Battle of Sabana Real facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Sabana Real
Map of Hispaniola, during the colonial period of Santo Domingo
Date January 21, 1691 Location Santo Domingo Result Spanish victory
Belligerents
Santo Domingo	France
Commanders and leaders
Francisco de Segura Sandoval y Castilla	De Cussy   †
Strength
700 Spanish Dominican raiders 2,600 militiamen	1,000
Casualties and losses
47 dead 130 wounded	400 dead

The Battle of Sabana Real (which means Royal Savannah in Spanish) was an important fight that happened on January 21, 1691. It took place in a part of the island of Hispaniola that is now the Dominican Republic. This battle was between Spanish forces from the colony of Santo Domingo and French forces.

What Happened During the Battle?

The Spanish forces were led by Francisco de Segura Sandoval y Castilla. They had about 700 special soldiers called raiders and 2,600 militiamen. Militiamen were regular citizens who were trained to fight when needed. These Spanish forces were also supported by five warships from the Armada de Barlovento, which was a Spanish fleet.

The French forces, led by Governor de Cussy, had about 1,000 soldiers. The Spanish army surrounded and attacked the French defenders at a place called Sabana de la Limonade. The battle was intense, and the Spanish forces won. Governor de Cussy and 400 of his soldiers were killed during the fight.

Why Was This Battle Important?

The Battle of Sabana Real was a big victory for the Spanish. It showed their strength in the region. However, even with this victory, conflicts between Spain and France over land in the Caribbean continued.

To stop these fights, Spain and France later signed a peace agreement called the Treaty of Ryswick. This treaty was signed in 1697. In this agreement, Spain officially recognized that France controlled some parts of the Caribbean. This included Tortuga Island and the western part of the island of Hispaniola. This western part later became the French colony of Saint-Domingue, which is now the country of Haiti.

So, even though Spain won the battle, the treaty that followed meant they had to give up some land to France to keep the peace.

See also

• In Spanish: Batalla de Sabana Real de la Limonada para niños