Pedro Blanco (fl. 1588–1607) was a Spanish seaman, manservant and survivor of the Spanish Armada. After his shipwreck in Ireland, he became an aide to Hugh O'Neill during the Nine Years' War. He later took part in the Flight of the Earls.
Historian John McGurk has described Blanco as a "celebrated Spanish officer [who] loyally served O’Neill".[1]
Spanish Armada
editThe Spanish Armada was a naval fleet that sailed from Lisbon in May 1588. Philip II, King of Spain, intended to invade England and reinstate Catholicism in the country.[2] Blanco, variously described as an officer[1] or ordinary seaman,[3] served in the company of Captain Lope Vázquez.[4] He sailed on La Juliana, a merchant vessel (carrack) commandeered at Sicily on 15 December 1586.[5][4]
In late 1588, La Juliana became shipwrecked at Streedagh Strand, north of the Rosses Point Peninsula on the west coast of Ireland.[5][6] Lord Deputy William FitzWilliam ordered the execution of any Spanish survivors.[3]
The mercenary forces of Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone, commanded by his foster-brothers Henry and Richard Hovenden,[3][7][8][9] committed the largest single massacre of Armada survivors in Inishowen.[3][9] FitzWilliam was suspicious of the Earl's activities, and refused to believe this news, but it is confirmed in the report of a Spanish escapee.[9] On 14 September 1588, writing from Dungannon, Henry Hovenden reported to the Lord Deputy that "they with 150 men attacked the Spaniards at Illagh, the O'Docartaig town, and the second day took them prisoners. Pray for a warrrant for their victualling to Dublin. One of the prisoners has commanded over 30,000 men."[10]
However, O'Neill also assisted three officers and many sick commoners, including Blanco.[3][9] He kept on Blanco as his personal servant for at least the next nineteen years.[11][9][3]
It seems O'Neill never recruited Blanco or the other officers as soldiers. His decision may have been affected by the hostility the English had towards Lord Brian O'Rourke for recruiting many Spanish survivors into his military.[3] O'Neill also helped nobleman Don Antonio Manrique escape.[9]
Roughly half a dozen Spanish seamen, including Blanco, stayed behind in Ireland.[12] Other Spaniards who remained in the British Isles include:
- Alonso de Carmona (Venecera veneciana)
- Francisco de Aguilar (company of Captain Beltrán del Salto, La Juliana)
- Bartolomé Rodríguez (company of Francisco de Toledo, La Lavia)
- Juaro de la Cruz (company of Captain Barate, La Lavia)
- Juan Pérez Cebadero (La Lavia)
- Antón Fernández (La Lavia)
- Juan de Montesinos (La Lavia)[4]
- Francisco de Cuellar (La Lavia)[13][12]
The turmoil created by the Armada's arrival on the Irish coast was a contributing factor of the Nine Years' War (1594–1603).[12]
In Ireland
editBlanco became a footman and trusted servant to the Earl of Tyrone.[12] During the war, Blanco was a somewhat important figure as the Irish leaders sought assistance from Spain in their conflict against England.[14][12] Blanco "distinguished himself" at the Battle of the Yellow Ford and the Siege of Kinsale.[1]
In December 1601, the Irish alliance established contact with Juan del Águila, with various Spanish ensigns, including Blanco, acting as messengers.[14]
Blanco accompanied O'Neill in the Flight of the Earls in 1607.[1][15]
See also
editReferences
editCitations
edit- ^ a b c d McGurk, John (August 2007). "The Flight of the Earls: escape or strategic regrouping?". History Ireland. 15 (4). Retrieved 26 May 2024.
- ^ "Spanish Armada | Definition, Defeat, & Facts | Britannica". www.britannica.com. 13 May 2024. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g Morgan 2013, p. 5.
- ^ a b c García Hernán 2004.
- ^ a b Birch, Steven; McElvogue, D. M. (1999) "La Lavia, La Juliana and the Santa Maria de Vison: three Spanish Armada transports lost off Streedagh Strand, Co Sligo: an interim report". International Journal of Nautical Archaeology. Vol. 28. Issue 3. pp. 265–276.
- ^ "The Spanish Armada in Sligo". SligoHeritage. Retrieved 21 November 2012.
- ^ Colby, colonel (1837). Ordnance Survey of the County of Londonderry. Dublin: Hodges and Smith. pp. 235. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
- ^ Marshall, John J. (1907). "The Hovendens: Foster Brothers of Aodh O'Neill, Prince of Ulster (Earl of Tireoghan)". Ulster Journal of Archaeology. 13 (1): 4–21. ISSN 0082-7355.
- ^ a b c d e f Morgan 1993, p. 106.
- ^ Marshall, John J. (1907). "The Hovendens: Foster Brothers of Aodh O'Neill, Prince of Ulster (Earl of Tireoghan)". Ulster Journal of Archaeology. 13 (1): 4–21. ISSN 0082-7355.
- ^ Morgan, Hiram (September 2014). "O'Neill, Hugh". Dictionary of Irish Biography. doi:10.3318/dib.006962.v1. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Morgan, Hiram (14 April 2015). "A race against time to save Spanish Armada wrecks before they are lost forever". The Irish Times. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
- ^ "Captain Cuellar's Narrative of the Spanish Armada and of his Wanderings and Adventures in Ireland". Project Gutenburg.
- ^ a b Morgan 2013, p. 9.
- ^ Hegarty, Roddy (22 June 2010). Imeacht Na nIarlí: The Flight of the Earls: 1607 - 2007 (PDF). Retrieved 26 May 2024.
Sources
edit- García Hernán, Enrique (2004). Morgan, Hiram (ed.). "Philip II's forgotten armada" (PDF). The Battle of Kinsale. Dublin: Wordwell Ltd: 45–58. ISBN 1-869857-70-4. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
- Morgan, Hiram (1993). Tyrone's Rebellion. The Boydell Press. ISBN 0851156835.
- Morgan, Hiram (2013). Peduelo Martin, Eduardo; Rodriguez de Diego, Julia (eds.). "The establishment of the Irish-Spanish relationship" (PDF). Los Irlandeses y la Monarquia Hispanica (1529–1800): vinculos in espacio y tiempo. Madrid. Retrieved 26 May 2024.