Spain suffered a humiliating naval defeat at…

Spain suffered a humiliating naval defeat at the Naval Battle of Papudo on November 26, 1865, before Chile and Peru were even formally aligned.

Here, the Chilean corvette Esmeralda captures the Spanish schooner Covadonga, taking the crew prisoner and capturing the Admiral's war correspondence.

This loss is too much for Admiral Pareja's pride, and two days later he commits suicide on his flagship.

After the Spanish Admiral's death, the general command of the Spanish fleet in the Pacific is assumed by Commodore Casto Méndez Núñez, who is soon promoted to rear admiral.