Álvaro de Bazán, 1st Marquis of Santa Cruz

Álvaro de Bazán ( born December 12, 1526 Granada, † February 9, 1588 in Lisbon ) was a Spanish fleet commander ( Capitán General de la Mar Océano ) and Marqués de Santa Cruz.

Life

Alvaro de Bazán came from an old Spanish noble family, his father was captain general in the Navy. Bazán hit the same career path one, like his father, and soon gained. In 1543 he operated successfully with a small squadron against French privateers in the Bay of Biscay. 1554 Bazán was appointed captain-general of a squadron for the protection of the coasts of northern Spain and in 1561 he was appointed captain-general of a squadron to protect the Strait of Gibraltar. Here he fought successfully several times against the Barbary pirates of North Africa. 1564, he was involved in Garcia de Toledo in the capture of the fortress Vélez de la Gomera, and became its first commander.

1565 Alvaro de Bazán gathered in Messina a squadron with which he supported the Knights of St John in Malta against a major Turkish attack. In 1568 he was captain general of the Spanish galleys of Naples. In 1571 he participated in the Battle of Lepanto under Don Juan d'Austria. To the victory of the Holy League at Lepanto Bazán contributed decisively by intervening with his reserve squadron at the right moment. In 1573 he was involved again under Juan de Austria, in the conquest of Tunis.

Died in 1580, the Portuguese King Henry and the Spanish King Philip II laid claim to the Portuguese throne. The Spanish fleet under Alvaro de Bazán, Marquis de Santa Cruz, the port cities conquered in southern Portugal and supported decisively the army in the conquest of Lisbon. This allowed Spain and Portugal are united in a personal union under Philip II. 1582 defeated de Bazán in the Azores, a Portuguese- French squadron and secured the archipelago for Spain.

Because of his outstanding achievements, Bazán was now regarded as the most efficient Spanish fleet commander, he was given the command of the Atlantic Fleet. He was instrumental in the planning and preparation to train the Gran Armada against England. 1587 raided the English naval hero and privateer Drake the Spanish port, and most important collection point for the Armada, Cadiz and destroyed the ships at anchor lying there. The Seezug the Armada had to be postponed it. Alvaro de Bazán fell, due to this disaster, when King Philip II of favor. In early 1588, died de Bazán in Lisbon.

Don Alvaro de Bazán is one of the most significant and most Spanish fleet leader. As part of the preparation for Seezug the Armada but he has missed the fleet of galley tactics convert comprehensively to the tactics of the sailing navies. He was, in the context of the then practice, kind to his subordinates, caught leader he was, however, mercilessly executed. Cervantes called him the " father of the soldier."

The Álvaro de Bazán - class of the Spanish Navy was named in his honor.

• Military person (Spain )
• Marine ( Spain)
• Spaniard
• Born in 1526
• Died in 1588
• Man