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 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 () is a bay on the English Channel coast of Cornwall, England, stretching from the Lizard Point, Cornwall, Lizard Point to Gwennap Head. In the north of the bay, near Marazion, is St Michael's Mount; the origin of name of the bay. ...]
(
Cornwall
Cornwall (; or ) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South West England. It is also one of the Celtic nations and the homeland of the Cornish people. The county is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, ...
) on 2 August.
After burning the town of
Mousehole, 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 ( ; ) is a town, civil parish and port in the Penwith district of Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is the westernmost major town in Cornwall and is about west-southwest of Plymouth and west-southwest of London. Situated in the ...
down,
Newlyn
Newlyn () is a seaside town and fishing port in south-west Cornwall, England, United Kingdom.Ordnance Survey: Landranger map sheet 203 ''Land's End'' It is the largest fishing port in England.
Newlyn lies on the shore of Mount's Bay and for ...
, 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 (died 1384) was a Crown of Castile, Castilian soldier and admiral.
Soldier of Castile
During the Castilian Civil War, Sánchez de Tovar initially supported King Peter the Cruel, who appointed him Adelantado ...
External links
"The Spanish Attack"
Basque people
Spanish generals
16th-century Spanish naval officers
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