Battle of Blaye

Battle of Blaye (1593)
Part of the Anglo-Spanish War (1585–1604) and the French Wars of Religion
View of the Gironde Estuary from the ruins of the Citadel of Blaye (2010)
Date 18 April 1593 Location Off Blaye, Gironde Estuary, France Result Spanish victory Failure of the English naval blockade of Blaye French-Catholic troops at Blaye were successfully relieved by Spanish forces
Belligerents
England Supported by: France of Henry IV	Spain
Commanders and leaders
Peter Houghton  † Captain Lallmiraille	Pedro de Zubiaur Joanes de Villaviciosa
Strength
First battle: 6 galleons Supported by: 11–19 to 40–60 French and English ships (Including 6 galleasses)	First battle: 4 pinnaces Spanish fleet: 16 flyboats and pinnaces
Casualties and losses
2 galleons sunk (Flagship destroyed) Several ships damaged and 6 English merchant vessels captured	2 ships burned

Spanish victory

The Battle of Blaye of 1593, also known as the Battle of Bec d'Ambès (in French) or Battle of the Gironde Estuary, was a naval Spanish victory that took place on 18 April 1593 off Blaye and Bec d'Ambès, Gironde Estuary, France, during the seven-month siege of Blaye between the French-Protestant forces of Henry of Navarre and the French-Catholic garrison of the city led by Governor Jean-Paul d'Esparbès de Lussan d'Aubeterre, in the context of the French Wars of Religion and the Anglo-Spanish War (1585–1604).

In April 1593, a Spanish naval force of 16 warships (flyboats and pinnaces) commanded by Admiral Pedro de Zubiaur and General Joanes de Villaviciosa Lizarza set out to relieve Blaye. The city was controlled by the Catholic League of France, but under heavy siege by French Royal troops, supported by English and Huguenot forces, commanded by Marshal Jacques de Goyon d'Matignon, and blocked by sea by six English warship-squadron under Admiral Sir Peter Houghton. On 18 April the English naval force was defeated and dispersed by Zubiaur's fleet, and the Spanish troops disembarked at Blaye, relieving the Catholic forces.

Soon after, another Anglo-French fleet of 11 to 19 warships from Bordeaux, supported by about 40 small vessels (including six galleasses from the port of La Rochelle), arrived at Blaye, trying to block the Spanish fleet. After a fierce and unequal battle, amid an intense storm, the Spaniards were victorious, with significant loss of life on both sides due to heavy musket fire. In the end, many ships of both fleets were dispersed by the storm, and the Spanish fleet managed to return safely to the port of Pasajes.

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