, which carried the wealth that supported Madrid's finances, were considered by the Spanish as a threat to their economic interests. The support of the English for the United Provinces, who were at this time fighting against Spain for their independence, was sealed by the Treaty of Nonsuch in 1585, whereby it was agreed to form an Anglo-Dutch military alliance against Spain. The English support for the pretender to the Portuguese throne, Dom António, was another source of contention.
The increasing power of the Spanish Empire, which in 1580 had entered a dynastic union with the Kingdom of Portugal and its empire under Philip of Spain, was expanding in the Americas and had the support of the Catholic German Habsburgs as well as the Italian princes, was regarded by the English as a major threat to their security.
In 1585 the tension between the two countries erupted into the Anglo-Spanish War of 1585–1604. Philip II ordered the arming of a great military fleet, which was to become known as the Invincible Armada, and it was hastily assembled in the Spanish port of Cádiz and in the Portuguese port of Lisbon with the objective of invading England.
Drake's expedition
Preparations
Queen Elizabeth gave the English privateer Sir Francis Drake, an outstanding leader of previous naval expeditions, the command of a fleet whose mission was to inspect the Spanish military preparations, intercept their supplies, attack the fleet and if possible the Spanish ports.[7] To that end, the Queen put at Drake's disposal four Royal Naval galleons: the Elizabeth Bonaventure, which was under Drake's own command; Golden Lion, captained by William Borough; Rainbow, under Captain Bellingham; and Dreadnought under Captain Thomas Fenner. A further twenty merchantmen and armed pinnaces joined forces with the expedition.[7][8] The cost of these boats was met by a group of London merchants, whose profits were to be calculated in the same proportions as their investment in the fleet; the Queen, as owner of the four Royal Naval vessels, was to receive 50% of the profits.[9]
On 12 April 1587
Raid on Cádiz
The fleet was dispersed off the coast of Galicia by a storm that lasted several days, during which one of the pinnaces foundered.[12] After the fleet regrouped, they met two Dutch ships from Middelburg, Zeeland, who informed them that plans were in readiness to sail a huge Spanish war fleet from Cádiz to Lisbon.[13]
At dusk on 19 April the English fleet entered the
Portugal
After leaving Cádiz, Drake's fleet set course along the south-west coast of Spain and Portugal, destroying all the shipping they encountered, including fishing vessels. On 14 May, 1,000 men disembarked at
Borough, Drake's second in command, considered the decision to land in the Algarve as dangerous and unnecessary. Drake's plans to sail to the Isle of Terceira drove Borough to contradict Drake's orders, prompting Drake to relieve him of his command and place him under arrest.[19] Borough was sent back to England, leaving Drake with only nine ships.[12]
Capture of São Filipe off the Azores
On 8 June, Drake's fleet sighted a Portuguese carrack, the São Filipe, twenty
Conclusion
The expedition led by Francis Drake was a resounding military success: over one hundred Spanish vessels of different tonnages were destroyed or
Documents seized by the English with the São Filipe, which had details of the East Indies maritime traffic and the lucrative trade in the area, would years later be used as the basis for the founding of the East India Company.[22]
Singeing the King of Spain's beard
Drake had already embarrassed King Philip with his actions in the West Indies, taking towns and ships at will from the pre-eminent naval power of the time.[23] With this expedition, he had taken that affront to Philip's doorstep, raiding along the very coast of Spain, and laying up with impunity for three days in Spain's premier Atlantic port while he burned ships and stores. These actions gave heart to Spain's enemies and dismayed her friends.[23] Drake compounded the insult by publicly boasting that he had "singed the King of Spain's beard";[3] yet privately he realized that his actions had only delayed a Spanish invasion, not prevented it altogether, and he wrote to Elizabeth urging her to "Prepare in England strongly, and mostly by sea. Stop him now and stop him forever."[24]
References
- ^ old style Julian calendar, which was ten days behind in the 16th century; England (and its successor Great Britain) retained the old calendar until 1752, whereas Spain had already adopted the new calendar five years earlier in 1582.
- ISBN 978-1-84486-174-3.
Drake ravaged the Iberian peninsula coast for a month destroying perhaps a hundred small vessels
- ^ a b Barrow, John (1844). The Life, Voyages, and Exploits of Sir Francis Drake: With Numerous Original Letters From Him and the Lord High Admiral to the Queen and Great Officers of State (2nd ed.). John Murray. p. 113.
- ISBN 9781841760155.
- ISBN 9781447256847.
- ISBN 9780712348607.
- ^ a b John Barrow: The life, voyages, and exploits of Admiral Sir Francis Drake.
- ^ John Lothrop Motley: History of the Netherlands reference to 24 ships and 4 Royal Naval ships.
- ^ Drake's agreement and relations with the London merchants, pag. 26–27.
- ^ Instructions to Drake 19 April; ibid, pag. 28.
- ^ English government's explanation for Drake's conduct; ibid, pag. 43.
- ^ a b c d Robert Leng, On board the English Fleet: Sir Francis Drake's memorable service done against the Spaniards in 1587.
- ^ a b c Hakluyt (1812). "Brief relation of notable service performed by Sir Francis Drake in 1587". In Kerr, Robert (ed.). A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels. Vol. 7. W. Blackwood. pp. 360–365.
- ^ Spanish reference given but inaccessible. To be researched further.
- ^ Despatch of the Duke de Medina-Sidonia to Philip II about the attack on Cadiz: Facsimil y transcripción.
- ^ Letter of Francis Drake to Francis Walsingham, secretary to Elizabeth I, (Barrow, p.102).
- ^ Letter of Francis Drake to John Foxe British Library MS. Harley 167f. 104.
- ^ Amerilis. Archived 18 March 2010 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Barrow, p.108
- ^ Inventory of the cargo of the San Felipe, p.50
- ^ Hans P. Kraus: Sir Francis Drake: A pictorial biography.
- ^ Christian Isobel Johnstone: Live and voyages of Drake, 1837.
- ^ ISBN 0 00255128 4
- ISBN 978 0 2978 6408 0