Fernando Sánchez de Tovar facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Fernando Sánchez de Tovar
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16th-century portrait of Sánchez de Tovar
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| Born | Castile |
| Died | 1384 Lisbon, Portugal |
| Allegiance | .svg){kind=small} Crown of Castile |
| Years of service | 1357–1384 |
| Rank | Admiral |
| Commands held | Atlantic Expeditionary Fleets |
| Battles/wars | Hundred Years' War Castilian Civil War
Ferdinand Wars
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Fernando Sánchez de Tovar (sometimes called Fernán) was an important soldier and a top naval commander, known as an Admiral, from the Kingdom of Castile during the Middle Ages. He lived in the 1300s and played a big role in many battles and wars of his time.
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A Soldier for Castile
Fernando Sánchez de Tovar started his career as a soldier. He was a high-ranking officer, called an Adelantado Mayor, for King Pedro of Castile. This was at the beginning of a big fight for the throne of Castile, known as the First Castilian Civil War.
In 1366, Fernando Sánchez de Tovar changed sides. He gave the city of Calahorra to Pedro's brother and rival, Henry of Trastámara. A year later, Fernando Sánchez de Tovar fought alongside Henry II in the Battle of Nájera.
Becoming a Great Admiral
In 1374, Fernando Sánchez de Tovar became the main Admiral of Castile. He took over from a skilled sailor named Ambrosio Boccanegra from Genoa.
At this time, Castile joined forces with France in the Hundred Years' War against England. This happened because of tensions with an English leader, John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster. English forces burned seven Castilian merchant ships, killing their sailors.
To get revenge, Sánchez de Tovar led a fleet with the French commander Jean de Vienne. They attacked southern England. They raided and burned the Isle of Wight and several English ports. These included Rye, Rottingdean, Winchelsea, Lewes, Folkestone, Plymouth, Portsmouth, and Hastings. Their combined forces defeated local fighters led by the Earl of Arundel at Lewes. In 1380, their fleet even sailed up the Thames River and burned Gravesend, which was close to London.
Battles in the Iberian Peninsula
In 1381, Sánchez de Tovar returned to the Iberian Peninsula. He fought against Portugal, which was an ally of England. He led the Castilian fleet to victory against a Portuguese group of ships at the Battle of the Saltes Island. This battle was part of the Third Ferdinand War.
After this victory, John I of Castile, who was Henry II's son and the new king, made Sánchez de Tovar the Lord of Belves. In 1382, Sánchez de Tovar traveled to France. He joined the army of King Charles VI during a siege of Bruges. Bruges was controlled by a rebel leader named Philip van Artevelde. However, Sánchez de Tovar soon went back to Castile.
Final Campaign and Death
In 1383, Ferdinand I of Portugal died without any children to take his place. King John I of Castile claimed the Portuguese throne. This was because he was married to Ferdinand's only daughter, Beatrice of Portugal.
However, another person, John of Avis, also claimed the throne. He was Ferdinand's half-brother. This started a conflict known as the 1383-1385 crisis. In this new war, Sánchez de Tovar led the Castilian fleet against the Portuguese. He took part in the siege of Lisbon. Sadly, he died there in 1384 from the plague.
See also
- Battle of La Rochelle
- Juan de Tovar
