Cádiz Expedition (1625)

Cádiz expedition (1625)
Part of the Anglo-Spanish War and the Thirty Years' War
The Defence of Cádiz against the English. Francisco de Zurbarán, 1634.
Date 1–7 November 1625 Location Bay of Cádiz (Spain) Result Decisive Spanish victory
Belligerents
England United Provinces	Spain
Commanders and leaders
Edward Cecil Robert Devereux William of Nassau	Fernando Girón, marquis of Sofraga
Strength
5,400 sailors 10,000 soldiers 105 ships	4,000 men in Cádiz 2,300 men in bridge Zuazo
Casualties and losses
7,000 dead or captured 62 ships lost	Low

The Cádiz expedition of 1625 was a naval expedition against Spain by English and Dutch forces. The plan was put forward because after the Dissolution of the Parliament of 1625, the Duke of Buckingham, Lord High Admiral, wanted to undertake an expedition that would match the exploits of the raiders of the Elizabethan era and in doing so, would return respect to the country and its people after the political stress of the preceding years.

Following an abortive trip to Spain by Prince Charles and the Duke of Buckingham to propose a marriage between Charles and the Spanish Infanta Maria Anna of Spain, the two switched positions and began advocating war with Spain. They persuaded King James to summon a new parliament which would be invited to advise on foreign policy. The resulting parliament of 1624 was (at least in the short run) a triumph for Charles and Buckingham, as it strongly advocated war with Spain.

However, James had a dilemma stemming from mutual distrust between himself and parliament. He feared that if he went to war, parliament would find an excuse to avoid providing the finance to support it. Parliament, on the other hand, feared that if they voted the finances, the king would find an excuse not to go to war. James died shortly afterwards, leaving foreign policy in the hands of Charles, who rather naively assumed that if he followed the policy parliament had advocated, it would provide the funds for it.

War was duly declared on Spain, and Buckingham began the preparations. The planned expedition involved several elements, including overtaking Spanish treasure ships coming back from the Americas loaded with gold and silver, and then assaulting Spanish towns, with the intention of causing stress within Spain's economy and weakening the Spanish supply chain and resources in regards to the Electorate of the Palatinate.

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