Santa Cruz, Álvaro de Bazán, marqués de

Santa Cruz, Álvaro de Bazán, marqués de älˈvärō ᵺā bäthänˈ märkāsˈ dā sänˈtä kro͞oth [key], 1526–88, Spanish admiral. He fought in various actions against the Ottomans and distinguished himself at Lepanto (1571). In Philip II's war for the crown of Portugal, Santa Cruz decisively defeated (1582) the French, who were supporting the Portuguese pretender, off the Azores. The leading promoter of an invasion of England, he was to have commanded the Spanish Armada, but he died before the expedition began.

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