Manuel Ribeiro Pardal facts for kids

Manuel Ribeiro Pardal was a Portuguese privateer in the 1600s. He worked for Spain. A privateer was like a pirate, but they had permission from a government to attack enemy ships. Pardal was known for his battles in the Caribbean Sea. He often fought against English ships and settlements.

Manuel Pardal's Adventures

Manuel Pardal was hired by Spain around 1668. Spain wanted him to attack English bases. This was after Captain Henry Morgan raided Puerto Bello. People thought Pardal would fight Morgan directly.

Raids in the Caribbean

Instead, Pardal attacked a turtle settlement in 1669. This was on a small island called Little Cayman. He used a trick, flying flags that made his ships look friendly. His fleet had five ships and about 200 men. They landed on the beach. They burned homes and small boats used for catching turtles. They also captured an English ship called the Hopewell. Before leaving for Cuba, Pardal took two small boats and some prisoners.

While in Cuba, Pardal met a Dutch pirate named Bernard Speirdyke. Pardal later captured Speirdyke's ship. When Pardal returned to Cartagena in 1671, a big celebration was held for him. The governor of Cartagena made him "Admiral of the Corsairs." Corsairs were another name for privateers.

Challenging Henry Morgan

In the same year, Pardal sailed with his main ship, the San Pedro. He also had a French warship he had captured. He seized another small boat. He attacked small villages along the northern coast of Jamaica.

People say that Pardal wrote a poem. It was a challenge to Captain Henry Morgan. He wrote it on a piece of sailcloth. Then he hung it on a tree at Point Negril in Jamaica. The poem said:

"I come to seek General Morgan with two shippes of twenty guns and, having seen this, I crave he would come out upon ye coast to seeke mee, that hee might see ye valour of ye Spanish."

This challenge worried the leaders in Jamaica. Governor Thomas Modyford told Captain Morgan to defend Port Royal. Port Royal was a very important English port. However, Morgan used this as an excuse. He gathered a large fleet of ships. He then launched his famous raid on Panama. This happened even though England and Spain had signed a peace agreement. This agreement was called the Treaty of Madrid (1670).

Pardal's Final Battle

Manuel Pardal was eventually killed in battle. His main ship, the San Pedro y Fama, was captured. This happened off the north coast of Cuba. He was fighting against Captain John Morris. John Morris was one of Captain Morgan's officers.