Henry Morgan's raid on Lake Maracaibo

Henry Morgan's raid on Lake Maracaibo
Part of the Anglo-Spanish War (1654–1671)
Henry Morgan defeats the Spanish fleet on Lake Maracaibo 1669. From Alexandre Exquemelin's The Buccaneers of America
Date 16 March – 21 May 1669 Location Lake Maracaibo 09°48′57″N 71°33′24″W / 9.81583°N 71.55667°W / 9.81583; -71.55667 Result English victory
Belligerents
Spain	England
Commanders and leaders
Alonso del Campo y Espinosa	Henry Morgan
Strength
Armada de Barlovento 1 Galleon, 1 Patache and 1 Frigate Various coastal defences	8 ships 500 men
Casualties and losses
1 Galleon sunk 1 Patache burned 1 frigate captured 10 merchant vessels captured 2 towns plundered 400 killed wounded or captured	Unknown

Henry Morgan's raid on Lake Maracaibo, also known as the Sack of Maracaibo and the Battle of Lake Maracaibo, was a military event that took place between 16 March and 21 May 1669 during the latter stage of the Anglo-Spanish War. English privateers commanded by notable Buccaneer Henry Morgan launched an attack with the purpose of raiding Spanish towns along the coastline inside of Lake Maracaibo in the Spanish Province of Venezuela.

After capturing and sacking the towns of Maracaibo and Gibraltar, Morgan was trapped by the Spanish Armada de Barlovento led by Don Alonso del Campo y Espinosa. Despite being outgunned Morgan's fleet defeated and wiped out the Spanish fleet in a pitched naval battle on the bar of Maracaibo. Following this Morgan was to able escape getting past the fortress guarding the lake after successful ruse. His fleet got back to Jamaica unscathed with a significant amount of plunder.