Action of Faial

Action of Faial
Part of the Anglo–Spanish War
Faial Island, off which the action was fought.
Date 22–23 June 1594 Location Off Faial Island, Azores, Atlantic Ocean Result English victory
Belligerents
Iberian Union Portugal	England
Commanders and leaders
Francisco de Melo Canaveado	Earl of Cumberland
Strength
1 carrack of 2,000 tons, 700 men	3 galleons of 250–300 tons 420 sailors
Casualties and losses
1 carrack destroyed 600 killed or wounded 13 survived/captured	60 killed or wounded (35 killed in explosion)

Iberian Union

The Action of Faial or the Battle of Faial Island was a naval engagement that took place on 22 - 23 of June 1594 during the Anglo-Spanish War in which the large and rich 2,000 ton Portuguese carrack Cinco Chagas was destroyed by an English fleet after a long and bitter battle off Faial Island in the Azores. The carrack, which was reputedly one of the richest ever to set sail from the Indies, was lost in an explosion which denied the English, as well as the Portuguese and Spanish, the riches.

By virtue of the Iberian Union, the Anglo-Portuguese Treaty of 1373 was in abeyance, and as the Anglo–Spanish War was still ongoing, Portuguese shipping was a fair target for the English navy and privateers. At the latter end of 1593 the Earl of Cumberland, hoping to capitalize on the success of the capture of the Madre de Deus; prepared at his own expense three ships of 250 to 300 tons, with two artillery decks each and a total of 420 sailors and soldiers . These were the Royal Exchange, owned by London Merchants, William Holliday, Thomas Cordell and William Garraway and of which George Cave was captain, the Mayflower - Vice Admiral under the command of William Anthony, and the Sampson, under Nicholas Downton. There was also a support pinnace, the Violet.

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