Hug de Montcada i Gralla was a Barcelona military man who commanded the gates of Naples in the so-called Invincible Army. He was the second son of Francesc I de Montcada , first Marquess of Aitona and Count of Osona , and his wife, Lucrècia Gralla.

Belonging to the noble family of Montcada, his brother Gastó de Montcada and de Gralla (first-born of 17 children) inherited the immense family fortune. His other brother was Joan de Montcada i Gralla , Archbishop of Tarragona ( 1613 - 1622 ) and Bishop of Barcelona ( 1610-1612 ).

Participation in the Invincible Navy

Charge

Hug de Montcada was appointed commander of the stolen town of Naples. The flagship was the San Lorenzo gale. The gallant-galley La Girona was part of that stolen. The four galls were:

• The San Lorenzo (captain of the stolen)
  • The captain of the ship was Joan SetantĂ­. ^[1]
• La Zúñiga (patron of the stolen)
  • Captain Pere Centelles
• The Girona
  • Captain Fabrizio SpĂ­nola, Genoese. ^[2]
• The Napolitana ^[3]
  • Captain Perrucchio Morán

Galiassa San Lorenzo

Galiassa de Malta with apparatus.

This ship had 124 sailors, 50 artillery units, 300 sailors and 270 soldiers. ^{[4] [5] [6]} It was built in Naples. ^{[7] It} displaced 762 tonnes and was the largest ship and, according to some, the most splendid of the entire army.

Nautical Difficulties

One of the most difficult variables that made navigating the Channel of the Manguera dangerous were (and still are) the currents caused by the tides. Local pilots were greedy in those currents. ^[8]

Battle actions

• According to various testimonials (documentaries and film documentaries), the San Lorenzo galaxy could not progress paddling against the tide caused by the tide.
• The Duke of Medina Sidonia denied Hug de Montcada that he attacked the Ark Royal ship, when he was within reach in conditions of superiority. ^[9]
• San Lorenzo was the first ship that warned with a pipe of the danger of the eight violins sent by Drake against the Spanish navy anchored.
• The order of the Duke of Medina Sidonia, to cut the calabrots of the anchors of all the ships of the army, caused chaos and many approaches.

Final disaster

The references to the fact are numerous and not always coincident. ^{[10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19]}

In the confusion brought about by the brulots, an approach rendered unusable the rudder of San Lorenzo. The maneuver with the oars was not sufficiently agile to fight the marigold and the attack of the enemies (from the Ark Royal in particular). Hug de Montcada decided to go to refuge in the port of Calais (under French control and, in theory, neutral). He did not get it Progressing with the ratchet sailing and the oars, the galiassa tried to enter the port of Calais but shook near the plate. Being half lying sideways. The soldiers (probably terrified by the storm and incident) deserted the ship, jumping to the water. They were very much drowned. Only a few faithful remained aboard.

The English, sent a few bots with soldiers to seize the galiassa. Finally Howard sent a reinforcement with the Ark Royal's Panescalm boat and could reduce the last resistance. Hug de Montcada was shot down with an arcabuz shot in the head and Joan Setantí and other Catalans defenders also died.

News of the defeat and commentary on the Dietari of the Generalitat de Catalunya

Tribute poem

A "romance" tribute to Hug de Montcada was published by the "bachelor of Borja" Pedro de Moncayo. ^[20]

The first verses summarize quite well the cause of the unnecessary defeat.

Important testimonial

According to the work Armada Invencible , by Cesáreo Fernández Duro, there is a description of the final attack and the death of Hug de Montcada according to the statements of a slave of the Marquis de Santa Cruz (Volume I, page 118 , document K.1467, item 18). ^[21]

References