Sancho d'Avila

Sancho d'Avila
Born	21 September, 1523 Ávila, Spain
Died	1583 Lisbon, Portugal
Allegiance	Spanish Empire
Service / branch	Army
Rank	Captain
Battles / wars	Schmalkaldic War Battle of Mühlberg Ottoman–Habsburg wars Capture of Mahdia Battle of Djerba Italian War of 1551–1559 Eighty Years' War Battle of Dahlen Battle of Le Quesnoy Relief of Goes Battle of Flushing Battle of Borsele Battle of Mookerheyde Sack of Antwerp War of the Portuguese Succession Battle of Alcántara Capture of Porto

Don Sancho Dávila y Daza (21 September 1523 – 1583) was a Spanish general.

Born at Ávila, he first served as the commander of the Duke of Alba's bodyguard. It was in this function that Dávila arrested the Count of Egmont.

When the Eighty Years' War started, Dávila suffered a defeat in the Battle of Le Quesnoy. He was also involved in the 1572 Siege of Middelburg and the Battle of Flushing a year later. In 1574, Dávila defeated Louis and Henry, brothers of William the Silent, in the Battle of Mookerheyde.

In 1576, as commander of the Spanish troops in the Citadel of Antwerp, he was the main instigator of the Sack of Antwerp in which between 7,000 and 18,000 lives and a great deal of property were lost. Four years later, he participated with the Duke of Alba at the Battle of Alcântara.

In 1580, he captured the key Portuguese city of Porto which secured Spain's personal union with Portugal for more than 60 years and finished off António, Prior of Crato's army in the War of the Portuguese Succession.

Dávila later died in Lisbon of a wound infection, which he got during a raid in Portugal.

Further reading

Protagonists of War