Juan José Navarro
Encyclopedia
Juan José de Navarro Viana y Búfalo (Messina, November 30, 1687 – Isla de León
Cadiz
, February 5, 1772) was a Spanish military officer, Marqués de la Victoria and first Captain General
of the Spanish Navy
.
He was the son of Ignacio de Navarro, a Spanish Army captain and Livia Búfalo, a Sicilian noblewoman.
He entered the Spanish Army at the age of eight and fought in the War of Spanish Succession in Italy. In 1708 he fought the Moors
in Oran
, where his brother Ramón was killed and his father died in captivity. In 1709 he returned to Spain and fought in the Battle of Almenar and the Battle of Zaragoza, where he was made prisoner by the troops of Guido Starhemberg
.
After the signing of the Peace of Utrecht, he became captain of his late father's company, and participated in the pacification of Catalonia
.
After the war, he joined the Navy and at the outbreak of the War of the Quadruple Alliance
, he sailed on the Real to Sardinia and Sicily with the Army under the Marquis of Lede
, and took part in their conquest as part of the Spanish Navy Marines.
Navarro was also an important author of several books on military theory.
Under protection of José Patiño
, he rose through the ranks.
In 1732, he participated in the conquest of Oran
under the Duke of Montemar and played an important role in covering the landing troops by the use of his naval guns.
In the War of Austrian Succession he won his greatest victory in beating a British fleet in the Battle of Toulon (1744)
. He was promoted to lieutenant general (Teniente Géneral) and received the title of marqués de la Victoria (marquis of Victory).
After the battle his fleet remained locked up in Cartagena, by a fleet of 21 ships under Rear-Admiral William Rowley.
On March 15, 1750 he became Director General of the Armada.
Six years later he finished his Diccionario demostrativo de la configuración y anatomía de toda arquitectura naval moderna. He had entered the Real Academia Española
in 1740.
In 1759, he commanded the convoy of 36 ships that brought Charles III
, the new King of Spain, from Naples to Spain. His flagship was the El Fénix (80 guns) with his son-in-law Gutierre de Hevia
as captain. For this save passage, he received a golden baton and was made Captain General of the Spanish Navy on December 13 of that year.
The last assignment of the 80-year-old Marqués de la Victoria, was to organize a squadron of nine ships which escorted Infanta María Louisa to her husband Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor
, and brought back Maria Luisa of Parma
, who was to marry Charles IV of Spain
.
Navarro died of Gangrene
at the age of 84.
Isla de León
Isla de León is a historical name for the piece of land between the city of Cádiz and the Spanish peninsula.In 1813 it was renamed San Fernando in honour of King Fernando VII of Spain for his courage in the defense of the city during the Siege of Cádiz by the French....
Cadiz
Cádiz
Cadiz is a city and port in southwestern Spain. It is the capital of the homonymous province, one of eight which make up the autonomous community of Andalusia....
, February 5, 1772) was a Spanish military officer, Marqués de la Victoria and first Captain General
Captain General
Captain general is a high military rank and a gubernatorial title.-History:This term Captain General started to appear in the 14th century, with the meaning of commander in chief of an army in the field, probably the first usage of the term General in military settings...
of the Spanish Navy
Spanish Navy
The Spanish Navy is the maritime branch of the Spanish Armed Forces, one of the oldest active naval forces in the world. The Armada is responsible for notable achievements in world history such as the discovery of Americas, the first world circumnavigation, and the discovery of a maritime path...
.
He was the son of Ignacio de Navarro, a Spanish Army captain and Livia Búfalo, a Sicilian noblewoman.
He entered the Spanish Army at the age of eight and fought in the War of Spanish Succession in Italy. In 1708 he fought the Moors
Moors
The description Moors has referred to several historic and modern populations of the Maghreb region who are predominately of Berber and Arab descent. They came to conquer and rule the Iberian Peninsula for nearly 800 years. At that time they were Muslim, although earlier the people had followed...
in Oran
Oran
Oran is a major city on the northwestern Mediterranean coast of Algeria, and the second largest city of the country.It is the capital of the Oran Province . The city has a population of 759,645 , while the metropolitan area has a population of approximately 1,500,000, making it the second largest...
, where his brother Ramón was killed and his father died in captivity. In 1709 he returned to Spain and fought in the Battle of Almenar and the Battle of Zaragoza, where he was made prisoner by the troops of Guido Starhemberg
Guido Starhemberg
Guido Wald Rüdiger, count of Starhemberg; was an Austrian military officer.He was a cousin of Ernst Rüdiger von Starhemberg , the famous commander of Vienna during the Turkish siege of 1683, and acted as his ADC during the siege...
.
After the signing of the Peace of Utrecht, he became captain of his late father's company, and participated in the pacification of 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...
.
After the war, he joined the Navy and at the outbreak of the War of the Quadruple Alliance
War of the Quadruple Alliance
The War of the Quadruple Alliance was a result of the ambitions of King Philip V of Spain, his wife, Elisabeth Farnese, and his chief minister Giulio Alberoni to retake territories in Italy and to claim the French throne. It saw the defeat of Spain by an alliance of Britain, France, Austria , and...
, he sailed on the Real to Sardinia and Sicily with the Army under the Marquis of Lede
Jean François de Bette, Marquis of Lede
Jean François de Bette, 3rd Marquis of Lede was a Belgian military commander in Spanish service. He was also lord of the Fiefdom of Lede in Flanders.-Biography:...
, and took part in their conquest as part of the Spanish Navy Marines.
Navarro was also an important author of several books on military theory.
Under protection of José Patiño
José Patiño
Don José Patiño , Spanish statesman, was born at Milan.His father, Don Lucas Patino de Ibarra, Señor de Castelar, who was by origin a Galician, was a member of the privy council and inspector of the troops in the Duchy of Milan for the king of Spain, to whom it then, belonged...
, he rose through the ranks.
In 1732, he participated in the conquest of Oran
Oran
Oran is a major city on the northwestern Mediterranean coast of Algeria, and the second largest city of the country.It is the capital of the Oran Province . The city has a population of 759,645 , while the metropolitan area has a population of approximately 1,500,000, making it the second largest...
under the Duke of Montemar and played an important role in covering the landing troops by the use of his naval guns.
In the War of Austrian Succession he won his greatest victory in beating a British fleet in the Battle of Toulon (1744)
Battle of Toulon (1744)
The naval Battle of Toulon or Battle of Cape Sicié took place on 22 February 1744 in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Toulon, France. A combined Franco-Spanish fleet fought off Britain's Mediterranean fleet...
. He was promoted to lieutenant general (Teniente Géneral) and received the title of marqués de la Victoria (marquis of Victory).
After the battle his fleet remained locked up in Cartagena, by a fleet of 21 ships under Rear-Admiral William Rowley.
On March 15, 1750 he became Director General of the Armada.
Six years later he finished his Diccionario demostrativo de la configuración y anatomía de toda arquitectura naval moderna. He had entered the Real Academia Española
Real Academia Española
The Royal Spanish Academy is the official royal institution responsible for regulating the Spanish language. It is based in Madrid, Spain, but is affiliated with national language academies in twenty-one other hispanophone nations through the Association of Spanish Language Academies...
in 1740.
In 1759, he commanded the convoy of 36 ships that brought Charles III
Charles III of Spain
Charles III was the King of Spain and the Spanish Indies from 1759 to 1788. He was the eldest son of Philip V of Spain and his second wife, the Princess Elisabeth Farnese...
, the new King of Spain, from Naples to Spain. His flagship was the El Fénix (80 guns) with his son-in-law Gutierre de Hevia
Gutierre de Hevia
Don Gutierre de Hevia y Valdés was a Spanish military man, who was head of the Spanish Marine Corps and present when Spain lost Havana during the British expedition against Cuba.-Biography:...
as captain. For this save passage, he received a golden baton and was made Captain General of the Spanish Navy on December 13 of that year.
The last assignment of the 80-year-old Marqués de la Victoria, was to organize a squadron of nine ships which escorted Infanta María Louisa to her husband Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor
Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor
Leopold II , born Peter Leopold Joseph Anton Joachim Pius Gotthard, was Holy Roman Emperor and King of Hungary and Bohemia from 1790 to 1792, Archduke of Austria and Grand Duke of Tuscany from 1765 to 1790. He was a son of Emperor Francis I and his wife, Empress Maria Theresa...
, and brought back Maria Luisa of Parma
Maria Luisa of Parma
Maria Luisa of Parma was Queen consort of Spain from 1788 to 1808 as the wife of King Charles IV of Spain. She was the youngest daughter of Duke Philip of Parma and his wife, Louise-Élisabeth of France, the eldest daughter of King Louis XV.She was christened Luisa Maria Teresa Ana, but was known...
, who was to marry Charles IV of Spain
Charles IV of Spain
Charles IV was King of Spain from 14 December 1788 until his abdication on 19 March 1808.-Early life:...
.
Navarro died of Gangrene
Gangrene
Gangrene is a serious and potentially life-threatening condition that arises when a considerable mass of body tissue dies . This may occur after an injury or infection, or in people suffering from any chronic health problem affecting blood circulation. The primary cause of gangrene is reduced blood...
at the age of 84.