Antonio Castaneta
Encyclopedia
Don José Antonio Castañeta (alternatively Antonio de Gaztañeta) (Mutriku
, Guipúzcoa 1656 - Madrid, 1728) was a Basque, Spanish Vice-Admiral and ship builder.
He is best remembered as the Vice-Admiral who commanded the Spanish Mediterranean fleet at the Battle of Cape Passaro
against Great Britain
on August 11, 1718 off the coast of Sicily
. Castañeta's fleet was decisively defeated.
His greatest contribution to the Spanish Navy though was in the field of ship building. He was an innovator who based his designs on science. He was at the origin of the revival of the Spanish Navy in the eighteenth century. Some of the elements he introduced were even copied by the English and Dutch.
Son of Francisco de Gaztañeta, a Basque
sailor to the Americas, he accompanied his father from the age of 12. In 1684, at the age of 28, he had already sailed 11 times to the Americas and back. In that year he joined the Spanish Navy. In 1691 he was posted in Cadiz and was involved in several campaigns of the War of the Grand Alliance
against France. He saved a fleet coming back from Naples
, cleverly avoiding an ambush by Admiral Tourville
near Mahon
.
During the War of Spanish Succession (1701–1714), he wasn't involved in warfare, but in ship building. He founded the famous shipyard of El Astillero
. Later he went to the Basque Country and led the construction of many ships in Amorebieta, Pasajes and Orio
.
In the following War of the Quadruple Alliance
he was appointed head of the fleet which was to sail the Spanish Army under the Marquis of Lede
to Sardinia and Sicily.
After this was accomplished he positioned his fleet at Cape Passaro. It was sailing scattered, and the sight of approaching British ships wasn't initially perceived as any danger, as Britain and Spain weren't officially at war. The battle was a disaster for the Spanish Navy. Francisco de Gaztañeta's ship was captured, suffering 200 killed. Gaztañeta was injured at the foot and was made prisoner by the British. He was released very soon and wasn't blamed for the defeat on his return to Spain, as the battle was seen as a treacherous action by the British .
He was promoted to Lieutenant General
in 1720 and was made head of the Spanish treasure fleet
. During the Anglo-Spanish War (1727)
he had his revenge, when he sneaked a fleet with 31 million pesos worth on board through the British Blockade of Porto Bello
, consisting of the fleets of Admirals Hosier
and Wager
. On his save arrival in Spain King Philip V of Spain awarded him with a great amount of money, but shortly after, Gaztañeta died suddenly on February 5, 1728.
Gaztañeta married twice.
Cosme Damián de Churruca y Elorza
is a relative.
Mutriku
Mutriku is a town located in the province of Gipuzkoa in the Autonomous Community of Basque Country in northern Spain. It is the site of the world's first multi-turbine breakwater wave power station, inaugurated July 8, 2011....
, Guipúzcoa 1656 - Madrid, 1728) was a Basque, Spanish Vice-Admiral and ship builder.
He is best remembered as the Vice-Admiral who commanded the Spanish Mediterranean fleet at the Battle of Cape Passaro
Battle of Cape Passaro
The Battle of Cape Passaro was the defeat of a Spanish fleet under Admirals Antonio de Gaztañeta and Fernando Chacón by a British fleet under Admiral George Byng, near Cape Passero, Sicily, on 11 August 1718, four months before the War of the Quadruple Alliance was formally...
against Great Britain
Kingdom of Great Britain
The former Kingdom of Great Britain, sometimes described as the 'United Kingdom of Great Britain', That the Two Kingdoms of Scotland and England, shall upon the 1st May next ensuing the date hereof, and forever after, be United into One Kingdom by the Name of GREAT BRITAIN. was a sovereign...
on August 11, 1718 off the coast of Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
. Castañeta's fleet was decisively defeated.
His greatest contribution to the Spanish Navy though was in the field of ship building. He was an innovator who based his designs on science. He was at the origin of the revival of the Spanish Navy in the eighteenth century. Some of the elements he introduced were even copied by the English and Dutch.
Son of Francisco de Gaztañeta, a Basque
Basque people
The Basques as an ethnic group, primarily inhabit an area traditionally known as the Basque Country , a region that is located around the western end of the Pyrenees on the coast of the Bay of Biscay and straddles parts of north-central Spain and south-western France.The Basques are known in the...
sailor to the Americas, he accompanied his father from the age of 12. In 1684, at the age of 28, he had already sailed 11 times to the Americas and back. In that year he joined the Spanish Navy. In 1691 he was posted in Cadiz and was involved in several campaigns of the War of the Grand Alliance
War of the Grand Alliance
The Nine Years' War – often called the War of the Grand Alliance, the War of the Palatine Succession, or the War of the League of Augsburg – was a major war of the late 17th century fought between King Louis XIV of France, and a European-wide coalition, the Grand Alliance, led by the Anglo-Dutch...
against France. He saved a fleet coming back from Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
, cleverly avoiding an ambush by Admiral Tourville
Anne Hilarion de Tourville
Anne Hilarion de Costentin, comte de Tourville was a French naval commander who served under King Louis XIV. He was made Marshal of France in 1693.-Military career:...
near Mahon
Mahon
Mahón is a municipality and the capital city of the Balearic Island of Minorca , located in the eastern part of the island. Mahon has the second deepest natural harbor in the world: 5 km long and up to 900m. wide...
.
During the War of Spanish Succession (1701–1714), he wasn't involved in warfare, but in ship building. He founded the famous shipyard of El Astillero
El Astillero
El Astillero is a town and municipality in the province and autonomous community of Cantabria, northern Spain. It is near the province capital, Santander, and it is known for its shipyard, and for holding the title of Spain Rowing Championships...
. Later he went to the Basque Country and led the construction of many ships in Amorebieta, Pasajes and Orio
Orio
Orio is a fishing town located in the province of Gipuzkoa in the Basque Autonomous Community, northern Spain, with the town nucleus lying on the river Oria, roughly one mile away from its mouth by the Bay of Biscay....
.
In the following War of the Quadruple Alliance
War of the Quadruple Alliance
The War of the Quadruple Alliance was a result of the ambitions of King Philip V of Spain, his wife, Elisabeth Farnese, and his chief minister Giulio Alberoni to retake territories in Italy and to claim the French throne. It saw the defeat of Spain by an alliance of Britain, France, Austria , and...
he was appointed head of the fleet which was to sail the Spanish Army under the Marquis of Lede
Jean François de Bette, Marquis of Lede
Jean François de Bette, 3rd Marquis of Lede was a Belgian military commander in Spanish service. He was also lord of the Fiefdom of Lede in Flanders.-Biography:...
to Sardinia and Sicily.
After this was accomplished he positioned his fleet at Cape Passaro. It was sailing scattered, and the sight of approaching British ships wasn't initially perceived as any danger, as Britain and Spain weren't officially at war. The battle was a disaster for the Spanish Navy. Francisco de Gaztañeta's ship was captured, suffering 200 killed. Gaztañeta was injured at the foot and was made prisoner by the British. He was released very soon and wasn't blamed for the defeat on his return to Spain, as the battle was seen as a treacherous action by the British .
He was promoted to Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
in 1720 and was made head of the Spanish treasure fleet
Spanish treasure fleet
The Spanish treasure fleets was a convoy system adopted by the Spanish Empire from 1566 to 1790...
. During the Anglo-Spanish War (1727)
Anglo-Spanish War (1727)
The Anglo-Spanish War of 1727–1729 was a limited war that took place between Great Britain and Spain during the Eighteenth Century, and consisted of a failed British attempt to blockade Porto Bello and a failed Spanish attempt to capture Gibraltar...
he had his revenge, when he sneaked a fleet with 31 million pesos worth on board through the British Blockade of Porto Bello
Blockade of Porto Bello
The Blockade of Porto Bello was a failed British naval action against the Spanish port of Porto Bello in present day Panama between 1726 and 1727 as part of the Anglo-Spanish War. The British were attempting to blockade the port to stop valuable treasure convoys leaving for Spain...
, consisting of the fleets of Admirals Hosier
Francis Hosier
Francis Hosier was a British Vice-Admiral. He was lieutenant in Rooke's flagship at the Battle of Barfleur in 1693. He captured the Heureux off Cape Clear in 1710 and distinguished himself in action with the Spanish off Cartagena in 1711...
and Wager
Charles Wager
Sir Charles Wager was a British Admiral and First Lord of the Admiralty between 1733 and 1742.Despite heroic active service and steadfast administration and diplomatic service, Wager's reputation has suffered from a profoundly mistaken idea that the navy was then at a low ebb...
. On his save arrival in Spain King Philip V of Spain awarded him with a great amount of money, but shortly after, Gaztañeta died suddenly on February 5, 1728.
Gaztañeta married twice.
Cosme Damián de Churruca y Elorza
Cosme Damián de Churruca y Elorza
Cosme Damián de Churruca y Elorza was a Basque Spanish noble, an Admiral of the Royal Spanish Armada, a scientist and Major of Mutriku, who died at the Battle of Trafalgar while commanding the ship of the line San Juan Nepomuceno.He received his early years education in the Seminary of Burgos...
is a relative.