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The naval Battle of Ponta Delgada, ''Battle of São Miguel'' or specifically the ''Battle of Vila Franca do Campo'' took place on 26 July 1582, off the coast of the island of São Miguel in the Portuguese archipelago of the Azores, during the War of the Portuguese Succession. An Anglo-French corsair expedition sailed against a Spanish naval force to preserve control of the Azores under pretender António, Prior of Crato and to defend the islands from incorporation into the Iberian Union—the largest French force sent overseas before the age of Louis XIV.〔 In the first engagement between large fleets of galleons operating at great distances from the mainland,〔Walton p. 80〕 the mercenary fleet under Filippo di Piero Strozzi was severely defeated by a squadron under Álvaro de Bazán.〔Hakluyt p. 418〕 The Spanish victory resulted in the rapid Spanish conquest of the Azores, completing the incorporation of Portugal into the Spanish Empire.〔Nascimento Rodrigues/Tessaleno Devezas p. 122〕 ==Background== The only portion of the Portuguese overseas empire to resist the Habsburg King Philip II of Spain (Philip I of Portugal) were the Azores Islands.〔Konstam p.44〕 The French crown sent a fleet under the command of the mercenary admiral Filipo Strozzi in order to help defend the islands. King Philip had offered an amnesty to the seven islands if they would surrender,〔History of Portugal p.269〕 but his messenger met with a very hostile reception at Angra, and retired to the island of São Miguel, which had presented its allegiance to the King of Spain and Portugal.〔 While a fleet was prepared at Lisbon to subdue the seven islands, a Spanish commander sent out to escort the incoming treasure fleet, Pedro Valdés, was ordered to deliver a new offer of pardon, but on no account to begin hostilities until the necessary force was assembled. However, receiving the same replies the former envoy, ''Valdés'' was persuaded to attempt an assault on Terceira.〔 At what became known as the Battle of Salga, his landing-force of 600 men met with a savage welcome; the half-wild bulls of the island were driven into them and they were cut to pieces as they fled to the ships. Meanwhile António reached Calais and proceeded to England. Walsingham and Burghley favoured the sending of an expedition to the Azores: the Count of Vimioso even made an agreement with Drake and Hawkins, but Elizabeth was unwilling to make war on Philip, and António returned to France. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Battle of Ponta Delgada」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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