Battle of the Berlengas (1591)

Battle of Berlengas Islands
Part of the Anglo-Spanish War (1585–1604)

George Clifford, 3rd Earl of Cumberland, after Nicholas Hilliard, c. 1590.
Date15 July 1591
Location
Off the Berlengas Islands, Atlantic Ocean
(present-day Portugal)
Result Spanish victory
Belligerents
England England  Spain
Commanders and leaders
Earl of Cumberland
William Monson  (POW)		 Francisco Coloma
Strength
5 warships[1] 5 galleys[2]
Casualties and losses
1 warship captured, 2 prizes recovered,[2] "Captain and principal men slain",[3] 150+ prisoners[2] 2 killed[2]

The Battle of Berlengas Islands was a naval battle which took place off the Portuguese coast on 15 July 1591, during the war between Elizabeth I of England and Philip II of Spain. It was fought between an English privateer squadron under George Clifford, 3rd Earl of Cumberland, who had set out his fortunes by large-scale privateering,[1] and a squadron of 5 Spanish galleys commanded by Francisco Coloma tasked with patrolling the Portuguese coast against privateers. While anchored off the Berlengas, the English ships were surprised by the Spanish galleys, which succeeded in taking one English ship and rescuing two prizes.

  1. ^ a b MacCaffrey p. 104
  2. ^ a b c d Fernández Duro p. 79
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Monson was invoked but never defined (see the help page).