Battle of Dangpo (1604)

For the 1592 battle during the Imjin War, see Battle of Dangpo (1592).

Second Battle of Dangpo (1604)
Painting of the battle, 1604
Date 4–5 June [1] or 14 June 1604 [2] (~1 day) [1] Location Dangpo, Tongyeong, Joseon Result Joseon victory
Belligerents
Joseon Korea	Tokugawa shogunate
Commanders and leaders
Shin Yeo-ryang 28 other commanders [1] [3]	Tokugawa Ieyasu João Mendes  (POW)
Units involved
Panokseon Hahoseon	Red seal ship
Strength
25 warships 15 smaller ships 233 soldiers	1 red ship 49 crew
Casualties and losses
Unknown	Most of the crew killed or captured

The Battle of Dangpo (1604) or the Dangpo incident was a naval engagement that occurred off the coast of Dangpo, Joseon (now in Tongyeong, South Korea), between the Korean navy and a Red Seal Ship.

Background

On June 14, 1604, ^[2] a mysterious ship approached the coast of Dangpo, Tongyeong, where Korea's naval headquarters were located. The ship was an armed Japanese trading vessel, dispatched by Tokugawa Ieyasu to establish trade relations with Cambodia. Its crew consisted of 16 Chinese, 31 Japanese, a Portuguese merchant (João Mendes), and a black crew member. Following a storm, the vessel drifted into Korean waters. The Korean navy, still on high alert after the Imjin War, viewed the ship's presence as a threat. When initial efforts to communicate and requests of a peaceful surrender with the crew failed, tensions escalated, leading to the deployment of Korean warships. ^{[1] [2]}

Battle

The engagement began on June 4 or June 14, 1604, with 25 Korean warships, led by commander Shin Yeo-ryang, surrounding the Japanese vessel. Korean ships, primarily Panokseon , launched an attack involving fire arrows and artillery bombardment. Despite their size and firepower, the Japanese crew resisted fiercely, relying on muskets and melee combat. However, the superior Korean navy gradually overwhelmed the enemy. After more than 24 hours of fighting, Korean sailors boarded the Japanese ship, subdued the crew, and captured the vessel and most of its crew. ^[1]

Aftermath

Surviving crew members were taken prisoner and later interrogated. Recognizing the Chinese ownership of the ship, the Korean government repatriated the survivors to China, earning commendation and a reward from the Ming court. ^[1]

References

1. 고, 영화 (20 March 2016). "임진왜란 거제인(巨濟人) 우수(禹壽) 장군". Newsngeoje. 앤거제. Retrieved May 7, 2016.
2. "주앙 멘데스João Mendes 기념비 1604년 6월 14일 거대한 적선 한 척이 조선수군의 본영인 통영 앞바 다에 침입했다. 이경준 삼도수군통제사의 명령으로 전함인 판옥 선로 이 출동, 평화적인 투항을 요청했으나 끝까지 저항하므로 치 열한 접전 끝에 격침시켰다. 이 배는 당시 일본의 통치자인 도쿠가와 이에야스가 캄보디아 왕국에 파견한 첫 외교무역선으로 캄보 디아 프놈펜 항에서 일본 나가사키 로 귀항 중 풍랑 때문에 길을 잘 못 든 것이었다. 전후 생존자는 일본인 중국인[뼈나라] 등 49명과 서양 인 1명이었다. 서양인은 포르투갈의 지 면제수산 제 , 즉 주앙 멘데스João Mendes로 34세의 무역상이었다. 뜻하지 않고 조선에 오 게 된 서양인 멘데스가 온 지 402 돌이 되는 올해 그의 내한*을 기 리는 빗돌을 역사의 현장인 여기 통영 땅에 세운.” in 최, 2014.
3. 김, 석 (31 August 2020). "당포해전의 명장 신여량, 그리고 엉터리 기록들". KBS뉴스. Retrieved August 31, 2020.

Sources

• 최, 명 (July 7, 2014). 술의 노래: 최명 교수의 음주 교유기 (in Korean). 도서출판 선. ISBN   9788963124797.