Battle of the Berlengas (1666)

Battle of the Berlengas
Part of Portuguese Restoration War

Fort of São João Baptista
Date28 June to 1 July 1666
LocationBerlengas archipelago, Portugal
Result Spanish victory, fort taken and destroyed.[1]
Belligerents
 Portugal  Spain
Commanders and leaders
Portugal António Avelar Pessoa Spain Diego Ibarra
Strength
28 men[2] 15 ships[3]
1,500 men[4]
Casualties and losses
1 man killed
4 men wounded
9 artillery pieces captured
11 men killed, 30 wounded[5]

The Battle of Berlengas was fought in 1666, between the Portuguese defenders of the Fort São João Baptista and a Spanish fleet commanded by Diego de Ibarra. The fleet, which had destroyed Portuguese fisheries, bombarded towns and cut off supplies in one month as part of its onslaught, proceeded to storm the fort on the Berlingas.[6] The fort was destroyed and the entire garrison were captured.[7]

The fort was rebuilt more than one hundred years ago after the battle had occurred.

Notes

  1. Porter&Prince p.168
  2. Porter, Prince, "In 1666, 28 Portuguese tried to withstand 1,500 Spaniards who bombarded the site from 15 ships." p.12
  3. Porter, Prince, p.12
  4. Porter, Prince, p.12
  5. Duro. p.91
  6. Brown & Cavendish p.149
  7. Duro p.91

References

Coordinates: 39°25′N 9°30′W / 39.42°N 9.50°W