Carlos de Amésquita (also Carlos de Amézqueta or Carlos de Amézola) was a Spanish naval officer of the 16th century. He is remembered for his raid on English soil, known as the
Raid on Mount's Bay
The Raid on Mounts Bay also known as the Spanish attack on Mounts Bay was a Spanish raid on Cornwall, England, that took place between 2 and 4 August 1595 in the context of the Brittany Campaign during the Anglo-Spanish war of 1585-1604. It was ...
, in the context of the
Brittany Campaign
The Brittany Campaign or the Campaign of Brittany was a military occupation of the Brittany region of France by Spain. It began in the summer 1590 when Philippe-Emmanuel de Lorraine, Duke of Mercœur and governor of Brittany, offered the ...
during the
Anglo-Spanish War 1585–1604.
Amésquita commanded three companies and four galleys (named ''Capitana'', ''Patrona'', ''Peregrina'' and ''Bazana''). They disembarked at
Penmarch
Penmarch (, ) is a commune in the Finistère department of Brittany, northwestern France.[Mount's Bay
Mount's Bay ( kw, Baya an Garrek) is a large, sweeping bay on the English Channel coast of Cornwall, United Kingdom, stretching from the Lizard Point to Gwennap Head. In the north of the bay, near Marazion, is St Michael's Mount; the origin ...]
(
Cornwall
Cornwall (; kw, Kernow ) is a Historic counties of England, historic county and Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South West England. It is recognised as one of the Celtic nations, and is the homeland of the Cornish people ...
) on August 2.
After burning the town of
Mousehole
Mousehole (; kw, Porthenys) is a village and fishing port in Cornwall, England, UK. It is approximately south of Penzance on the shore of Mount's Bay. The village is in the civil parish of Penzance. An islet called St Clement's Isle lies ...
, Amésquita and his men embarked on their galleys and sailed for two miles, after which they disembarked again, conquered and burned the fort of
Penzance
Penzance ( ; kw, Pennsans) is a town, civil parish and port in the Penwith district of Cornwall, United Kingdom. It is the most westerly major town in Cornwall and is about west-southwest of Plymouth and west-southwest of London. Situ ...
down,
Newlyn, and Penzance. They celebrated a mass at St. Mary Chapel at Penzance, where they promised to celebrate another mass after England had been defeated.
See also
*
Fernando Sánchez de Tovar
Fernando (or Fernán) Sánchez de Tovar, 1st Lord of Belves (died 1384) was a Castilian soldier and Admiral of the Middle Ages.
Soldier of Castile
Fernando Sánchez de Tovar was the '' Adelantado Mayor'' of Pedro of Castile at the start of the ...
External links
"The Spanish Attack"
Basque people
Spanish generals
Spanish naval officers
16th-century Spanish military personnel
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