Pedro Blanco (Spanish Armada)
Pedro Blanco (fl. 1588-1607) was a Spanish seaman, manservant and survivor of the Spanish Armada. After the fleet's shipwreck in the British Isles, 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
The 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 sailed on the commandeered merchant vessel La Juliana, in the company of Captain Lope Vázquez.[3] La Juliana was commandeered at Sicily on 15 December 1586.[4] Blanco is variously described as an officer[1] or ordinary seaman.[5]
In late 1588, La Juliana became shipwrecked at Streedagh Strand, north of the Rosses Point Peninsula on the west coast of Ireland.[6][7] Both Irish and English forces began executing survivors. Lord Deputy William FitzWilliam ordered the execution of any Spanish survivors.[5] The troops of Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone, commanded by his foster-brothers Henry and Richard Hovenden,[8][5] committed the largest single massacre of Armada survivors in Inishowen.[5]
However, O'Neill also assisted Blanco and three officers,[5] and kept on Blanco as his personal servant for at least the next nineteen years.[9] 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, who recruited many survivors into his military.[5]
Roughly half a dozen Spanish seamen, including Blanco, stayed behind in Ireland.[10] 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)[3]
The turmoil created by the Armada's arrival on the Irish coast was a contributing factor of the Nine Years' War (1594-1603).[10]
In Ireland
Blanco became a footman and trusted servant to the Earl of Tyrone.[10] During the war, Blanco was a somewhat important figure as the Irish leaders sought assistance from Spain in their conflict against England.[10][5] 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.[5]
Blanco accompanied O'Neill in the Flight of the Earls in 1607.[1][11]
References
- ^ a b c d McGurk, John (August 2007). "The Flight of the Earls: escape or strategic regrouping?". History Ireland. 15 (4).
- ^ "Spanish Armada | Definition, Defeat, & Facts | Britannica". www.britannica.com. 2024-05-13. Retrieved 2024-05-26.
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ 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. 267–268.
- ^ a b c d e f g h 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.
- ^ "The Spanish Armada in Sligo". SligoHeritage. Retrieved 2012-11-21.
- ^ Birch & McElvogue (1999).
- ^ Colby, colonel (1837). Ordnance Survey of the County of Londonderry. Dublin: Hodges and Smith. pp. 235.
- ^ 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 "A race against time to save Spanish Armada wrecks before they are lost forever". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2024-05-26.
- ^ Hegarty, Roddy. Imeacht Na nIarlí: The Flight of the Earls: 1607 - 2007 (PDF).