Juan Martínez de Recalde facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Juan Martínez de Recalde
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| Birth name | Juan Martinez de Recalde |
| Nickname(s) | Recalde |
| Born | c. 1540 Bilbao, Biscay, Crown of Castile, Spain |
| Died | 22 October 1588 (aged 47-48) A Coruña, Spain |
| Allegiance | Spain |
| Service/ |
Spanish Navy |
| Rank | Admiral |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards | Order of Santiago [knight] |
Juan Martínez de Recalde (born around 1540 – died October 23, 1588) was an important officer in the Spanish Navy. He was chosen to be an admiral and the second-in-command of the famous Spanish Armada. He also commanded a ship called the San Juan de Portugal. Recalde was a knight of the Order of Santiago, which was a special award.
Contents
Juan Martínez de Recalde was born in Bilbao, a city in Spain, around the year 1540. He joined the Spanish Navy as part of the Biscay Squadron. This was the start of his long career at sea.
Becoming a Hero
Recalde became well-known for his bravery and skill. He once led three fleets of ships to the Indies. He also played a key role in saving a ship full of gold near Madeira Island. Because of this success, he was given command of the Laredo Fleet.
Working with Admiral Bazán
Recalde became close with another important naval leader, Admiral Álvaro de Bazán. Under Bazán's command, Recalde took part in two trips to the Azores islands in the early 1580s. These trips helped him gain more experience in naval battles.
Role in the Spanish Armada
Later, Recalde was put in charge of an operation against the English in Ireland. He landed many troops there. His biggest role came when he was appointed Admiral of the Fleet for the Spanish Armada. This huge fleet was planning to invade England.
Second-in-Command
The overall leader of the Armada was the Duke of Medina-Sidonia. Recalde was his second-in-command, meaning he was the next most important person in the entire fleet. He commanded the Biscayan squadron, but he sailed on the San Juan de Portugal, a large 50-gun ship.
Challenges in Battle
Even though he was second-in-command, Recalde did not have much power to make decisions during the battles. He also didn't get enough support from the Duke. This meant his ships often fought without their full strength.
Final Battle and Death
In July 1588, Recalde's ships got separated from the main fleet during a fight. He had to battle against several of the strongest English ships. His ships were badly damaged, and he lost many of his men.
After the difficult battles, Recalde was forced to stop in Ireland. He then sailed back to A Coruña in Spain. He was very sick with a fever and had many wounds from the fighting. Juan Martínez de Recalde died just a few days after his squadron arrived back in port.
See also
In Spanish: Juan Martínez de Recalde para niños
