Talk:Battle of Ponta Delgada

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[edit] Article is incorrect

The Battle of Ponta Delgada was not part of the Eighty Years' War, but part of the 1580 Portuguese succession crisis even if it coincided with that war. I'm correcting it. The Ogre (talk) 10:36, 23 January 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Further issues

Albrecht has reversed my edit regarding the identity of the contenders in this battle. Presently it is stated that the belligerents were, on one side, Portugal, the United Provinces, Huguenot French and England, and, on the other side, Spain. This is completely wrong! It is not only a factual error (as I shall explain), but it also amonts to taking a POV position on the Portuguese dynastic struggles of the 16th century. If you look at the Spanish version of this article, you will see that the contenders are described as having been Spain against French Privateers (Corsarios Franceses) and in the Portuguese version it is stated that it was between Portuguese and Spanish, on one side, and Portuguese and French, on the other side. The French article just says that this was battle between France and Portugal/Spain! The fleet that in the present version of the article is called Spanish was constituted by a total of 28 ships, of which 8 were Portuguese and 10 Flemish (the rest being Spanish). The opposing fleet was constituted by 60 French ships, commanded by French Admirals and hoisting the French white flag with the Fleur-de-lis. You see, this was a battle between a private fleet (essencially French, but not officialy representing France) paid by António, Prior of Crato, the exiled pretender to the Portuguese crown, and a joint Spanish and Portuguese fleet officialy representing the King of Portugal, Philipe I, who also happened to be King of Spain, as Philipe II, in a personal union of the crowns. You see, during the Iberian Union Portugal never lost its independence! It not only maintained its authonomy, it also maintained its own administration, in Europe and in the Empire. Philipe was widely acknowledged as King of Portugal in Portugal, and, by this time, not only the Portuguese political institutions and elites supported Philipe, but also there was pratically no support for António of Crato, except in the Azores. And this was indeed a private fleet paid by António with the crown jewels he took from Portugal before fleing. For these reasons I am changing the belligerents into Portugal and Spain (on one side) and a Portuguese renegades and French Privateers (on the other side). I hope my reasons are well understood. Thank you. The Ogre (talk) 03:05, 23 February 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Ships

Were ships supplied by the Dutch and English? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Provocateur (talkcontribs)

I believe not. On the Iberian side one finds Portuguese, Spanish and Flemish ships, on the side of António, Prior of Crato, I think there were only French ships. The Ogre (talk) 15:59, 4 May 2008 (UTC)