On this day 22 April - Battle of Augusta

[7eat51]

On the 22nd of April 1676, French and Dutch-Spanish fleets fought in the Battle of Augusta off the east coast of Sicily. The French fleet, under the command of Abraham Duquesne, consisted of twenty-nine ships-of-the-line, five frigates, and eight fireships, totaling 1,500 cannons. The Dutch fleet, under the command of Dutch Lieutenant-Admiral-General Michiel de Ruyter, was comprised of thirteen ships-of-the-line and four frigates, and the Spanish fleet, under the command of Admiral Don Francisco Pereira de la Cerda, had fourteen ships-of-the-line and five frigates, totaling 1,700 cannons. While the Spanish Admiral commanded from the center of the line, the Dutch Admiral led from the front. When the two opposing forces were within musket range, they began pounding each other with broadsides. Instead of following the leading Dutch ships, Don Francisco Pereira de la Cerda held back, preventing the center and rear sections of the line to engage at close range. This essentially allowed the French to attack the leading Dutch division from multiple positions at a 3:1 ratio. Later in the day, de Ruyter closed on Duquesne, and prepared to board the French admiral’s ship, when Anne Hilarion, Comte de Tourville brought his and another ship to Duquesne’s rescue. While the Dutch admiral made his escape from the circling French ships, Govert Albertszoon t’ Hoen led the rear section of Dutch ships past the Spaniards, saving the Dutch vanguard. The battle ended without a decisive victory for either side, though de Ruyter was badly injured, and died a week later.

Abraham Duquesne:

4360

Michiel de Ruyter:

4361

Anne Hilarion, Comte de Tourville:

4362

The Battle:

4363

4364


For information on today's event:
http://books.google.com/books?id=4Joqn8mzOXwC&pg=PA98#v=onepage&q&f=false

[Berthier]

Eric the second from bottom picture shows galleys (and Mount Etna in the background smouldering) were these present in your reading of the battle?

[7eat51]

Eric the second from bottom picture shows galleys (and Mount Etna in the background smouldering) were these present in your reading of the battle?

The book I was reading from did not have any pictures. I did a search for images of the major personnel and for the battle, and I found the one in question on:

http://www.sanderusmaps.com/en/our-catalogue/detail/165515/antique-print-original-hand-coloured-lithograph-of-a-naval-battle-battle-of-augusta-(agosta)-1676/shoppingcartadded/

[Cmmdre]

Eric the second from bottom picture shows galleys (and Mount Etna in the background smouldering) were these present in your reading of the battle?

Keen eyes Daniel.