Atlas of Battles

naval engagement, early modern

First Battle of Tobago

First Battle of Tobago was a naval engagement fought on 3 March 1677 at Tobago, in what is now Trinidad and Tobago. It was part of the Franco-Dutch War, which ran from 1672 to 1678. The recorded result: Dutch victory. Recorded strength: 9 warships; Several smaller vessels against 9 warships; Several smaller vessels.

See it on the globe Read the article

The French flag ship "Le Glorieux" fires at the burning Dutch ships. On the left a burning Dutch provision vessel.
The French flag ship "Le Glorieux" fires at the burning Dutch ships. On the left a burning Dutch provision vessel.. Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Fought3 March 1677
WhereTobago, Trinidad and Tobago11.250N, 60.667W
OutcomeDutch victory
BelligerentsDutch RepublicagainstFrance
Casualties and losses1 warship destroyed; 1 warship sunkand2 warships destroyed; 2 warships captured
Part ofFranco-Dutch War1672 to 1678

Where it sits in the Franco-Dutch War

Siege of Nimègue, 1672Siege of Doesburg, 1672Siege of Groenlo, 1672Siege of Coevorden, 1672Siege of Groningen, 1672Battle of Woerden, 1672Siege of Charleroi, 1672Siege of Maastricht, 1673First battle of Schooneveld, 1673Siege of Bonn in 1673, 1673Siege of Besançon, 1674Battle of Sinsheim, 1674Invasion of Martinique, 1674Battle of Seneffe, 1674Battle of Entzheim, 1674Battle of Mulhouse, 1674Battle of Turckheim, 1675Battle of Stromboli, 1675Battle of Salzbach, 1675Battle of Konzer Brücke, 1675Battle of Stromboli, 1676Battle of Augusta, 1676Siege of Philippsburg, 1676Siege of Bouchain, 1676Battle of Palermo, 1676Siege of Maastricht, 1676Siege of Valenciennes, 1677First Battle of Tobago, 1677Siege of Saint-Omer, 1677Siege of Cambrai, 1677Battle of Cassel, 1677Battle of San Leonardello, 1677Siege of Freiburg, 1677Second Battle of Tobago, 1677Action of 1678, 1678Siege of Ypres, 1678Battle of Rheinfelden, 1678Battle of Saint-Denis, 167816721678First Battle of Tobago, 1677
39 placed engagements of the Franco-Dutch War in time order; taller ticks are more widely documented. Each tick is a link.

Record

Date3 March 1677
PlaceTobago, Trinidad and Tobago
11.250N, 60.667W
KindNaval engagement, early modern
Strength9 warships; Several smaller vessels9 warships; Several smaller vessels
Casualties and losses1 warship destroyed; 1 warship sunk2 warships destroyed; 2 warships captured
Commanders
  • Jacob Binckes
  • Jean d'Estrées, Count of Estrées
First Battle of TobagoFirst Battle of TobagoSecond Battle of TobagoBattle of GrenadaCapture of GrenadaSecond Battle of TobagoBattle of GrenadaCapture of GrenadaPort-of-SpainSan Fernando100 km11.250N, 60.667W
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 1677

First Battle of Tobago is one of 1,470 engagements of the 17th century in the atlas and one of 2 in present-day Trinidad and Tobago.

Sources

Identity, coordinates, dates and the war from Wikidata Q1635922, released under CC0. Result, belligerents, commanders, strength and casualties from the infobox of the English Wikipedia article Battles of Tobago, revision 1377056277, 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.