Spanish capture of Providencia
Encyclopedia
The Spanish conquest of Providencia took place on 17 May 1641 and was a Thirty Years' War
amphibious expedition
launched by Spain
in order to seize the island from English
control. The Spanish fleet carrying 2,000 men captured the island and demolished the forts taking so much gold
that the value of the plunder was estimated at above half a million ducats
.
San Juan; the 800-ton, foreign-built viceflag Sansón under Jerónimo de Ojeda; the 400-ton galleons Jesús María del Castillo and San Marcos; the 300-ton ships Santa Ana, Teatina, and Comboy; the auxiliary San Pedro; and three lesser craft of 70–80 tons apiece. The expedition bears a total of 600 sailors and 1,400 soldiers.
, taking 270 troops and one-third of the Spanish siege train. Díaz eventually decided to make a thrust directly into the main English harbor at dawn on 24 May with 1,200 men, hoping to catch his enemy offguard.
The gamble paid off: Spanish troops waded through the surf and stormed the intricate system of English trenches and parapets with cold steel. The defenders were driven back within their keep, and the Spaniards manhandled English artillery pieces into new emplacements to open up a close-range bombardment.
At this point, Providencia’s residents sent out two flags of truce, requesting terms. The next day (25 May), Díaz accepted the surrender of the fort along with 40 guns, 380 slaves, and all English goods on the island. The 770 inhabitants surrendered on the understanding they would be repatriated to Europe; the Spanish commander-in-chief installed a new garrison under Vice Admiral de Ojeda. Díaz’s fleet then prepared to weigh, except for the Portuguese Ajuda, which attempted to desert its Spanish consorts but was wrecked on Providencia’s reefs. Furious, Díaz ordered two of its officers shot and their bodies displayed on the twisted wreckage as a warning to other wouldbe runaways.
. The vast majority of the English prisoners were forced to work clearing the Magdalena River
.
Thirty Years' War
The Thirty Years' War was fought primarily in what is now Germany, and at various points involved most countries in Europe. It was one of the most destructive conflicts in European history....
amphibious expedition
Amphibious warfare
Amphibious warfare is the use of naval firepower, logistics and strategy to project military power ashore. In previous eras it stood as the primary method of delivering troops to non-contiguous enemy-held terrain...
launched by Spain
Spanish Empire
The Spanish Empire comprised territories and colonies administered directly by Spain in Europe, in America, Africa, Asia and Oceania. It originated during the Age of Exploration and was therefore one of the first global empires. At the time of Habsburgs, Spain reached the peak of its world power....
in order to seize the island from English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
control. The Spanish fleet carrying 2,000 men captured the island and demolished the forts taking so much gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
that the value of the plunder was estimated at above half a million ducats
Ducat
The ducat is a gold coin that was used as a trade coin throughout Europe before World War I. Its weight is 3.4909 grams of .986 gold, which is 0.1107 troy ounce, actual gold weight...
.
Background
Determined to expel the English, the Spanish crown ordered veteran Admiral Don Francisco Díaz Pimienta to take his battle fleet to expunge the intruder settlement. Díaz Pimienta appeared off Providencia Island with his 400- ton flagshipFlagship
A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, reflecting the custom of its commander, characteristically a flag officer, flying a distinguishing flag...
San Juan; the 800-ton, foreign-built viceflag Sansón under Jerónimo de Ojeda; the 400-ton galleons Jesús María del Castillo and San Marcos; the 300-ton ships Santa Ana, Teatina, and Comboy; the auxiliary San Pedro; and three lesser craft of 70–80 tons apiece. The expedition bears a total of 600 sailors and 1,400 soldiers.
Action
The attackers were again stymied by Providencia’s reefs, spending several days searching for a safe landing place. On 19 May San Marcos striked an outcropping and is severely damaged; retiring toward CartagenaCartagena, Spain
Cartagena is a Spanish city and a major naval station located in the Region of Murcia, by the Mediterranean coast, south-eastern Spain. As of January 2011, it has a population of 218,210 inhabitants being the Region’s second largest municipality and the country’s 6th non-Province capital...
, taking 270 troops and one-third of the Spanish siege train. Díaz eventually decided to make a thrust directly into the main English harbor at dawn on 24 May with 1,200 men, hoping to catch his enemy offguard.
The gamble paid off: Spanish troops waded through the surf and stormed the intricate system of English trenches and parapets with cold steel. The defenders were driven back within their keep, and the Spaniards manhandled English artillery pieces into new emplacements to open up a close-range bombardment.
At this point, Providencia’s residents sent out two flags of truce, requesting terms. The next day (25 May), Díaz accepted the surrender of the fort along with 40 guns, 380 slaves, and all English goods on the island. The 770 inhabitants surrendered on the understanding they would be repatriated to Europe; the Spanish commander-in-chief installed a new garrison under Vice Admiral de Ojeda. Díaz’s fleet then prepared to weigh, except for the Portuguese Ajuda, which attempted to desert its Spanish consorts but was wrecked on Providencia’s reefs. Furious, Díaz ordered two of its officers shot and their bodies displayed on the twisted wreckage as a warning to other wouldbe runaways.
Aftermath
The victorious Spanish admiral was accorded a hero’s welcome at Cartagena de Indias, later being awarded with a knighthood in the Order of SantiagoOrder of Santiago
The Order of Santiago was founded in the 12th century, and owes its name to the national patron of Galicia and Spain, Santiago , under whose banner the Christians of Galicia and Asturias began in the 9th century to combat and drive back the Muslims of the Iberian Peninsula.-History:Santiago de...
. The vast majority of the English prisoners were forced to work clearing the Magdalena River
Magdalena River
The Magdalena River is the principal river of Colombia, flowing northward about through the western half of the country. It takes its name from the biblical figure Mary Magdalene. It is navigable through much of its lower reaches, in spite of the shifting sand bars at the mouth of its delta, as...
.