Battle of Cape St. Vincent (1606) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Cape St. Vincent
Part of Eighty Years' War and Dutch–Portuguese War
Naval battle between Spanish and Dutch (c. XVII), anonymous oil on canvas, Naval Museum of Madrid
Date 16 June or 6 October 1606 Location Off Cape St. Vincent, Atlantic Ocean 37°01′30″N 8°59′40″W / 37.0250°N 8.9944°W / 37.0250; -8.9944 Result Spanish victory
Belligerents
Spain	United Provinces
Commanders and leaders
Luis Fajardo	Willem Haultain Regnier Klaazoon  †
Strength
20 or 26+ ships	14 or 24 ships
Casualties and losses
None or very light	Unknown number of killed, wounded, and prisoners 1 ship destroyed 2 ships captured

The Battle of Cape St. Vincent was a big naval fight. It happened on June 16 or October 6, 1606. This battle was part of two larger wars: the Eighty Years' War and the Dutch–Portuguese War.

A Spanish fleet, led by Admiral Luis Fajardo, attacked a Dutch fleet. The Dutch fleet was commanded by Admiral Willem Haultain and Vice Admiral Regnier Klaazoon. The Dutch ships were trying to block the Spanish-Portuguese coast. They wanted to stop the important Spanish treasure fleet from reaching Spain.

In the end, Spain won the battle. Vice Admiral Klaazoon's main ship was destroyed. Two other Dutch ships were captured. Admiral Haultain and the rest of his fleet had to escape back to their country. They failed to stop the Spanish treasure fleet.

Why the Battle Happened

The Wars of the Time

In 1604, a peace treaty ended the war between Spain and England. But the Eighty Years' War was still going on. This was a long conflict between Spain and the United Provinces (what we now call the Netherlands).

At this time, Spain's navy was not as strong as it used to be. They didn't have enough ships or money. But the Dutch navy was growing very powerful. They could now attack Spanish and Portuguese lands by sea. Portugal was part of the Spanish Empire back then. So, the Dutch often targeted Portuguese areas.

Before the Battle

Dutch Fleet's Mission

In 1606, Admiral Haultain left the Netherlands with his fleet. His goal was to sail along the Spanish-Portuguese coast. He wanted to bother Spanish and Portuguese merchant ships. Some reports say Haultain had 24 ships at first. Later, he was joined by Vice Admiral Klaazoon with 19 strong warships and two smaller yachts.

Spanish reports claimed the Dutch had many more ships, perhaps 60 or 70. They said the Dutch were sailing between the Azores islands and the coast of Portugal.

Spain's Response

The Dutch ships were stopping Spain's trade with its colonies. This was a big problem for Spain. Admiral Fajardo worked hard to gather a fleet in Lisbon. He managed to get some large ships called galleons ready for battle. His goal was to clear the seas and let trade start again.

The Battle Begins

Fleets Meet at Cape St. Vincent

The two fleets met near Cape St. Vincent. This happened on June 16, according to the Spanish, or October 6, according to the Dutch. Admiral Haultain was trying to find the Spanish treasure fleet. When he saw Spanish ships, he thought he had found them. But instead of slow merchant ships, it was Admiral Fajardo's powerful war fleet.

The number of ships on each side is also debated. The Spanish said Fajardo had 20 ships. They claimed Haultain had 24, but some Dutch ships had already left. The Dutch said Spain had more than 26 ships, including galleons and galleys. They claimed Haultain had only 14 ships because some were lost in a storm.

The Fight

When the Dutch sailors saw the big Spanish galleons, they became scared. Admiral Haultain quickly talked with his officers. They decided to run away because they felt their fleet was weaker.

But Fajardo managed to catch three Dutch ships. One of these was Vice Admiral Klaazoon's main ship. Five Spanish ships surrounded and attacked Klaazoon's vessel. Haultain tried to help with five of his ships. But the Spanish attack was too strong. Haultain's ships gave up and fled as fast as they could.

Spanish cannonballs heavily damaged Klaazoon's ship. Many of his crew were killed. Klaazoon knew he could not escape or surrender. He decided to blow up his own ship. About 60 surviving crew members, many of them badly hurt, agreed. Only two sailors survived the explosion. The Spanish rescued them, but they died soon after from their injuries.

The Spanish also captured two other Dutch ships that surrendered. They chased the rest of the Dutch fleet until they were gone from the area.

Spanish historians praised Admiral Fajardo's fleet. They said it was amazing that his fleet, made of new ships and less experienced sailors, beat the Dutch. Dutch history, however, criticized Admiral Haultain. They felt he didn't fight hard enough this time.

What Happened Next

Dutch Retreat and Spanish Success

Admiral Haultain went back to the Netherlands with the rest of his fleet. His reputation was badly damaged. The Spanish victory meant the blockade was lifted. Trade could start again, which was a big win for Spain.

Just a few days after the battle, the Spanish treasure fleet arrived safely. This was the fleet Haultain had wanted to capture. It brought a huge amount of money to Spain. The fleet had 15 ships. They carried over $1.9 million in gold and silver for the king. They also had over $6 million for merchants. This treasure came from two years of trade with Spanish colonies in Peru, New Spain, and Brazil.

Dutch Struggles in 1606

The year 1606 was not a good one for the Dutch. On land, their leader, Prince Maurice of Nassau, was busy fighting the Spanish army in the Netherlands. The Spanish managed to capture some cities. Haultain's failure at sea added to these problems. After this battle, the Dutch did not launch any more big attacks by land or sea that year.

See also

In Spanish: Batalla del Cabo de San Vicente (1606) para niños

• Battle of Cape St. Vincent (1641)

Sources