Battle of Santa Cruz de Tenerife (1706)
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Santa Cruz de Tenerife was a minor military action of the War of the Spanish Succession
during which an English fleet of 13 ships under the command of Admiral John Jennings attempted unsuccessfully to seize the city of Santa Cruz de Tenerife
. Jennings previously relied on the English triumphs in the Iberian Peninsula
demanding recognition for the sovereignty of Charles II of England
over the Canary Islands
, but their offers were rejected.
, Philip V had lost Gibraltar
to an Anglo-Dutch fleet commanded by George Rooke
, the Spanish galleons in the port of Vigo
had been burnt or captured, and the Allied army was entering Castile
after overran Aragon
, Catalonia
and Valencia
. In this situation Admiral John Jenning sailed into Santa Cruz bay with 12 ships of the line and several minor warships in order to capture the town or surrender it to England. The English ships were then subjected to a heavy gunfire from hidden shore batteries
, suffering many casualties.
After an initial attempt of landing rejected by the Spanish artillery of Castle of San Cristóbal, Jennings sent an emissary to the authorities of Santa Cruz who apologized for the attack saying that it was an error. In addition, the emissary urged the authorities of the island to join the Austrian side under the menace of take the city by force. The mayor José de Ayala y Rojas, head of the defense of Santa Cruz in the absence of Governor Agustín de Robles, refused, confirming the fidelity of the islands to King Philip V
. «If Philip, our king, had lost his all in the Peninsula, these islands would still remain faithful to him.» He said. Afer this, the English fleet withdrew.
. For this victory over the English was added to the Coat of arms of Santa Cruz de Tenerife a second lion head, being the third result of the attack of Horatio Nelson in 1797, which also failed. The British attacked again the Canary Islands in 1743, but they were also beaten off.
War of the Spanish Succession
The War of the Spanish Succession was fought among several European powers, including a divided Spain, over the possible unification of the Kingdoms of Spain and France under one Bourbon monarch. As France and Spain were among the most powerful states of Europe, such a unification would have...
during which an English fleet of 13 ships under the command of Admiral John Jennings attempted unsuccessfully to seize the city of Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Santa Cruz de Tenerife is the capital , second-most populous city of the Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands and the 21st largest city in Spain, with a population of 222,417 in 2009...
. Jennings previously relied on the English triumphs in the Iberian Peninsula
Iberian Peninsula
The Iberian Peninsula , sometimes called Iberia, is located in the extreme southwest of Europe and includes the modern-day sovereign states of Spain, Portugal and Andorra, as well as the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar...
demanding recognition for the sovereignty of Charles II of England
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
over the Canary Islands
Canary Islands
The Canary Islands , also known as the Canaries , is a Spanish archipelago located just off the northwest coast of mainland Africa, 100 km west of the border between Morocco and the Western Sahara. The Canaries are a Spanish autonomous community and an outermost region of the European Union...
, but their offers were rejected.
Battle
By 1706, during the War of the Spanish SuccessionWar of the Spanish Succession
The War of the Spanish Succession was fought among several European powers, including a divided Spain, over the possible unification of the Kingdoms of Spain and France under one Bourbon monarch. As France and Spain were among the most powerful states of Europe, such a unification would have...
, Philip V had lost Gibraltar
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...
to an Anglo-Dutch fleet commanded by George Rooke
George Rooke
Admiral of the Fleet Sir George Rooke was an English naval commander. He is known for his service in the wars against France and particularly remembered today for his victory at Vigo Bay and for capturing Gibraltar for the British in 1704.-Early life:Rooke was born at St Lawrence, near Canterbury...
, the Spanish galleons in the port of Vigo
Vigo
Vigo is a city and municipality in north-west Spain, in Galicia, situated on the ria of the same name on the Atlantic Ocean.-Population:...
had been burnt or captured, and the Allied army was entering Castile
Castile (historical region)
A former kingdom, Castile gradually merged with its neighbours to become the Crown of Castile and later the Kingdom of Spain when united with the Crown of Aragon and the Kingdom of Navarre...
after overran Aragon
Aragon
Aragon is a modern autonomous community in Spain, coextensive with the medieval Kingdom of Aragon. Located in northeastern Spain, the Aragonese autonomous community comprises three provinces : Huesca, Zaragoza, and Teruel. Its capital is Zaragoza...
, Catalonia
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
and Valencia
Valencian Community
The Valencian Community is an autonomous community of Spain located in central and south-eastern Iberian Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Valencia...
. In this situation Admiral John Jenning sailed into Santa Cruz bay with 12 ships of the line and several minor warships in order to capture the town or surrender it to England. The English ships were then subjected to a heavy gunfire from hidden shore batteries
Coastal artillery
Coastal artillery is the branch of armed forces concerned with operating anti-ship artillery or fixed gun batteries in coastal fortifications....
, suffering many casualties.
After an initial attempt of landing rejected by the Spanish artillery of Castle of San Cristóbal, Jennings sent an emissary to the authorities of Santa Cruz who apologized for the attack saying that it was an error. In addition, the emissary urged the authorities of the island to join the Austrian side under the menace of take the city by force. The mayor José de Ayala y Rojas, head of the defense of Santa Cruz in the absence of Governor Agustín de Robles, refused, confirming the fidelity of the islands to King Philip V
Philip V of Spain
Philip V was King of Spain from 15 November 1700 to 15 January 1724, when he abdicated in favor of his son Louis, and from 6 September 1724, when he assumed the throne again upon his son's death, to his death.Before his reign, Philip occupied an exalted place in the royal family of France as a...
. «If Philip, our king, had lost his all in the Peninsula, these islands would still remain faithful to him.» He said. Afer this, the English fleet withdrew.
Aftermath
Although the British fleet retreated rapidly at night, the Spanish armed militia remained two days patrolling Santa Cruz, and few months in La PalmaLa Palma
La Palma is the most north-westerly of the Canary Islands. La Palma has an area of 706 km2 making it the fifth largest of the seven main Canary Islands...
. For this victory over the English was added to the Coat of arms of Santa Cruz de Tenerife a second lion head, being the third result of the attack of Horatio Nelson in 1797, which also failed. The British attacked again the Canary Islands in 1743, but they were also beaten off.
External links
- Vicente Bacallar y Sanna: Comentarios de la guerra de España e historia de su rey Felipe V, El Animoso (1725), tomo I, libro VII, año VI.