Battle of Abrolhos facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Abrolhos
Part of Eighty Years' War and Dutch–Portuguese War
The Battle of Abrolhos c. 1632, by Juan de la Corte. Oil on canvas. Naval Museum of Madrid.
Date 12 September 1631 Location Off Pernambuco (present-day Brazil) Result Indecisive
Belligerents
Spain  Portugal	Dutch Republic  WIC
Commanders and leaders
Antonio de Oquendo	Adrian Jansz Pater  † Maerten Thijssen
Strength
20 warships (5 unarmed)	16 warships
Casualties and losses
1 galleon sunk 1 galleon captured 500 dead and 100 wounded	Flagship Prins Willem sunk 1 or 2 other ships sunk From 350 dead and 80 wounded to about 2,000 casualties

The naval Battle of the Abrolhos happened on September 12, 1631. It took place off the coast of Pernambuco, which is in modern-day Brazil. This battle was part of the Eighty Years' War and the Dutch–Portuguese War. A combined fleet from Spain and Portugal, led by Admiral Antonio de Oquendo, fought against the Dutch fleet. After about six hours of fighting, the Spanish-Portuguese side won.

Why the Battle Happened

In May 1631, Spanish Admiral Antonio de Oquendo sailed from Lisbon with about 20 warships. His mission was to bring more soldiers and supplies to places like Paraíba, Pernambuco, and Bahia in Brazil. On his way back to Portugal, he planned to escort ships loaded with sugar.

The Dutch, who were also active in the area, found out about Oquendo's journey. Their fleet in Pernambuco, led by Admiral Adrian Pater, decided to stop the Spanish convoy. Even though Pater had 33 ships, he only took 16 with him. He believed only 8 of Oquendo's ships were strong enough for a real fight.

On September 12, the two fleets met near some small islands called cays. These cays were close to the Abrolhos rocks, which were dangerous for ships.

Ships in the Fight

Admiral Oquendo's fleet included 17 Spanish and Portuguese warships. His main ship was the Santiago de Oliste, a large ship with 44 guns. Other important ships were the San Antonio and the Nuestra Señora de la Concepción. There were also five unarmed ships and ten Brazilian caravels carrying 1,200 soldiers. These soldiers were meant to help defend the town of Paraíba.

Admiral Pater's Dutch fleet had 16 warships. His main ship was the Prins Willem, a very large ship with 46 guns. Other Dutch ships included the Geunieerde Provintien and the Provincie Ultrecht.

The Battle Begins

On the morning of the battle, Admiral Pater gathered his captains. He toasted to their success before the fighting began. The Dutch fleet formed two lines and sailed towards Oquendo's ships.

Oquendo had arranged his ships in a half-moon shape. This was to protect the unarmed ships and the convoy behind them. Five of Oquendo's ships were a bit behind and did not get his orders right away. The Dutch did not see these ships at first.

The fighting started in the middle of the morning. Vice Admiral de Vallecilla's ship, the San Antonio, fired first at the Dutch ship Geunieerde Provintien. Soon after, Admiral Oquendo and four other Spanish ships began firing at Pater's main ship, the Prins Willem.

Fierce Fighting

Both sides fought very hard. They fired their cannons at close range. The ships tried to get close enough to board each other, but it was difficult. One small Portuguese ship, the Nossa Senhora dos Prazeres, was sunk by the combined fire of the Dutch Prins Willem and Walcheren.

Later in the battle, the five Spanish ships that were behind finally arrived. This helped the Spanish side, but the fight remained very intense.

Around 4 PM, a shot from Oquendo's ship hit the Prins Willem and started a fire. Spanish soldiers then fired at the flames to stop the Dutch from putting them out. The fire grew, forcing Admiral Pater and some survivors to jump into the water. Sadly, Admiral Pater drowned.

Around the same time, the Spanish ship San Antonio was badly damaged and sank. Its Dutch opponent, the Provincie Ultrecht, also caught fire and later sank.

Who Won?

The battle ended with a victory for the Spanish-Portuguese side. However, both sides suffered heavy losses.

The Spanish-Portuguese fleet lost one large ship (a galleon) that sank and another that was captured. About 585 soldiers died or went missing, and 201 were wounded.

The Dutch flagship, Prins Willem, sank. One or two other Dutch warships also went down. The Dutch lost around 350 soldiers who died or went missing, and over 80 were seriously wounded. Some reports say the Dutch lost as many as 2,000 men and three galleons.

What Happened Next

After the battle, the Dutch Admiral Thijssen decided not to fight again the next day. His fleet was badly damaged, and he sailed back to Recife.

Admiral Oquendo delivered his soldiers to Porto Calvo. Only about 700 of them made it to Fort Arrail do Bom Jesus. After that, Oquendo continued his journey back to Europe with his valuable sugar convoy.

Because of the battle, the Dutch soldiers in Pernambuco left the town of Olinda in November. They decided to gather all their forces around Recife instead.

See also

In Spanish: Batalla de los Abrojos para niños