Juan de Amézqueta facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Juan de Amézqueta
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Captain Juan de Amezqueta
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| Born | 1595 San Sebastián, Gipuzkoa Province, Spain |
| Died | San Juan, Puerto Rico |
| Allegiance | Puerto Rican Militia |
| Rank | Captain |
| Commands held | San Felipe del Morro Castle |
| Battles/wars | Defense of San Juan (1625) |
Juan de Amézqueta was a brave captain in the Puerto Rican army. He was born around 1595. He is famous for defending Puerto Rico from a Dutch invasion in 1625. He even fought and wounded the Dutch leader, Captain Balduino Enrico.
Early Life
Juan de Amézqueta was born and grew up in San Sebastián, a town in Spain. His full name was Juan de Amézqueta y Quijano.
Defending San Juan in 1625
In 1625, the Netherlands was a powerful country. They wanted to control parts of the Caribbean Sea. The Dutch government sent Captain Balduino Enrico to capture Puerto Rico.
On September 24, 1625, Enrico arrived in San Juan with 17 ships and 2,000 soldiers. He sent a message to Puerto Rico's governor, Juan de Haro. Enrico demanded that the island surrender.
Governor de Haro was an experienced soldier. He refused to give up. He thought the Dutch would attack a place called Boqueron, so he made that area stronger. But the Dutch landed in a different spot called La Puntilla.
De Haro knew an attack was coming. He ordered Captain Juan de Amézqueta to take 300 men and leave "San Felipe del Morro Castle" (also known as "El Morro"). He also told people to leave the city of San Juan. Former governor Juan de Vargas helped organize fighters in the island's center.
On September 25, Enrico attacked San Juan. His soldiers surrounded El Morro Castle and La Fortaleza, which was the Governor's Mansion. The Dutch took over the capital city and made La Fortaleza their main base.
But Captain Juan de Amézqueta and 50 local fighters fought back on land. Spanish soldiers in El Morro Castle also fired their cannons. In the land battle, 60 Dutch soldiers died. Enrico himself was wounded in the neck by Amézqueta's sword. Amézqueta was known as one of the best swordsmen on the island.
The Puerto Ricans also attacked the Dutch ships at sea. After a long fight, the Spanish soldiers and local volunteers successfully defended the city. They saved the island from the invasion.
On October 21, Enrico set La Fortaleza and the city on fire. Captains Amézqueta and Andre Botello decided to stop the destruction. They led 200 men to attack the Dutch from the front and back. They pushed Enrico and his men out of their hiding spots and into the ocean as they rushed to their ships.
As Enrico retreated, he left behind one of his largest ships. Over 400 of his men were dead. He then tried to invade the town of Aguada. But the local fighters defeated him again. After that, he gave up on trying to take Puerto Rico.
Later Life and Honors
Captain Amézqueta was rewarded with 1,000 ducats (gold coins). In 1632, he became Governor of Cuba. He also took command of the Spanish forces in Santiago de Cuba.
On March 15, 1635, Dutch forces planned to invade Cuba. They sent some crew members ashore disguised as Spanish soldiers. One of Amézqueta's men became suspicious, and a small fight started. Under Amézqueta's command, 14 men used their guns and attacked the Dutch. The Dutch crew members quickly left and fled. Amézqueta left his position in 1636 and returned to Puerto Rico.
The Spanish government honored the brave defenders of San Juan. They placed a monument at El Morro. This monument was dedicated to Amézqueta in 1925. This was 300 years after the Dutch were defeated. In the 1940s, the United States opened Fort Amezquita in Isla de Cabras. During World War II, this fort was a military base. Juan de Amézqueta's descendant, Jose Andino y Amezquita, later became the first Puerto Rican journalist.
See also
In Spanish: Juan de Amézqueta para niños
- Battle of San Juan (1625)
- List of Puerto Ricans
- List of Puerto Rican military personnel
- Military history of Puerto Rico
