The Great Expedition: Sir Francis Drake on the Spanish Main 1585–86 (Raid Book 17)

In 1585, war between Spain and Elizabethan England was all but inevitable. Consequently, Queen Elizabeth's spymaster proposed a pre-emptive strike designed to paralyse Spain's economy by striking at the Spanish Main - the heart of her overseas empire. The Elizabethan "Sea Dog" Sir Francis Drake was selected to lead this all-important raid. During the summer of 1585 an expedition was gathered in Plymouth - an impressive force of 21 ships and 1,800 soldiers and sailors. When word reached Plymouth that the Queen was having second thoughts and might call off the raid, Drake hurriedly put to sea, before his expedition could be recalled. After first attacking the Canary Islands, he finally made landfall in the Caribbean just before Christmas 1585, and he headed straight for Santo Domingo, the oldest Spanish city in the New World, and the capital of the island of Hispaniola. Drake was soon master of the city, which he held to ransom before sailing off towards his new destination - the treasure port of Cartagena. Cartagena was where emeralds and gold were gathered for shipment to Spain, and so Drake hoped for rich pickings. Despite being heavily outnumbered, Drake landed his soldiers, who stormed the city and won a spectacular victory. Cartagena was plundered, then held to ransom before Drake set sail again, the holds of his ships filled with Spanish treasure. Unable to raid the heavily defended city of Havana he instead raided the little Spanish colony on the coast of Florida after which he finally returned home. Drake's daring raids had finally resulted in the outbreak of the long-expected war and it would be the last action of its kind for some years as England sought to protect herself against invasion and the Spanish invasion. "In 1585, war between Spain and Elizabethan England was all but inevitable. Queen Elizabeth's spymaster Sir Francis Walsingham proposed a pre-emptive strike designed to paralyze Spain's economy by striking at the Spanish Main - the heart of her overseas empire. The expedition gathered at Plymouth with Sir Francis Drake in command of 21 ships and 1,800 soldiers, before setting off on its long voyage. Drake struck first at the Canary Islands, before heading for Santo Domingo, the capital of Hispaniola and the oldest Spanish city in the New World. Having held the city to ransom, Drake sailed on to his next target - the treasure port of Cartagena, where emeralds and gold were gathered before being shipped to Spain. Heavily outnumbered, Drake and his men stormed and captured the city before plundering it and holding it to ransom. His ships full of Spanish treasure, Drake then turned towards home, returning to a hero's welcome, with his daring raids having provided the spark that finally ignited the war between England and Spain."--Page 4 of cover In 1585, the English launched a pre-emptive strike against Spain, by attacking her New World colonies. Led by Sir Francis Drake, in command of 21 ships and 1,800 soldiers, the expedition struck first at the Canary Islands, then attacked the city of Santo Domingo and the treasure port of Cartagena. Frequently outnumbered, Drake's soldiers won an series of spectacular victories and, laden with treasure, sailed home to a hero's welcome. Om Sir Francis Drake's togt til det Caribiske Hav (the Spanish Main), for at ødelægge de spanske besiddelser i Caribien og kapre spanske skibe. Drake's togt var bl.a. årsag til at den spanske konge Filip den 2. i maj 1588 sendte sin flåde "Den Spanske Armada" mod England for at besætte landet og gøre England katolsk igen, men sådan skulle det ikke gå. Se i øvrigt "The Armada Campaign 1588" Sys nr. 53667 Cover; Title; Contents; Introduction; The Forming of Drake; Drake's War; The Nombre de Dios Raid; Drake's Voyage into the Pacific; Planning the Raid; The Background; Organization; The Objective; The Great Expedition; Vigo; Santiago; Santo Domingo; Cartagena des Indies; St Augustine; Counting the Cost; England's Profit; Spain's Loss; Conclusion; Further Reading; Imprint