The naval battle at Paraíbo

The Gele Zon (also spelled Geele Sonne) was a WIC vessel which operated in the protection of Pernambuco. The Dutch presence in Brazil in the early 17th century was not a big success. Yet in January 1640 the Dutch fleet under Willemn Cornelisz. Loos was victorious over the Luso-Spanish fleet under Fernando de Mascarenhas, the count of Torre. This fleet had been sent by King Philip IV to recapture Pernambuco on the Dutch. The victory caused a temporary breach of the Spanish rule of the seas in this area.

Nationaal Archief, 4.AKF, 2.11, blad 21

Map from the volume America of the Atlas Maior by J. Blaeu, depicting the battles.

On 12 January, Loos attacked with his fleet and this attack marked the start of four confrontations out to sea at Paraíba. The Spanish fleet consisted of 66 ships and carried 5000 soldiers - the largest Spanish fleet ever to have been sent to Brazilian waters. The Dutch fleet consisted of 41 ships with 2800 men on board. The battles took place on 12,13, 14 and 17 January. Neither of the parties got a clear victory, but the Dutch fleet did manage to drive the Spanish fleet away and thus secure the Dutch possession of Pernambuco.

Dutch losses

The Dutch losses appear to be minimal. The sources mention that a ship got damaged so badly during the first battle that it had to return to Recife. The second day a Dutch ship was lost, Probably the Gele Zon. On the 14th the Zwaan (also spelled Swaene) was lost. This was the Rear Admiral.

Rijksmuseum, RP-P-1951-75

Third battle with the Portuguese fleet near Paraíba, 1640, Salomon Savery, after Frans Jansz. Post, 1645 - 1647.

The wreck site has not been located yet.

• Marley, David (1998).
  Wars of the Americas: A Chronology of Armed Conflict in the America's  Volume 2 pp. 196-197.
• S. Münch Miranda and J. P. Salvado (2015).
  Struggling for Brazil: Dutch, Portuguese and Spaniards in the 1640 Naval Battle of Paraíba.
  Tijdschrift voor Zeegeschiedenis 2015, Deel 34, nr. 1.
  pp 51-64.
• J.C.M. Warnsinck (1940).
  Een mislukte aanslag op Nederlandsch Brazilië 1639-1640.
  De Gids, jaargang 1045.
  pp 174-206.
• Atlas of Mutual Heritage.
  Kaart van Paraiba en Rio Grande.