Atlas of Battles

naval engagement, early modern

Battle of Sesimbra Bay

Battle of Sesimbra Bay was a naval engagement fought on 3 June 1602 at Sesimbra, in what is now Portugal. It was part of the Anglo-Spanish War, which ran from 1585 to 1604. The recorded result: English victory. Recorded strength: 5 galleons against 1 carrack; 11 galleys; 1 fort.

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A view of the taking by the English of a Portuguese galleon or carrick during the Battle of Sesimbra Bay, fought on 3 June 1602 between the English navy, commanded by Sir Richard Leveson and the Spani
A view of the taking by the English of a Portuguese galleon or carrick during the Battle of Sesimbra Bay, fought on 3 June 1602 between the English navy, commanded by Sir Richard Leveson and the Spani. Hendrik Hondius I, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Fought3 June 1602
WhereSesimbra, Portugal38.400N, 9.100W
OutcomeEnglish victory
BelligerentsEnglandagainstSpain; Portugal
Casualties and losses12 killed; 30 woundedand800 killed or wounded; 1 carrack captured; 2 galleys sunk
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 Sesimbra Bay, 1602
33 placed engagements of the Anglo-Spanish War in time order; taller ticks are more widely documented. Each tick is a link.

Record

Date3 June 1602
PlaceSesimbra, Portugal
38.400N, 9.100W
KindNaval engagement, early modern
Strength5 galleons1 carrack; 11 galleys; 1 fort
Casualties and losses12 killed; 30 wounded800 killed or wounded; 1 carrack captured; 2 galleys sunk
Commanders
  • Richard Leveson (admiral)
  • Álvaro de Bazán, 2nd Marquess of Santa Cruz
  • Federico Spinola
Battle of Sesimbra BayBattle of Sesimbra BayAction of 11 November 1779Siege of LisbonSiege of LisbonSiege of al-LixbûnâCapture of LisbonAction of 11 November 1779Siege of LisbonÉvoraBejaSantarémPortalegre100 km38.400N, 9.100W
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 1602

Battle of Sesimbra Bay is one of 1,470 engagements of the 17th century in the atlas and one of 135 in present-day Portugal.

Sources

Identity, coordinates, dates and the war from Wikidata Q16822708, released under CC0. Result, belligerents, commanders, strength and casualties from the infobox of the English Wikipedia article Battle of Sesimbra Bay, revision 1370589078, 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.