page_title: Capture of Santiago (1585)
section_title: Praia
hierarchical_section_title: Capture of Santiago (1585) / Capture / Praia
context_page_description: The Capture of Santiago was a military event that took place between 11–28 November 1585 during the newly-declared Anglo-Spanish War. An English expedition led by Francis Drake captured the port town of Cidade Velha in the Cape Verde islands that had recently belonged to the Crown of Portugal. He sacked it and then marched inland before doing the same at São Domingos and Praia. Afterwards Drake left and continued his expedition to successfully raid the Spanish possessions in the Americas.
context_section_description: Drake sent Carleill on another expedition nine miles along the coast to the east, until he reached Praia.
  Carleill's arrival coincided with the appearance of Drake and the fleet off the town's beach at dawn the following morning. The 1,000 or so inhabitants fled to safety, leaving Drake in control of the town who ordered it to be razed to the ground, sparing only the town hospital, but the plunder was scarce and then set back to Santiago.
  Drake left within a day of the capture of Porto Praia, but before he did so he ordered Cidade Velha to be razed as a final message to governor and the Spanish.
caption: Drakes voyage to the West Indies showing the raid at Santiago
exif: {}