Ataques a la Isleta

Since the early 16th century, the port of San Juan became one of the most important in the Americas, drawing repeated attacks by European powers seeking control of it. The English first attacked in 1595 under Sir Francis Drake and John Hawkins, followed by another English assault in 1598 led by George Clifford, Earl of Cumberland. A Dutch attack led by Boudewijn Hendrijks came in 1625, and the English attacked again in 1797 under Sir Ralph Abercromby. Of these attacks, only the 1598 assault achieved even limited success, as the Earl of Cumberland's troops occupied the city for 33 days. In this area, part of the first line of defense, a crucial battle during the 1797 invasion led to the defeat of the English. The line's fortifications, completed shortly before the invasion, were key to the Spanish victory, and militiamen from all over Puerto Rico took part in the conflict. After that triumph, the Spanish Crown granted San Juan the motto "Very Noble and Very Loyal," which appears in its coat of arms. Puerto Rican painter José Campeche depicted the attack in a famous oil painting held in the collection of the San Juan Archdiocese.

San Juan, Puerto Rico · United States