Azores Voyage of 1589

Azores Voyage of 1589
Part of the Anglo–Spanish War
Print of Cumberland' successful attack at Faial island in 1589
Date August – September 1589 Location Atlantic, present day Azores Result English success
Belligerents
Spain Portugal under Philip of Spain	England
Commanders and leaders
Diego Gomez Gaspar de Lemos Faria	Earl of Cumberland William Monson
Strength
Various Spanish & Portuguese ships, Fortifications	6 warships 300 soldiers
Casualties and losses
1 Galleon sunk 13 ships captured, burnt, sunk or wrecked 400 killed, wounded or captured	40 casualties 100 to disease & thirst

 Spain

The Azores Voyage of 1589 also known as Cumberlands Third Voyage was a series of conflicts in the Azores islands between August and September 1589 by an English military expedition led by the George Clifford, 3rd Earl of Cumberland during the Anglo–Spanish War. All the islands were attacked either for provisions and the attainment of Spanish and Portuguese prizes. A number of Portuguese and Spanish ships were captured and also included a battle at Faial which resulted in the capture of the fort and main town which was subsequently sacked and burned. The English were able to return home unmolested with a total of thirteen prizes - the expedition was a success and with a good profit for the investors although many lives were lost to disease and storms.

The expedition was also a scientific one in that the eminent mathematician and cartographer Edward Wright carried out navigational studies which for the first time explained the mathematical basis of the Mercator projection.

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 Royal Navy. As a result, the Azores and the Cape Verde islands were also subject to attack - this was partly due to the influx of Spanish traders to the islands as a result of the Union but also a place for the Spanish treasure galleons to replenish for victuals before the final leg of their journey to Spain.

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Wikipedia