Atlas of Battles

naval engagement, early modern

Action of Faial

Action of Faial was a naval engagement fought on 22 June 1594 at Faial Island, in what is now Portugal; it lasted 1 day. It was part of the Anglo-Spanish War, which ran from 1585 to 1604. The recorded result: English victory. Recorded strength: 1 carrack of 2,000 tons; 700 men against 3 galleons of 250–300 tons; 420 sailors.

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The island of Faial, looking towards Espalamaca and Praia do Almoxarife, with the Ilhéu Levantado in the foreground, as seen from the island of Pico, Azores, Portugal
The island of Faial, looking towards Espalamaca and Praia do Almoxarife, with the Ilhéu Levantado in the foreground, as seen from the island of Pico, Azores, Portugal. José Luís Ávila Silveira/Pedro Noronha e Costa, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Fought22 June 1594lasted 1 day
WhereFaial Island, Portugal38.300N, 28.600W
OutcomeEnglish victory
BelligerentsIberian Union; PortugalagainstEngland
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, 1586Raid on St. Augustine, 1586Battle of Pantelleria, 1586Battle of Gravelines, 1588Brittany Campaign, 1590Battle 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, 1593Raid on Puerto Caballos, 1594Action of Faial, 1594Action of San Mateo Bay, 1594Battle of Atacames, 1594Siege of Fort Crozon, 1594Battle of Cornwall, 1595Battle of Las Palmas, 1595Battle of the Guadalupe Island, 1595Battle of San Juan, 1595Battle of Pinos, 1596Attack on Cawsand, 1596Siege of Amiens, 1597Battle of San Juan, 1598Raid on Tabasco, 1599Capture of Portobello, 1601Battle of Cape St. Vincent (1602), 1602Battle of Sesimbra Bay, 1602Battle of Puerto Caballos, 1603Raid on Santiago de Cuba, 1603Battle of the Gulf of Cadiz, 160415831604Action of Faial, 1594
40 placed engagements of the Anglo-Spanish War in time order; taller ticks are more widely documented. Each tick is a link.

Record

Date22 June 1594
to 23 June 1594
PlaceFaial Island, Portugal
38.300N, 28.600W
KindNaval engagement, early modern
Strength1 carrack of 2,000 tons; 700 men3 galleons of 250–300 tons; 420 sailors
Casualties and losses1 carrack destroyed; 600 killed or wounded; 13 survived/captured60 killed or wounded (35 killed in explosion)
Commanders
  • George Clifford, 3rd Earl of Cumberland
Action of FaialAction of FaialBattle of Ponta DelgadaSiege of São FilipeBattle of SalgaBattle of Ponta DelgadaSiege of São Filipe100 km38.300N, 28.600W
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 1594

Action of Faial is one of 1,470 engagements of the 16th century in the atlas and one of 144 in present-day Portugal.

Sources

Identity, coordinates, dates and the war from Wikidata Q16158139, released under CC0. Result, belligerents, commanders, strength and casualties from the infobox of the English Wikipedia article Action of Faial, revision 1370426845, 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.