Ignacio Maria de Alava y Saenz de Navarrete
Encyclopedia
Ignacio Maria de Alava y Saenz de Navarrete (1750 – May 1817) was a Spanish
naval officer, present at the Battle of Trafalgar
.
during the American Revolutionary War
. He took part in an attack on the floating batteries of Gibraltar, and was involved in the Battle of Cape Spartel
on October 20, 1782. Shortly after, he was promoted to capitán de navío (naval captain
), and was transferred to the frigate Sabina.
From 1787 to 1790, he was flag captain
in the fleet of Admiral Don Juan de Lángara
. In 1790, commanding the San Francisco de Paula, he brought relief to the city of Oran
, which was besieged by Algeria
n pirates. In 1792, he was promoted to brigadier (Commodore
), and given command of a squadron
in Lángara's fleet. In 1793 and 1794, Alava took part in the campaigns in the Golfe du Lion, part of the French Revolutionary Wars
. In 1795, Alava, who had been promoted to jefe de esquadra (rear admiral
) the previous year, was given command of a naval squadron that sailed around the world
in order to undertake several missions in the Spanish colonies, for example reorganizing the naval forces in the Philippines
. He would not return to Cadiz
until 1803. By then he was a teniente general (vice admiral
).
On February 15, 1805, Alava was appointed second-in-command of the Spanish fleet in Cadiz, under Admiral Gravina
. When Gravina joined the French Mediterranean fleet under Villeneuve for its voyage to the Caribbean, Alava remained as commander of the ships in Cadiz. On August 20, 1805, Gravina and Villeneuve returned, and Cadiz was blockaded by a British
fleet under Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson. On October 19, the combined French and Spanish fleet left Cadiz, with Alava on board of his flagship, the 112-gun Santa Ana. On October 21, they met the British fleet and the Battle of Trafalgar ensued.
Alava was severely wounded in the battle, and the Santa Ana was captured by the British. However, two days later, a squadron under the command of Commodore Cosmao-Kerjulien
succeeded in recapturing her and getting her back to Cadiz. After Gravina died of the wounds he had received in the battle, Alava became the commander of the remaining ships in Cadiz. In May 1808, Alava defected to Sevilla, where a junta
had formed to oppose the French. After Cadiz had been recaptured by the Spanish, Alava once again became commander of the naval squadron based there. In 1810, Alava became Commander-in-Chief in the Caribbean, based in Havana
. He returned to Cadiz in 1813, as its governor. In 1814, he became a member of the Supreme Council of the Spanish Admiralty, and on February 24, 1817, he became Admiral
of the Spanish Fleet. He died after only three months in this position.
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
naval officer, present at the Battle of Trafalgar
Battle of Trafalgar
The Battle of Trafalgar was a sea battle fought between the British Royal Navy and the combined fleets of the French Navy and Spanish Navy, during the War of the Third Coalition of the Napoleonic Wars ....
.
Naval career
Alava joined the Spanish navy in 1766. In his early years, he was involved in fighting the pirates of the North African coast (whom the Spanish navy had been fighting for a long time). In 1781, he commanded the corvette San Luis, which took part in the Spanish blockade of GibraltarGibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...
during the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
. He took part in an attack on the floating batteries of Gibraltar, and was involved in the Battle of Cape Spartel
Battle of Cape Spartel
The Battle of Cape Spartel was an indecisive naval battle between a Franco-Spanish fleet under Admiral Luis de Córdova y Córdova and a British fleet under Admiral Richard Howe...
on October 20, 1782. Shortly after, he was promoted to capitán de navío (naval captain
Captain (naval)
Captain is the name most often given in English-speaking navies to the rank corresponding to command of the largest ships. The NATO rank code is OF-5, equivalent to an army full colonel....
), and was transferred to the frigate Sabina.
From 1787 to 1790, he was flag captain
Flag captain
In the Royal Navy, a flag captain was the captain of an admiral's flagship. During the 18th and 19th centuries, this ship might also have a "captain of the fleet", who would be ranked between the admiral and the "flag captain" as the ship's "First Captain", with the "flag captain" as the ship's...
in the fleet of Admiral Don Juan de Lángara
Juan de Lángara
Juan Francisco de Lángara y Huarte was a Spanish naval officer and Minister of Marine.-Life and career:He was born at Coruña, Galicia, the son of a renowned Basque family...
. In 1790, commanding the San Francisco de Paula, he brought relief to the city of Oran
Oran
Oran is a major city on the northwestern Mediterranean coast of Algeria, and the second largest city of the country.It is the capital of the Oran Province . The city has a population of 759,645 , while the metropolitan area has a population of approximately 1,500,000, making it the second largest...
, which was besieged by Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
n pirates. In 1792, he was promoted to brigadier (Commodore
Commodore (rank)
Commodore is a military rank used in many navies that is superior to a navy captain, but below a rear admiral. Non-English-speaking nations often use the rank of flotilla admiral or counter admiral as an equivalent .It is often regarded as a one-star rank with a NATO code of OF-6, but is not always...
), and given command of a squadron
Squadron (naval)
A squadron, or naval squadron, is a unit of 3-4 major warships, transport ships, submarines, or sometimes small craft that may be part of a larger task force or a fleet...
in Lángara's fleet. In 1793 and 1794, Alava took part in the campaigns in the Golfe du Lion, part of the French Revolutionary Wars
French Revolutionary Wars
The French Revolutionary Wars were a series of major conflicts, from 1792 until 1802, fought between the French Revolutionary government and several European states...
. In 1795, Alava, who had been promoted to jefe de esquadra (rear admiral
Rear Admiral
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. It is generally regarded as the lowest of the "admiral" ranks, which are also sometimes referred to as "flag officers" or "flag ranks"...
) the previous year, was given command of a naval squadron that sailed around the world
Circumnavigation
Circumnavigation – literally, "navigation of a circumference" – refers to travelling all the way around an island, a continent, or the entire planet Earth.- Global circumnavigation :...
in order to undertake several missions in the Spanish colonies, for example reorganizing the naval forces in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. He would not return to Cadiz
Cádiz
Cadiz is a city and port in southwestern Spain. It is the capital of the homonymous province, one of eight which make up the autonomous community of Andalusia....
until 1803. By then he was a teniente general (vice admiral
Vice Admiral
Vice admiral is a senior naval rank of a three-star flag officer, which is equivalent to lieutenant general in the other uniformed services. A vice admiral is typically senior to a rear admiral and junior to an admiral...
).
On February 15, 1805, Alava was appointed second-in-command of the Spanish fleet in Cadiz, under Admiral Gravina
Don Federico Carlos
Don Federico Carlos Gravina y Nápoli, , was a Spanish Admiral during the American Revolution and Napoleonic Wars, who died of wounds sustained during the Battle of Trafalgar....
. When Gravina joined the French Mediterranean fleet under Villeneuve for its voyage to the Caribbean, Alava remained as commander of the ships in Cadiz. On August 20, 1805, Gravina and Villeneuve returned, and Cadiz was blockaded by a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
fleet under Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson. On October 19, the combined French and Spanish fleet left Cadiz, with Alava on board of his flagship, the 112-gun Santa Ana. On October 21, they met the British fleet and the Battle of Trafalgar ensued.
Alava was severely wounded in the battle, and the Santa Ana was captured by the British. However, two days later, a squadron under the command of Commodore Cosmao-Kerjulien
Julien Cosmao
Julien Marie Cosmao-Kerjulien was a French Navy officer, admiral, and hero of the Battle of Trafalgar.- Early career :...
succeeded in recapturing her and getting her back to Cadiz. After Gravina died of the wounds he had received in the battle, Alava became the commander of the remaining ships in Cadiz. In May 1808, Alava defected to Sevilla, where a junta
Junta (Peninsular War)
In the Napoleonic era, junta was the name chosen by several local administrations formed in Spain during the Peninsular War as a patriotic alternative to the official administration toppled by the French invaders...
had formed to oppose the French. After Cadiz had been recaptured by the Spanish, Alava once again became commander of the naval squadron based there. In 1810, Alava became Commander-in-Chief in the Caribbean, based in Havana
Havana
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
. He returned to Cadiz in 1813, as its governor. In 1814, he became a member of the Supreme Council of the Spanish Admiralty, and on February 24, 1817, he became Admiral
Admiral
Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...
of the Spanish Fleet. He died after only three months in this position.
External links
- Kurzbiographie Vizeadmiral Ignacio Maria de Alava (Link in German)