Battle of Tarragona (August 1641)

Battle of Tarragona
Part of the Franco-Spanish War (1635) and the
Catalan Revolt
Date20 – 25 August 1641
Location
Off Tarragona, Principality of Catalonia, France
Result

Spanish victory[1][2]

  • End of the French naval blockade[3]
  • Spanish naval control of the area[4]
  • Retreat of the French naval and land forces[3]
Belligerents
 France Spain Spain
Commanders and leaders
Kingdom of France Henri d'Escoubleau de Sourdis Spain Duke of Fernandina
Spain Duke of Maqueda
Strength
26 galleons[5]
19 galleys[5]
8 brigantines[5]
4 fireships[5]		 30–35 galleons and frigates[5][6]
29 galleys[5][6]
65 transport ships[5]
Casualties and losses
Severe human losses and
naval damage[1][6]
1 fireship captured[4]		 Minor[4]

The Battle of Tarragona of August 1641 was a naval battle that took place between 20 – 25 August 1641, between the Spanish and French fleets during the French stage of the Thirty Years' War.[1] The Spanish fleet, led by the Duke of Fernandina and the Duke of Maqueda broke the French naval blockade of Tarragona and defeated the French fleet under Henri d'Escoubleau de Sourdis,[1] forcing it to retreat.[1][3] The city was also besieged by land since April by a Franco-Catalan army commanded by Philippe de La Mothe-Houdancourt. The Spanish success in driving Sourdis out of the area, together with the arrival of a relief force sent by land, forced the Franco-Catalan army to leave the siege, and to retreat to Valls, pursued by the Spanish army.[2]

The Spanish victory prevented the fall of Tarragona to the French and Catalan rebel forces, for which Cardinal Richelieu deprived Sourdis of his office and replaced him with the young Jean Armand de Maillé-Brézé, his nephew.[7] In spite of his success, the Duke of Fernandina was also dismissed from duty.[7] The Count-Duke of Olivares was dissatisfied because the Duke of Fernandina failed to destroy the French fleet, and imprisoned him.[7] The case was truly unusual: the two admirals, both the victor and the vanquished, had the same bitter reward. However, the ostracism of the French Admiral was final, while the Spanish Admiral was soon restored after the fall of Olivares in 1643, and even became part of the Council of the King of Spain.[4]

  1. ^ a b c d e Duro 80–85
  2. ^ a b Balaguer p.57
  3. ^ a b c La Roncière p.82
  4. ^ a b c d Duro 84–85
  5. ^ a b c d e f g Duro 81–82
  6. ^ a b c La Roncière p.79
  7. ^ a b c La Roncière p.83