ABSTRACT
In 1644 the Spaniards made no attempt to dispute its command of the western Mediterranean and a considerable force assembled at Cartagena in the following year never came in contact with the enemy. After the return of the French Mediterranean fleet to Toulon in September 1641 and the dismissal of Sourdis from his command it remained inactive for several months with only a few ships. Galleys maintaining a blockade of Rosas, for with the Spanish sailing ships outside the Straits of Gibraltar there was no need for more. The ending of the general European war with the Treaty of Westphalia in October left France still at war with Spain and might have been expected to allow greater efforts to be made to ensure success in that direction, but as it was the French Mediterranean fleet was almost completely paralysed.
