Chillingham Castle and Juan José Latorre: Difference between pages

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[[Image:Chillingham_CastleLatorre01.jpg|thumb|Chillingham250px|'''Vice CastleAdmiral fromJuan theJosé front.Latorre''']]

'''Juan José Latorre Benavente''' ([[Santiago de Chile|Santiago]]; [[March 24]], [[1846]] - [[July 9]], [[1912]]) Chilean Vice Admiral, one of the principal actors of the [[War of the Pacific]], and hero of the [[Battle of Angamos]].

==Early life==

'''Chillingham Castle''' is a privately owned medieval castle in the village of [[Chillingham]], [[Northumberland]], close to the border between [[England]] and [[Scotland]]. It has been owned by the family of the Earls Grey since 1200s (AD). It is said to be the most haunted castle in Britain.

Son of Elías Latorre and of Nicomedia Benavente, the oldest of eight brothers. After the early death of his father, three of his younger brothers were taken by the paternal family in [[Peru]], where they were raised. Later on, one of the brothers participated also in the [[War of the Pacific]], but on the Peruvian side.

At the age of nine, in [[1855]], he won a scholarship to the Naval Academy. Appointed midshipman on [[July 15]], [[1861]]. He served on the ''Esmeralda'' during the [[Chincha Islands War]] and participated in the [[Battle of Papudo]], where the Spanish shooner ''Covadonga'' was captured, and in the [[Battle of Abtao]].

==History==

On [[February 12]], [[1873]] was promoted to first lieutenant, and given command of the ''Toltén'' first, and the ''Magallanes'' later. It was in this later ship that he was going to make his name as one of the ablest naval commanders of the coming war. During his patrols of the extreme southern region of Chile, he was involved in a diplomatic incident with [[Argentina]] and Britain, when he captured several foreign ships that were operating in the Chilean area with an Argentinian licence, chief among them the ''Jeanne Amelie'' and the ''Devonshire''. He was also faced with the mutiny of the city of [[Punta Arenas]], where he was able to rescue his old friend, governor [[Diego Dublé Almeida]].

The castle was originally a single watchtower, built close to the site of a monastery in the late 1100s. In [[1298]], [[Edward_I_of_England|King Edward I]], or "Edward Longshanks", visited on his way to Scotland to battle a Scottish army led by [[William Wallace]]. He stayed at the room at the top of the original tower, now known as the Edward 1st Room. A window was specially installed for the king; a rarity in such buildings at the time.

== War of the Pacific years ==

The building underwent a series of enhancements, and in [[1344]] a licence was issued by [[King Edward III]] to allow [[battlements]] to be built, effectively upgrading the stronghold to a fully fortified [[castle]].

===Naval Battle de Chipana===

The castle occupied a strategically important ___location in [[medieval]] times: it was located on the border between two feuding nations. It was used as a staging post for English armies entering Scotland, but was also repeatedly attacked and besieged by Scottish armies and raiding parties heading south. The site contained a [[moat]], and in some locations the fortifications were 12 feet thick.

While in command of the ''Magallanes'', he was the first to come face to face with the Peruvian navy at the [[Battle of Chipana|Naval Battle de Chipana]]. On [[April 12]], [[1879]], he crossed paths with the Peruvian ships ''Unión'' and ''Pilcomayo'', who tried to capture it. Outgunned, Latorre decided to escape. During the ensuing persecution, he noticed that the speed of the two Peruvian ships was greatly different, and that the ''Pilcomayo'' was falling considerably behind.

Once the Peruvian ''Union'' was alone, he turned his ship around, and opened fire. The battle thus ensued. The Peruvian aim was disastrous, due to their lack of training, but the Chilean aim was only marginally better. At one point, the ''Unión'' started spewing white smoke from one of its sides. This led the Peruvian captain to think his ship had been seriously hit, and gave up the persecution, allowing the weaker ''Magallanes'' to escape unharmed. In fact the whole incident was caused by the overheating of one of the boilers.

In [[1617]], [[King James I]], the first king of both England and Scotland, stayed at the castle on a journey between his two kingdoms. As the political situation between the two countries settled into peace following the union, the need for a military stronghold in the area waned. The castle was gradually transformed; the moat was filled, and battlements were converted into residential wings. Rooms such as a [[banquet|banquet hall]] and a [[library]] were built.

In the 18th and 19th century the extensive grounds underwent [[landscape_gardening|landscaping]], including work carried out by [[Sir Jeffrey Wyatville]]. It was an impressive home for the Grey family, who had owned the site since the 13th century.

===Second Naval Battle of Iquique===

During [[World War II]], the castle was used as a [[barracks]]. During this time, much of the decorative wood was stripped out and burned by solders that were fighting the bitter Northumbrian weather.

After the disastrous reduction of the Peruvian navy at the First [[Battle of Iquique|Naval Battle of Iquique]], presidente [[Mariano Ignacio Prado|Prado]] of Peru ordered Admiral [[Miguel Grau|Grau]] to harass the Chilean shipping lines and to try to disrupt their commerce. The Admiral, on the ''Huascar'', decided to go on a night raid to the port of [[Iquique]], to try and destroy the ''Abtao''. He arrived on the night of [[July 9]], and not finding his prey decided to go after the transport ship ''Matías Cousiño.''

After the war, the castle began to fall into disrepair. Lead had been removed from roof, resulting in extensive weather damage to large parts of the building. Estimates suggest that over one ton of bird-dropping was present on the upper floors.

In the 1980s, the land was purchased by [[Sir Humphry Wakefield]], whose wife was a descendant of the Grey family. He set about painstakingly restoring the castle to its former glory. Each room was renovated and decorated appropriately. For example, The Edward 1st Room was restored to the way it may have looked in the 13th century, and the banquet hall was decorated in an authentic mediaeval style.

It was during renovations that the grizzly history of the castle was further exposed. An ancient [[dungeon]] was unearthed, including a pit containing the skeleton of a human child.

Latorre, who was commanding the ''Magallanes'' decided to fend off the attack, in spite of the difference in strength of both ships (260 tons versus 1130). Admiral Grau tried to sink the smaller ship thrice, using his ram, but in spite of his ability the ''Magallanes'' was able to keep him at bay long enough for the ironclad ''Cochrane'' to show up, after which the ''Huascar'' decided to retreat back to [[Arica]].

Following the restoration, the castle was opened to the public. Modern Chillingham is beautiful by daytime, with grounds spreading over many acres (including an Italian-styled garden) and surrounded by woodland. The grounds also contain a lake which can be reached by a short woodland walk. The castle is still privately owned and does not charge an entry fee.

Guests can stay overnight in a number of apartments, and the castle also hosts functions such as weddings.

The picturesque castle has been used for filming locations in such films as[[Elizabeth (film)|''"Elizabeth"]] and is also home to many varieties of wildlife, including the famous [[Chillingham Cattle|Chillingham Wild Cattle]].

=== [[Battle of Angamos|Naval Battle of Angamos]] ===

==Chillingham's Ghosts==

[[Image:Angamos.jpg|thumb|300px|[[Battle of Angamos|Naval Battle of Angamos]]]]

On [[September 6]], [[1879]] he is promoted to commander of the ironclad ''Cochrane'', the strongest unit of the Chilean fleet. His fame was such that he moved in with all his crew. His first mission was to eliminate the threat of the ''Huascar'', who was impeding alone any invasion of the Peruvian coastline.

On the night of [[October 7]] he was informed that the ''Huascar'' had been seen near the port of Huasco and was moving north. A trap was then set. The Chilean fleet was divided into 2 groups. The first division was in charge of Commander [[Galvarino Riveros]] and made up of the ''Blanco Encalada'', ''Covadonga'' and the ''Matías Cousiño'' (the last one loaded with coal), who would try to follow Admiral Grau pushing him towards the second division that would be waiting further north. In the early hours of [[October 8]], the plan went into effect. When the ''Huascar'' and the ''Union'' saw the Chilean ships blocking their way south they decided to turn back north. A few hours later, they met the ''Cochrane'' who was waiting according to plan. Admiral Grau was forced to present battle, while the ''Union'' got away.

The castle is renowned for its many hauntings and is reputedly the most haunted castle in Britain.

It has been investigated on television and radio (namely, ''[[Most Haunted]]'', ''[[I'm Famous and Frightened]]'', ''[[Scariest Places On Earth]]'', ''[[Holiday Showdown]]'' and ''[[Alan Robson]]'s Nightowls'').

The ''Cochrane'' continued advancing over the ''Huascar'' without answering its fire until it was very close to the enemy, in order not to lose speed. When it finally attacked, the onslaught was ferocious. The second shot destroyed the command tower of the ''Huascar'', killing Admiral [[Miguel Grau Seminario|Grau]] and leaving the monitor without a rudder. The fight continued for another hour, but the arrival of the ''Blanco Encalada'' with the rest of the Chilean fleet made any resistance totally useless. The ''Huascar'' was captured and became a part of the Chilean fleet.

The reason that is presented for the ghostly apparitions which appear, as well as the sounds of banging and screaming which have been reported, is the violent history of the castle.

== Later years ==

The most famous [[ghost]] of the castle is the "blue (or radiant) boy", who used to haunt the Pink Room in the castle. Guests have reported seeing blue flashes and would awake in the middle of the night to see a blue "halo" of light above their beds after a loud wail. This, coupled with the sightings of a boy dressed in blue, came to a stop when renovation work revealed the body of a man and a young boy bricked inside a 10-foot-thick wall. Presumably they were entombed whilst still alive, as there are clear scratch marks where they were said to have tried to claw their way out in desperation – although it is not clear if they were entombed together or at separate times. One hypothesis is that this was a punishment for overhearing a spy in the castle discussing plans regarding the [[Spanish Armada]].

After returning to Chile, in [[1882]] he married Julia Moreno Zuleta, whom he met on one of the many parties given in his honor after the war. They had three children. On [[June 5]], [[1884]] he is promoted to Rear-Admiral. In [[1886]] he was appointed Commander General of the Navy. Presidente [[José Manuel Balmaceda]] sent him on an official mission to Europe to supervise the construction of new ships for the Chilean navy. While in [[England]], the [[Chilean Civil War]] broke out. He chose to remain loyal to president Balmaceda and was dismissed after the Congressional triumph. He remained in exile in Europe until [[1894]].

After his return, he was twice elected senator for the Balmacedista party ([[1894]]-[[1900]], [[1900]]-[[1906]]), and was reinstated in the navy. He was appointed member of the Council of State by president [[Federico Errázuriz Echaurren]] in [[1897]] and minister of foreign affairs in [[1898]]. A few years before his death he was promoted to Vice Admiral and was made a Commander of the French [[Legion of Honor]].

Another famous ghost is that of Lady Mary Berkeley, who haunts the entire castle, and in particular, the Grey Room, where it has been reported that her spirit has "climbed out" of the [[portrait]] of her hanging on the wall in the room. It is said that the husband of Lady Mary left her for her sister, leaving her alone and forlorn in the castle.

{{start box}}

The [[oubliette]] is another interesting feature of the castle, where [[paranormal]] activity takes place. The oubliette is accessed via a small grate in the centre of a cell in the dungeon. There are no windows or doors; the only entrance/exit is via the grate. Prisoners of the castle may have had their limbs cut off or broken before being thrown into the pit to die. Eventually the bodies piled up and were cleared out early last century. Currently, one can view the skeleton of the last person to die in the oubliette &ndashl that of a small girl.

{{s-off}}

At night in the oubliette's upper room, it is said that one can hear scraping and banging noises.

{{succession box

| title=[[Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Chile#Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Cult|Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cult]]

| before=[[Raimundo Silva]]

| after=[[Ventura Blanco]]

| years='''1898-1899'''}}

{{s-mil}}

{{succession box

| title=[[Chilean Navy|Navy General Commander]]

| before=[[Domingo Toro]]

| after=[[Luis Uribe]]

| years='''1886-1887'''}}

{{end box}}

[[Category:1846 births|Latorre, Juan José]]

==External links==

[[Category:1912 deaths|Latorre, Juan José]]

[[Category:Chilean military personnel|Latorre, Juan José]]

[http://www.chillingham-castle.com Chillingham Castle website]

[[Category:Chilean admirals|Latorre, Juan José]]

[[Category:People of the War of the Pacific|Latorre, Juan José]]

[http://www.metroradio.co.uk/nav?action=journal&id=1000 Alan Robson's Nightowls]