30 dead ~600 dead | Dates 23 Apr 1655 – 30 Apr 1655 | |
2,400 soldiers1,300 lancers700 regular soldiers200 marines200 militia 13,120 soldiers7,000 marines6,000 infantry120 cavalry34 ships Combatants Spanish Empire, Captaincy General of Santo Do, Kingdom of England Similar Battle of San Juan, Battle of St Kitts, Capture of Mahdiye, Battle of Nassau, Battle of Guinea | ||
The Siege of Santo Domingo of 1655, was fought between April 23, 1655 to April 30, 1655 at the Spanish Colony of Santo Domingo. A force of 2,400 Spanish troops led by Governor Don Bernardino Meneses y Bracamonte, Count of Peñalba, successfully resisted a force of 13,120 troops and 34 ships of the English Commonwealth Navy led by Admiral Sir William Penn.
The English force landed some thirty miles from their objective, the city of Santo Domingo. After a march of four days through heavy rough country with little water, the column was routed in an ambush by a few hundred lanceros (cavalry lancers). The English fleet ineffectually tried to bombard the city into submission and the army re-embarked its survivors.
The British naval historian, N.A.M. Rodger, notes that, "In one afternoon the invincible reputation of the New Model Army had been thrown away". The English left the island of Santo Domingo and went on and conquered Jamaica in the Invasion of Jamaica of 1655.
Due to the valor of Don Bernardino de Meneses y Bracamonte, the site of the victory was named in his honor; Puerta del Conde.