Capture of Tortuga
Part of the Franco-Spanish War
A c. 1650 illustration of Tortuga
Date 21–23 January 1635 (1635-01-21 – 1635-01-23) Location Tortuga Result Spanish victory
Belligerents
Spain	England  France
Commanders and leaders
Francisco Turrillo de Yebra Ruy Fernández de Fuenmayor Gonçalo de Frías	Christopher Wormeley
Strength
150 cavalry 50 infantry 50 sailors 4 ships	150‍–‍600 male settlers
Casualties and losses
2 killed 4 wounded	196 killed 39 captured 2 ships destroyed 1 ship captured

The capture of Tortuga was a Spanish expedition to the island of Tortuga in January 1635 intended to remove French and English settlers from the island during the Franco-Spanish War. During the early 17th century, English and French colonists settled on Tortuga, engaging in logwood harvesting and piracy. In 1630, 150 English settlers from Saint Kitts established a settlement linked to the Providence Island colony, which appointed Christopher Wormeley as governor in 1634.

The Spanish, alerted to Tortuga's weak defences by Irish defectors, set a 250-strong expedition in late January 1635 which captured and destroyed all French and English settlements on the island, forcing their survivors to flee. Spanish forces summarily executed hundreds of captives during the engagement. Wormeley was later banished for his failure, and Tortuga evolved into a pirate stronghold after the departure of the Providence Island's plantation-oriented oversight.^{[note 1]}

English, French and Dutch colonists, many of whom were buccaneers, gradually began settling Tortuga and the northern coast of Hispaniola in the early 17th century. They engaged in the harvesting of logwood and piracy, and in 1630 were joined by approximately 150 English settlers from Saint Kitts led by Anthony Hilton. These settlers quickly formalised their colony by associating with the English Providence Island colony. On 21 July 1631, the Providence Island colony established the dependency of "Association" on Tortuga for Hilton's colonists, providing for their defence and labour needs and confirming Hilton as the dependency's governor. After Hilton's death in 1634, this position passed onto his associate, Christopher Wormeley.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][note 2][note 3]}

Among the indentured servants or engagés which Providence provided Tortuga were John Murphy and his cousin, Irish Catholics. Upon Wormeley's inauguration as governor, these and many others were required to take oaths of allegiance, whereupon Murphy and his cousin protested, leading to the latter's death and the former's defection to Cartagena (first) and Santo Domingo (later).^[8]

Upon reaching Santo Domingo in 1634, Murphy informed local authorities that‍–‍

Hereupon, Alonso de Cereceda, acting governor, convened a council of war, which resolved to 'dislodge the enemy from the said Island and punish their audacity before their greater expansion and fortification [occurs,] and because of the great [commercial] interest in the brazilwood and tobacco that they harvest and trade[,] and because it is [too] close to the route of the frigates and ships which come and go from this Island [Hispaniola] to that of Cuba[,] Cartaxena[,] and other parts[, being so located so as] to steal from these vessels.'^[9]

Turrillo and 50 infantry-men set off from Santo Domingo on 4 January 1635, with four baxeles in tow, to meet Fuenmayor and his 150 lancers at their rendezvous, Port Bayaha. The officers coordinated their attack while watering here, and shortly thereafter sailed due northwest, coasting the northern shore of Hispaniola.^[10] On 21 January 1635, under cover of night, Fuenmayor lead his armadilla or fleet across the Tortuga Channel, towards the island's southern port. The pilot, however, ran the ships aground, causing a ruckus which alerted four merchantmen to their presence. A loud and confused skirmish followed, as sailors rushed to man the fort and sound the alarm, while Spaniards simultaneously prepared their attack, with most taking to the ships' cannons, while a small contingent slipped away in canoes towards the beach. The kerfuffle resulted in the campaign's first casualties, for both sides.^{[11][note 4][note 5]}

Startled awake by the fort's bugles, the settlement was likewise a scene of frenzied chaos as French and English residents collected their valuables to make a hurried escape. At the Governor's residence, Wormeley likewise set upon retreat, managing to scurry away before Fuenmayor arrived. At this point, Fuenmayor, Turrillo, and Frías, with a unit of 24 men, disembarked near the settlement, at once marching towards the Governor's house. An unidentified resident (presumed to be the 'Governor' by Fuenmayor) put up a fight, but was quickly despatched with two well-aimed spear-throws. The 'Governor' now slain, Fuenmayor set about methodically sacking and burning the settlement, killing all whom they encountered. Meanwhile, the armadilla eventually took the fort, and thereby the port, forcing the merchant vessels to retreat.^[12][13][14]

By daybreak (on 22 January 1635), most or some of the settlers had made their escape, reportedly aboard rickety canoes towards Hispaniola. Fuenmayor's men now ventured further into Tortuga, under instructions 'that all the fields and houses be put to fire.'^{[note 6]} The campaign's last engagement came on 23 January 1635. Some 190 of the island's residents had resolved to oppose the Spanish, rather than flee. Consequently, they had determined to march towards Fuenmayor's camp on this day. The Spanish general, however, discovered their plot, and met the musket-armed settlers halfway into their march. The engagement was reportedly quick and bitter, with the Spaniards exacting a substantial toll, themselves suffering only minimal casualties.^{[15][16][note 7]}

On 27‍–‍28 January 1635, the Spanish ships finally entered the port. Fuenmayor spent the following three or four days combing Tortuga before departing, with the rest of his men (and prisoners) following not long thereafter. The 39 prisoners were condemned to hard labour, building fortifications in Santo Domingo.^{[17][18][note 8]} On 10 April 1635, proprietors of the Providence Island colony deprived Wormeley of his office and banished him from the Tortuga, 'by reason of his cowardice and negligence in losing the island.' He is thought to have relocated to York County, Virginia, where he served in various public offices.^{[19][13][20][21][note 9]}

It has been suggested that settlers who hid were 'hunted down' during Fuenmayor's sweep of the island, though a 'handful managed to conceal themselves in out-of-the-way recesses until the Spaniards [...] sailed back to San Domingo.' In any case, as no garrison remained in Tortuga, the island is thought to have been resettled within a few months of Fuenmayor's departure, in mid- or late 1635.^{[13][18][note 10]} The capture was deemed 'a complete success.' Men who distinguished themselves were honoured with mercedes, and Fuenmayor was promoted to the governorship of Venezuela. It has been further suggested that this success encouraged campaigns against Dutch-held Curaçao and English-held Providence Island.^{[22][23][24][25][note 11]}

Wormeley, on the other hand, is said to have 'displayed the utmost cowardice.'^[20][26] It has been suggested that Fuenmayor's campaign contributed to Tortuga's transition from a quasi-plantation, quasi-pirate settlement to 'a true pirate stronghold,' as the campaign resulted in the removal of Providence Island's plantation-oriented oversight, and the eventual desertion of tobacco farmers, leaving mainly pirates and buccaneers.^{[2][note 12]}

Tortuga (Haiti) for more on the aftermath.