Landing at Barcelona (1704): Difference between revisions
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Revision as of 07:08, 29 April 2017
Landing at Barcelona | |||||||
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Part of War of the Spanish Succession | |||||||
Prince George of Hesse-Darmstadt | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
England Dutch Republic Pro-Habsburg Spain | Pro-Bourbon Spain | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
George Rooke Prince George of Hesse-Darmstadt | Francisco de Velasco | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
48 ships, 2,600 troops | 880 troops, 5,000 militia | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
none | none |
The Landing at Barcelona was a failed Allied attempt in May 1704 during the War of the Spanish Succession to capture the city of Barcelona from its Spanish pro-Bourbon defenders.
Prelude
When King Charles II of Spain died without an heir in November 1700, he was succeeded in Madrid by the French prince Philip V. This successor was contested by England, the Dutch Republic, the Holy Roman Empire and Portugal which favored Austrian prince Charles III as new King, leading to the War of the Spanish Succession.
Also within Spain, not everybody supported King Philip V. Especially Catalonia and Valencia feared to loose their traditional local rights under a King who favored strict central government, like it was known in France. One of Philip's first decisions was to replace Viceroy of Catalonia Prince George of Hesse-Darmstadt, who was not only German, but also very popular in Barcelona for defending the city against the French 3 years earlier.
Landing
In 1704, Spain was still firmly in the hands of Bourbon King Philip V. Contacted by some pro-Habsburg Catalan nobles, Prince George of Hesse-Darmstadt convinced the Allies to send a fleet to Barcelona, in the hope that, as a consequence, the people would rise up against the new pro-Bourbon Viceroy Francisco de Velasco.
A fleet of 30 English and 18 Dutch ships under command of Admiral George Rooke, with George of Darmstadt on board, sailed from Lisbon to Barcelona. When the fleet appeared before the city, the expected uprising didn't happen. George of Darmstadt then landed some 2,600 soldiers at the mouth of the river Besòs, also without effect.
Warned that a larger French fleet was approaching, the Allies had no other option than to re-embark and sail back to Lisbon. On their way back, they captured Gibraltar.
Aftermath
A second attempt to take the city was successful one year later, in October 1705. Barcelona remained loyal to the Habsburg King Charles throughout the War, until it was conquered in 1714.
Sources
Albareda Salvadó, Joaquim. La Guerra de Sucesión de España (1700-1714). Barcelona: Crítica. ISBN 978-84-9892-060-4.
- Military history of Catalonia
- History of Barcelona
- Sieges involving Spain
- Sieges involving England
- Sieges involving Austria
- Sieges involving the Dutch Republic
- Battles of the War of the Spanish Succession
- 1704 in Europe
- Conflicts in 1704
- 18th century in Spain
- 18th century in Barcelona
- Sieges of the War of the Spanish Succession
- May 1704 events