Hugo of Moncada i Gralla facts for kids
Hugo of Montcada i Gralla was an important commander in the Spanish Armada, a huge fleet of ships sent by Spain to invade England in 1588. He was in charge of the galleasses, which were large, powerful ships that used both sails and oars.
Hugo was the second son of a very important noble family, the Montcadas. His father was Francesc I de Montcada, who held titles like Marquess of Aitona. His older brother, Gastó, inherited most of the family's wealth. Hugo also had another brother, Joan, who became an Archbishop and a Bishop, important religious leaders.
Contents
Hugo's Role in the Armada
Leading the Galleasses
Hugo of Montcada was chosen to lead the fleet of galleasses from Naples. His main ship was the San Lorenzo. Another famous ship in his fleet was La Girona. The galleasses under his command were:
- The San Lorenzo (Hugo's main ship)
- The Zúñiga
- La Girona
- La Napolitana
The Mighty San Lorenzo
The San Lorenzo was a truly impressive ship. It had 124 sailors, 50 cannons, and 300 oarsmen to power it through the water. It also carried 270 soldiers ready for battle.
This huge ship was built in Naples and weighed 762 tons. Many people believed it was the biggest and most magnificent ship in the entire Spanish Armada.
Challenges at Sea
Sailing in the English Channel was very tricky, especially because of the strong ocean currents caused by the tides. Local sailors knew these currents well, but the Spanish fleet did not have this advantage.
During the Battles
- The San Lorenzo struggled to move forward against the strong tides, even with all its oarsmen.
- At one point, Hugo wanted to attack the English ship Ark Royal because he thought he had the upper hand. However, Alonso, Duke of Medina Sidonia, who was the overall commander of the Armada, did not give him permission.
- The San Lorenzo was the first ship to warn the Spanish fleet about the danger when Francis Drake sent eight fire ships towards them.
- When the Duke of Medina Sidonia ordered all ships to cut their anchor chains to escape the fire ships, it caused a lot of confusion and many ships crashed into each other.
The San Lorenzo's End
During the chaos and collisions, the San Lorenzo's rudder, which helps steer the ship, was damaged. This made it very hard to control the ship with just oars, especially while being attacked. Hugo of Montcada decided to try and find safety in the port of Calais, which was controlled by France and was supposed to be neutral.
However, the San Lorenzo couldn't quite make it into the port. It got stuck near the entrance, lying on its side. Many of the soldiers on board panicked and jumped into the water, trying to escape. Sadly, many of them drowned. Only a few loyal crew members stayed on the ship.
The English sent small boats with soldiers to capture the stuck galleass. Eventually, Charles Howard sent more help from the Ark Royal. Hugo of Montcada was killed by a shot to his head during this final fight. Other brave defenders, including Joan Setantí, also died trying to protect the ship.
Important Information
A book called "Armada Invencible" by Cesáreo Fernández Duro includes a description of the final attack on the San Lorenzo and Hugo of Montcada's death. This account comes from a statement made by a slave who was present during the events.
See also
- Spanish Armada in Ireland
- List of Ships of the Spanish Armada
