Hey, this is Heather from the Renaissance English History Podcast, and this is your Tudor Minute for June 26.
Today in 1596 the funeral of John Wingfield was held. He was a casualty in the battle of Cadiz in 1596 when the English and Dutch managed to capture and sack the city of Cadiz in Spain as part of the ongoing Spanish/English war. If you thought the Armada had wrapped the whole thing up nice and tidy in 1588, you are mistaken. The war continued, and the Battle of Cadiz was one big English success. The troops were led by Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex and a large Anglo-Dutch fleet under Charles Howard, 1st Earl of Nottingham, with support from the Dutch United Provinces.
The Spanish commander’s lacked foresight and organisation, the Anglo-Dutch forces met little resistance. In order to deny the raiders the ability to capture the fleet, the Spanish set fire to their ships anchored in the Bay of Cádiz; the attacking forces disembarked, captured, sacked and burned the city and took hostage several of the city’s prominent citizens, who were taken back to England to await payment of their ransom.
John Wingfield was one of the few casualties, shot in the head in the battle on June 21.
That’s your Tudor Minute for today. Remember you can dive deeper into life in 16th century England through the Renaissance English History Podcast at englandcast.com.