Battle of Blaye

Battle of Blaye (1593)
Part of the Anglo-Spanish War (1585–1604) and the French Wars of Religion

View of the Gironde Estuary from the ruins of the Citadel of Blaye (2010)
Date18 April 1593
Location
Result Spanish victory
Belligerents
 England
Supported by:
Kingdom of France France of Henry IV
 Spain
Commanders and leaders
Admiral Wilkenson  
Vice-Admiral Brailford  
Captain Limaille
Pedro de Zubiaur
Joanes de Villaviciosa
Strength
First battle: 6 galleons[1]
Supported by:
11–19 to 40–60 French and English ships[2]
(Including 6 galleasses)[3]
First battle: 4 pinnaces[4]
Spanish fleet: 16 flyboats and pinnaces[2]
Casualties and losses
2 galleons sunk (Flagship destroyed)[4][1]
Several ships damaged and 6 English merchant vessels captured[2][1]
2 ships burned[2]

The Battle of Blaye of 1593, also known as the Battle of Bec d'Ambès (in French) or Battle of the Gironde Estuary, was a naval Spanish victory that took place on 18 April 1593 off Blaye and Bec d'Ambès, Gironde Estuary, France, during the seven-month siege of Blaye between the French-Protestant forces of Henry of Navarre and the French-Catholic garrison of the city led by Governor Jean-Paul d'Esparbès de Lussan d'Aubeterre, in the context of the Brittany Campaign during the French Wars of Religion and the Anglo-Spanish War (1585–1604).[5][4][6][7]

  1. ^ a b c Historia General de España. Vol. VII. Ortiz y Sanz p.43
  2. ^ a b c d Fernández Duro p.85
  3. ^ Al ruido de la artillería bajaron de Burdeos 19 navíos con otros menores de Broage, que llegaban en suma 60 velas, tratando de cerrar el paso y envolver a los españoles, para lo que mucho hicieron seis galeazas de la Rochela apoyando al capitán Lallmiraille, jefe superior. Fernández Duro p.85 (in Spanish)
  4. ^ a b c En el IV Centenario del fallecimiento de Pedro Zubiaur, un marino vasco del siglo XVI. Gracia Rivas p.163
  5. ^ Armada española desde la unión de los reinos de Castilla y Aragón. Vol III. Fernández Duro p.85
  6. ^ Gustav Ungerer p.53
  7. ^ Ortega y Medina p.200