Siege of Coruña facts for kids
{{Infobox military conflict | conflict = Siege of Coruña | partof = the Anglo–Spanish War (1585–1604) and the Eighty Years' War | image = File:Maria Pita, A Coruña 2.jpg | image_size = 300px | caption = Monument of the heroine Maria Pita in the Square of the Town Hall of A Coruña | date = 4 - 18 May 1589 | place = A Coruña, (Galicia) | result = Spanish victory
- Siege Lifted
- Invasion attempt repelled
| combatant1 = 
Kingdom of England
United Provinces | combatant2 = 
Iberian Union
| commander1 = Elizabeth I of England
Robert Devereux
Francis Drake
John Norris
Edward Norris | commander2 = Philip II of Spain 
Marquis of Cerralbo
Álvaro Troncoso
The Siege of Coruña was a two-week battle in May 1589. It happened in the fishing city of A Coruña in Galicia. This event was part of the larger Anglo-Spanish War.
The English Armada, a large fleet, attacked the city. This attack was meant to get revenge after the Spanish Armada's attempt to invade England. The siege showed how the rest of the English campaign would go. In the end, the English failed to take Coruña. They then moved on to attack Lisbon.
Contents
Why the Battle Happened
The English Armada was much bigger than the Spanish Armada. It had about 180 ships and over 27,000 men. Sir Francis Drake led this huge fleet. Other important leaders included Sir John Norris and his brother Edward. Even the Earl of Essex joined the fleet, even though Queen Elizabeth I told him not to.
Queen Elizabeth had given Drake clear orders. He was supposed to attack Santander first. This was where many Spanish ships were being repaired. But Drake decided to ignore these orders. He said the winds were bad and it was too risky. Instead, he chose to attack Coruña.
Coruña was a small fishing town. It had about 4,000 people. It was not well-defended because most Spanish soldiers were in Santander. The city had only a few ships and about 1,200 soldiers. Many of these soldiers were not well-trained. The city also had old medieval walls and a few forts. The Spanish defenders were led by Juan Pacheco de Toledo and Álvaro Troncoso.
The English Arrive
The English Armada arrived on May 4. About 8,000 English soldiers landed on the beach. Álvaro Troncoso and 150 Spanish soldiers went to meet them. They spread out to make it seem like there were more of them. They fired at the English, surprising them. This made the English retreat for a short time. It also gave the Spanish time to light a warning fire.
The English landed again and found a Spanish ship, the San Bernardo, being fixed. They took its cannons. They also brought their own cannons onto the land. Two Spanish ships, the Princesa and Diana, tried to stop them but couldn't do much.
The English thought the city had few soldiers. So, they moved their cannons to the city walls. They started to break down the walls. Suddenly, they were attacked by cannons from the Castle of San Antón. They were also fired upon by two Spanish ships, the San Juan and San Bartolomé. The fighting was intense. The English lost many men and cannons.
A group of English soldiers tried to board the San Juan. But the Spanish blew up their own ship to stop it from being captured. Fourteen English soldiers died in the explosion. The San Bartolomé also fought bravely. It was sunk by the Spanish to prevent its capture. The Spanish ships Diana and Princesa sailed away. The English troops began to lose hope.
The Siege Begins
The English troops took over the lower part of the city on May 5. This area was outside the old medieval walls. Many people in the lower city were killed or injured. Their homes were looted.
The next morning, about 1,400 volunteers from nearby villages arrived. They were led by Captain Juan de Varela. They attacked the English troops in the lower city. More volunteers came from other areas. Soon, 2,400 Spanish fighters were harassing the English. They used surprise attacks in the hilly, forested areas around Coruña.
The English tried to block the city by sea. But Spanish boats kept getting through. They brought supplies into the city without being seen. The two Spanish ships, Diana and Princesa, also escaped. They were supposed to bring more help, but they didn't return. Even though the English had huge numbers, the Spanish often broke through their lines.
The English leaders decided to tighten their siege. They brought more soldiers closer together. But this caused problems. Later in the campaign, many English soldiers got sick. This likely started during the crowded siege of Coruña.
The English leader, Norris, focused on breaking the city walls. But the defenders inside kept fighting back. People in the city took turns defending the walls and fixing any damage. The English tried to storm the walls twice, but they were pushed back. The constant attacks by Valera's men also lowered the English soldiers' spirits. On May 12, the English set off a mine, but the old walls held strong.
Breaking Through the Wall
After many days and more mines, the city walls finally broke on May 14. But the Spanish defenders, led by Pedro Ponce, stopped the English from getting through. Later that evening, another explosion made a bigger hole in the wall. The Spanish had prepared for this. They reinforced the wall, making the explosion's force go back towards the attackers. Álvaro Troncoso and his men fought off the first English attack. The English lost many soldiers.
Norris ordered ten companies of soldiers to charge through a second hole made by their cannons. He led the attack himself. They broke through and entered the city. But then, the women of Coruña came to help. They were armed with spears and knives. They were led by Maria Pita.
It is said that Maria Pita saw an English commander carrying a flag. She grabbed a spear and threw it at him, killing him. This shocked the English soldiers, who were about 12,000 strong. They started to retreat. Maria Pita then stood on top of the wall and shouted, Quen teña honra, que me siga ("Whoever has honor, follow me!"). Her courage inspired the defenders, and the English were pushed back. At another part of the wall, Inés de Ben, a storekeeper, led another charge against the English. After more than two hours of fighting, the English were forced to retreat.
At the same time, the English also attacked the Castle of San Antón. But this attack was not successful.
Battle at El Burgo Bridge
On May 18, English scouts found a large Spanish force. About 8,500 to 10,000 new Spanish soldiers were trying to help Coruña. They had crossed the bridge of El Burgo, about five miles south of the city.
Norris quickly went to the bridge with only 1,700 men. His first attempt to take the bridge failed. The Spanish began to dig in around the bridge. But then, Norris got more soldiers. With about 6,000 men, he pushed the Spanish back across the narrow bridge. Over 1,000 Spanish soldiers were killed, wounded, or captured. Norris even captured a Spanish flag. The English lost few men, though Edward Norreys was wounded. After the battle, the English went into the countryside and destroyed many villages.
English Retreat
Later that day, the English heard that more Spanish soldiers were coming from Santander. The next day, they gave up the siege. They got back on their ships and sailed to Lisbon.
Even though the English army had many more soldiers, they could not take Coruña. Their attacks from the sea also failed. The castle's cannons stopped them.
What Happened Next
The English army lost over 1,500 men during the siege. They also lost three large ships and four landing boats. They had to leave without enough supplies and with many injured soldiers. The biggest loss was to their morale. Being defeated by civilians and women made their spirits very low.
When Drake ordered the fleet to go to Lisbon, 1,000 of his men deserted. They took ten small ships and sailed back to England.
The city of Coruña lost about 1,000 people, including men, women, and children. The lower part of the city was also badly damaged. When King Philip II heard about the brave defense, he honored Maria Pita. He gave her the title of "permanent second lieutenant of the city" and a special salary. Other leaders of the city's defense were also rewarded.
See also
- Maria Pita
- History of A Coruña
- Timeline of A Coruña
