Recapture of Bahia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Recapture of Bahia |
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| Part of Eighty Years' War and Dutch–Portuguese War | |||||||
 The Recovery of Bahía de Todos los Santos, by Fray Juan Bautista Maíno, Museo del Prado. |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 Spain Portugal |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
 Fadrique de Toledo |
 Willem Schoutens Hans Kyff |
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| Strength | |||||||
| 12,000 men 52 ships |
3,000 to 5,000 men 18 ships |
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| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| At least 71 killed and 64 wounded | Unknown killed or wounded 1,912 captured 12 ships sunk 6 ships captured 260 guns captured |
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The Recapture of Bahia was a big military mission in 1625. Spain and Portugal worked together to take back the city of Bahia (now called Salvador) in Brazil. The city had been captured by the Dutch West India Company (WIC).
In May 1624, Dutch forces took over Salvador Bahia from the Portuguese. King Philip IV of Spain and Portugal decided to get a huge army and navy ready. Their goal was to get the city back. This strong force was led by Fadrique Álvarez de Toledo y Mendoza. The fleet sailed across the Atlantic Ocean and reached Salvador on April 1, 1625. After a few weeks of fighting, the city was taken back. This forced the Dutch out of Salvador and the areas nearby. Salvador was a very important port for Portugal in their fight against the Dutch for control of Brazil.
Contents
Why the Fight Started
On December 22, 1623, a Dutch fleet of 35 ships set sail. It was led by Admiral Jacob Willekens and Vice Admiral Pieter Heyn. Their secret plan was to capture Salvador, Brazil. They wanted to use its port as a trading base. This would help the Dutch trade with the East Indies. They also wanted to control the sugar production in the area, as Salvador was a major sugar center.
Spanish spies in the Netherlands quickly found out about these plans. They told the king in Madrid. However, the king's advisor, Count-Duke of Olivares, didn't believe the reports.
The Battle for Bahia
Dutch Takeover
On May 8, 1624, the Dutch fleet arrived at Salvador. The Portuguese governor, Diogo de Mendonça Furtado, quickly gathered about 3,000 men to defend the city. These defenders were mostly local farmers and enslaved people. Many of them were not happy with Spanish rule. Two forts, Fort Santo António and Fort São Filipe, protected the port from the sea. A battery with six guns was also set up on the beach.
The Dutch fleet entered the bay in two groups. One group landed soldiers near Santo António beach. The other group fired at the forts, quickly weakening them. By morning, over 1,000 Dutch soldiers had surrounded the city. The Portuguese defenders got scared and ran away. Governor Mendonça was left with only 60 loyal soldiers. Salvador was captured by the Dutch with only about 50 casualties.
After taking the city, Willekens and Heyn left a group of soldiers to guard it. This group was led by Colonel Johan van Dorth. They sent four ships back to Holland with news and to ask for more soldiers to keep Salvador safe.
However, the Dutch soldiers soon faced attacks from local fighters. Bishop Dom Marcos Teixeira had escaped inland and organized a group of 1,400 Portuguese and 250 Native American allies. They built defenses and set up surprise attacks against the Dutch in the nearby forests. Colonel Dorth was killed during one of these attacks. His replacement, Albert Schoutens, also died in an ambush. Willem Schoutens then took command.
Spain and Portugal Strike Back
When Spain heard about the loss of Salvador in August 1624, King Philip IV ordered a combined Spanish-Portuguese fleet to get the city back. Admiral Fadrique Álvarez de Toledo y Mendoza was put in charge.
On November 22, the Portuguese fleet left Lisbon. It had 22 ships and about 4,000 men. The Spanish fleet left Cadiz on January 14, 1625, after bad weather caused a delay. It had 38 ships, including 21 large galleons. There were 8,000 sailors and soldiers on board.
The Spanish fleet met the Portuguese fleet at Cape Verde on February 6. The Portuguese had lost one ship and 140 men in a storm. Five days later, the combined fleet sailed to Brazil. After picking up some more Portuguese ships, the fleet entered the Bay of Todos os Santos on March 29.
The Siege of Salvador
Toledo arranged his fleet in a large curve to stop any Dutch ships from escaping the bay. The next morning, 4,000 soldiers landed at Santo António beach. They brought food and supplies. They joined the local Portuguese fighters and took control of the area above Salvador. The Dutch were forced back inside the city walls. They moved their 18 ships close to their defenses for protection. At this time, the Dutch had about 2,000 soldiers (Dutch, English, French, and German) and about 800 local helpers.
The Spanish and Portuguese soldiers set up camps outside the city walls. They started a siege, firing cannons at the Dutch defenses. They also began digging tunnels towards the Dutch walls. The Dutch tried to attack them a few times to stop the work. During one of these attacks, 71 Spanish officers and soldiers were killed, and 64 were wounded. But the siege continued.
A few days later, the Dutch tried to send two fire ships (ships set on fire to destroy enemy ships) towards the Spanish-Portuguese fleet. But they didn't cause any damage. After this failure, some of the Dutch soldiers started to rebel. Willem Schoutens was removed from command and replaced by Hans Kyff.
Hans Kyff was forced to surrender a few weeks later. The Spanish-Portuguese siege lines had reached Salvador's moats (ditches around the walls). A total of 1,912 Dutch, English, French, and German soldiers surrendered. The Spanish and Portuguese captured 18 flags, 260 cannons, 6 ships, 500 enslaved people, and a lot of gunpowder, money, and goods.
What Happened Next
A few days after the Dutch surrendered, a relief fleet of 33 ships arrived. It was led by Admiral Boudewijn Hendricksz. Toledo, who knew they were coming, set up his ships to trap them in a crossfire. However, when Hendricksz saw the large Spanish-Portuguese fleet, he decided to leave. Spanish warships tried to chase him, but one ship got stuck, so the chase stopped.
Hendricksz divided his fleet into three groups. One group went back to Holland. The other two groups attacked Spanish and Portuguese trading posts, but they were both defeated.
Francisco de Moura Rollim was made the new governor of Salvador. He stayed in the city with 1,000 Portuguese soldiers. On the way back to Spain, 3 Spanish ships and 9 Portuguese ships sank in storms.
The Dutch prisoners were sent back to their home country. The officers were put on trial for losing the city. The Dutch did not return to Brazil until 1630, when they captured Pernambuco from the Portuguese.
Images for kids
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A Dutch Squadron attacking a Portuguese Fortress in the Far East or Brazil. Oil on panel by Adam Willaerts.
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Engraving by Benedictus Mealius Lusitanus, in Jornada dos Vassalos da Coroa de Portugal, Lisbon, 1625.
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Detail of a map showing the joint Spanish-Portuguese fleet recapturing Salvador, Bahia in 1625, Atlas of Brazil by João Teixeira Albernaz I (1631)
See also
In Spanish: Jornada del Brasil para niños
- Annus mirabilis
