He also told his captains that they must maintain a tight formation in order to prevent further attacks from the English ships. That afternoon Medina Sidonia announced that if any Spanish ship broke formation the captain would be hanged immediately. Drake also found 55,000 gold ducats on board. This included Admiral Pedro de Vales and all his crew.
The following morning Francis Drake and the crew of Revenge captured the crippled Rosario. It was later discovered that a gunner's carelessness resulted in a spark reaching the gunpowder in the rear hold. This was Spain's San Salvador when a tremendous explosion tore out its stern castle and killed 200 members of the crew. He was followed by Gran Grin and the two ships soon got into trouble and had to be rescued by the Duke of Medina Sidonia on board the San Martin.Īt the end of the first day's fighting, only one ship was sunk. Recalde on board the San Juan de Portugal decided to come out and fight the English ships. The Ark Royal attacked the right wing and the Revenge and the Triumph attacked Juan Martinez, de Recalde, commander of the Biscayan squadron on the left. The plan was to sail to Dunkirk in France where the Armada would pick up another 16,000 Spanish soldiers that were under the command of Alessandro Farnese, the Duke of Parma.Ĭharles Howard of Effingham, Lord High Admiral, decided that the Spanish Armada should be attacked at both ends of the crescent.
The large Spanish galleons were filled with 17,000 well-armed soldiers and 180 Catholic priests. In July 1588 the Duke of Medina Sidonia and 131 ships left Spain. After the death of Alvaro de Bazan, the Marques de Santa Cruz in 1588, the Duke of Medina Sidonia was given command of the Spanish Armada.
In 1586 the king placed him in charge of preparing the invasion of England. He served in several military campaigns and Philip II considered him the best administrator in the country. After the death of his father he became the richest feudal landowner in Spain. He came from one of the wealthiest families in Spain and was appointed captain general of Andalusia. Alonso Perez du Guzman, the son of the 6th Duke of Medina Sidonia, was born in Spain in 1550.