Atlas of Battles

naval engagement, early modern

Battle of Gravelines

Battle of Gravelines was a naval engagement fought in 1588 at Gravelines, in what is now France. Its exact site is not recorded; the atlas places it at Gravelines. It was part of the Anglo-Spanish War, which ran from 1585 to 1604. The recorded result: Anglo-Dutch victory.

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Fought1588
WhereGravelines, France50.986N, 2.127E, placed at the location, approximate
OutcomeAnglo-Dutch victory
BelligerentsKingdom of England; Dutch RepublicagainstSpain; Portugal
Part ofAnglo-Spanish War1585 to 1604

Where it sits in the Anglo-Spanish War

Battle of São Vicente, 1583Action off Bermuda, 1585Capture of Santiago, 1585Battle of Santo Domingo, 1586Battle of Cartagena de Indias, 1586Battle of Pantelleria, 1586Battle of Gravelines, 1588Battle of the Strait of Gibraltar (1590), 1590Battle of Blaye, 1591Battle of the Strait of Gibraltar, 1591Battle of Flores, 1591Siege of Rouen, 1591Siege of Caudebec, 1592Battle of Flores, 1592Battle of Craon, 1592Battle of the Barbary Coast, 1592Battle of the Bay of Biscay, 1592Battle of Blaye, 1593Action of Faial, 1594Action of San Mateo Bay, 1594Battle of Atacames, 1594Siege of Fort Crozon, 1594Battle of Las Palmas, 1595Battle of the Guadalupe Island, 1595Battle of San Juan, 1595Battle of Pinos, 1596Siege of Amiens, 1597Battle of San Juan, 1598Capture of Portobello, 1601Battle of Cape St. Vincent (1602), 1602Battle of Sesimbra Bay, 1602Battle of Puerto Caballos, 1603Battle of the Gulf of Cadiz, 160415831604Battle of Gravelines, 1588
33 placed engagements of the Anglo-Spanish War in time order; taller ticks are more widely documented. Each tick is a link.

Record

Date1588 (year precision)
PlaceGravelines, France
50.986N, 2.127E
KindNaval engagement, early modern
Strength34 warships; 163 armed merchant vessels (30 more than 200 tons); 30 flyboats; Total; 197 ships; 16,000 menArmada; 24 warships; 44 armed merchant vessels; 38 auxiliary vessels; 31 supply vessels; 2,431 artillery pieces; 10,138 sailors; 19,315 soldiers (90% Spaniards, 10% Portuguese); Spanish Netherlands; 31,800 soldiers; 170 barges; Total; 55,000 men; 137 ships
Casualties and lossesEnglish Channel actionsNo ships lost; Battle of Gravelines:50–100 dead; 400 wounded; 8 fireships burnt; Disease: 2,000–3,000 dead
Commanders
  • Charles Howard, 1st Earl of Nottingham
  • Francis Drake
  • John Hawkins (naval commander)
  • Justinus van Nassau
  • Alonso Pérez de Guzmán, 7th Duke of Medina Sidonia
  • Juan Martínez de Recalde
  • Miguel de Oquendo
  • Diego de Medrano
  • Pedro de Valdés
Battle of GravelinesBattle of GravelinesSiege of GravelinesSiege of GravelinesBattle of GravelinesSiege of MardyckRaid on DunkirkSiege of GravelinesRaid on DunkirkBrusselsThe HagueLilleRotterdamAntwerpenBrightonCharleroiLuton100 km50.986N, 2.127E
Placed at Gravelines; the exact site is not recorded. 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 1588

Battle of Gravelines is one of 1,390 engagements of the 16th century in the atlas and one of 1,383 in present-day France.

Sources

Identity, coordinates, dates and the war from Wikidata Q2400227, released under CC0. Result, belligerents, commanders, strength and casualties from the infobox of the English Wikipedia article Battle of Gravelines (1588), revision 1382411566, 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.