The historical past of Spain is filled with dates, moments and iconic characters that, in a method or one other, modified the truth we all know in the present day. A kind of individuals who wrote his title in everlasting ink within the historical past books was Blas de Lezo y Olavarrieta, whose title has gained recognition in latest days.
This Sunday, July 14, the ultimate of the 2024 Euro Cup will probably be performed, which can see England face Spain. For that reason, hundreds of followers, seeking to tease the English earlier than the match, have remembered within the type of a meme the determine of the historic strategist who beat the British in a legendary battle.
Who was Blas de Lezo?
Blas de Lezo y Olavarrieta was a Spanish admiral born in Pasajes, Guipúzcoa, in 1689. Life was very completely different again then, and he started his navy profession when he was solely 12 years outdated. Son of a household of marines, Blas de Lezo mastered the waters from a really early age.
Considered one of his most attribute traits was the variety of accidents and wounds he suffered in varied wars. The truth is, on the age of 25, the Spanish marine already had one eye lacking, one arm immobilized and one leg torn off. Blas de Lezo was often called a ‘half-man’, however he nonetheless managed to be among the finest strategists within the historical past of the Spanish Navy.
Blas de Lezo was current in battles such because the Battle of the Spanish Succession, the Battle of Toulon, the submission of the island of Mallorca or the protection of the Caribbean and the Pacific.
His victory over the English
Blas de Lezo’s best triumph was the Protection of Cartagena de Indias in 1741. The so-called Siege of Cartagena de Indias started when British troops, led by Edward Vernon, carried out a mixed naval and land assault. Blas de Lezo needed to defend himself with far fewer sources than the British.
After virtually 20 days of combating, the English took management of the port and celebrated a victory that had not but taken place. The truth is, they went as far as to mint cash during which Blas de Lezo, on his knees, handed over his sword to the admiral. Nonetheless, the historic Spanish sailor, led by the viceroy of Granada, Don Sebastián Eslava, managed to attain a victory that compelled the English troops to retreat unexpectedly.
The battle went down in historical past as a result of the Basque-born soldier efficiently defended the necessary metropolis of Cartagena de Indias regardless of having solely six ships and a few 3,000 males to face virtually 30,000 Englishmen and 186 ships. Blas de Lezo managed to defend himself from the offensive because of his ingenuity and techniques comparable to destroying entry to fortifications, utilizing the tides, distributing false studies or strategic use of partitions.
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