Raid on Málaga (1656) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Raid on Malaga |
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| Part of the Anglo–Spanish War (1654–1660) | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 Spain |
 England |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Marquis of Mondéjar | Captain Smith | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| Various shore defenses 10 ships |
five ships 1 fireship |
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| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 9 ships sunk Guns spiked |
Unknown. | ||||||
The Raid on Malaga was a quick attack by English ships on the Spanish city of Málaga on July 21, 1656. This event was part of a bigger fight called the Anglo–Spanish War (1654–1660). England and Spain were at war, and this raid was one way the English tried to weaken Spain's power.
Contents
The English Attack Malaga
On the morning of July 21, 1656, five English ships appeared in the Bay of Málaga. These ships were named HMS Henry, HMS Ruby, HMS Antelope, HMS Greyhound, and HMS Bryan.
Spain Prepares for Battle
When the English ships were spotted, the Marquis of Mondéjar, who was the governor of Málaga, quickly raised the alarm. He warned everyone in the city that an attack was coming.
Attacking the Harbor
Around 1:00 PM, the English ships moved closer to the harbor. They attacked two ships, one from Genoa and one from Sicily. The Sicilian ship managed to get away, but two of its crew members were killed, and its captain was hurt. The Genoese ship was not as lucky. The English captured it and set it on fire. They also burned all the other ships they found in the harbor.
Shelling the City Defenses
After destroying the ships, the English began to fire their cannons at the city. They shelled Málaga and its defenses for four hours. The Málaga Cathedral was seriously damaged during this attack.
The English faced very little resistance from the city's defenders. Because of this, they were able to go ashore. Once on land, they destroyed most of the city's supply of ammunition. They also made sure that all the cannons in the harbor could not be used anymore by "spiking" them. This means they put a spike into the touchhole of the gun, making it impossible to fire.
Aftermath of the Raid
The raid caused a lot of damage. At least fourteen people in the city were killed, and many more were wounded. A large number of people living in Málaga fled from the city to the safety of the countryside. The English ships then left the bay, having achieved their goals.
See also
In Spanish: Bombardeo de Málaga de 1656 para niños
