Atlas of Battles

naval engagement, early modern

Action of 12–17 January 1640

Action of 12–17 January 1640 was a naval engagement fought on 12 January 1640 at Ilha de Itamaracá, in what is now Brazil; it lasted 5 days. It was part of the Dutch–Portuguese War, which ran from 1601 to 1661. The recorded result: Dutch victory.

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Fought12 January 1640lasted 5 days
WhereIlha de Itamaracá, Brazil7.747S, 34.813W
OutcomeDutch victory
BelligerentsSpain; PortugalagainstDutch Republic; Dutch West India Company
Casualties and losses2 vessels lostand1 vessel lost
Part ofDutch–Portuguese War1601 to 1661

Where it sits in the Dutch–Portuguese War

Battle of Príncipe, 1598Battle of Bantam, 1601Capture of Amboina, 1605Siege of Malacca, 1606Battle of Cape Rachado, 1606Battle of Pulo Buton, 1606Siege of Mozambique, 1607Siege of Mozambique, 1608Battle of Swally, 1612Battle of Elmina, 1625Battle in the Bay of San Salvador, 1627Battle of Jambi, 1630Battle of Abrolhos, 1631Battle of Mata Redonda, 1636Battle of Elmina, 1637Battle of Goa, 1638Second Battle of Salvador, 1638First Battle of Salvador, 1638Action of 30 September 1639, 1639Action of 12–17 January 1640, 1640Siege of Malacca, 1640Capture of Luanda, 1641Battle of Tabocas, 1645Action at Tamanana, 9 September 1645, 1645Battle of Tejucupapo, 1646First Battle of Guararapes, 1648Action of 23 March 1654, 1654Action of 2 May 1654, 1654Battle of Mannar, 165815981658Action of 12–17 January 1640, 1640
29 placed engagements of the Dutch–Portuguese War in time order; taller ticks are more widely documented. Each tick is a link.

Record

Date12 January 1640
to 17 January 1640
PlaceIlha de Itamaracá, Brazil
7.747S, 34.813W
KindNaval engagement, early modern
Strength30 galleons; 34 armed transports; 13 small vessels; 10,000-15,000 men30 warships and supply ships; 10 small vessels; 2,800 men
Casualties and losses2 vessels lost1 vessel lost
Commanders
  • Fernando de Mascarenhas
  • Willem Loos
Action of 12–17 January 1640Action of 12–17 January 1640Siege of RecifeRecapture of RecifeBattle of GuararapesBattle of GuararapesJoão PessoaCampina GrandeCaruaruGoianaTimbaúbaBarreirosCarpinaCabo de Santo Agostinho100 km7.747S, 34.813W
The recorded site, with the nearest other engagements in the atlas. Present-day coastlines, rivers and borders; towns from Natural Earth.

Nearest engagements

In the same war

Elsewhere in 1640

Action of 12–17 January 1640 is one of 1,470 engagements of the 17th century in the atlas and one of 56 in present-day Brazil.

Sources

Identity, coordinates, dates and the war from Wikidata Q4677243, released under CC0. Result, belligerents, commanders, strength and casualties from the infobox of the English Wikipedia article Action of 12–17 January 1640, revision 1370425892, read 2026-11-14, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0; the article's text is not reproduced here. Present-day country and state from Natural Earth. Dates before 1582 follow the Julian calendar as recorded.