Grau, Peruvian maritime hero

By Choe Chong-dae

“The Great Myth and Mystery of Peruvian Civilization: Inca,” a unique exhibition held at the National Museum of Korea in Seoul from Dec 11, 2009 to March 28, 2010, created a great sensation and piqued tremendous interest among the Korean people. It continues to evoke feelings within me of admiration for the Incan Empire.

Since ancient times, Peru has been a navy nation, with one of the world longest coastlines and the world’s richest seas. It is assumed that the Incas were skilled sailors because some ancient cultures flourished along the vast coasts of the region during the pre-Inca period.

To commemorate the heroism of The Great Admiral Miguel Grau Seminario, his great achievement in the 1879 Battle of Angamos and the anniversary of the 1821 establishment of the Peruvian Navy, the Peruvian government designated Oct. 8 as a national holiday. Accordingly, Peru's Ambassador to Korea Jaime Pomareda and Captain Cesar Morales, the naval attaché, hosted a reception to celebrate the 195th anniversary of the Peruvian Navy.

At the reception held on Oct. 13, at the Grand Hyatt Hotel Seoul, I learned why Miguel Grau Seminario (1834-1879) is an iconic figure for the Peruvian Navy. Widely known as the “Gentleman of the Seas" and highly respected by not only Peruvians but also Chileans and others for his kind and chivalrous treatment of defeated enemies, Grau was the most renowned maritime hero of the Naval Battle of Angamos during the War of the Pacific (1879-1884) against Chile.

As the captain in command of the Huascar, the flagship of the Peruvian Navy, Grau interdicted Chilean logistics, sank many Chilean vessels and bombarded port installations. Remarkably, he practiced philanthropy. When the enemy’s ships sank, he exerted himself to rescue any survivors in hopes of preventing an excessive loss of lives. Saddened by the death of his foes, he wrote a letter of condolence to the wife of Captain Arturo Prat, commander of the Esmeralda, and did the same for all the Chilean sailors who had lost their lives in the battle, expressing profound pain and sorrow. He even collected Prat’s belongings and sent them to his wife.

Due to Admiral Grau’s triumphs at sea, the Chilean Navy made it their top priority to eliminate him as a threat. Finally, he lost his life during the 1879 Battle of Angamos. In recognition of a lifetime of outstanding achievement, he is acknowledged as a Peruvian national hero and the "Knight of the Seas.” In 2000 he was nominated as “The Peruvian of the Millennium."

Grau’s life has been compared to that of Admiral Yi Sun-sin (1545-1598), Korea's maritime navy hero. Yi led Korea to a great victory during the Japanese invasion of 1592-98 close to the Yeosu Sea in the Battle of Noryang Point.

Admiral Yi achieved many more great victories against the Japanese invaders, such as the Hansan Great Victory and the Myeongryang Great Victory on the southern coast. His remarkable victories are widely considered by the Korean people to be some of the most superb naval victories ever achieved.

Many authorities believe the battles of the Hansan Island and of Noryang Sea are on the same level as the battle of Salamis won by the Greek Admiral Themistocles against Persia in 480 B.C., the battle of Calais won by the British Admiral Lord Howard against the Spanish Armada in 1588 and the battle of Trafalgar won by British Admiral Lord Nelson against French and Spanish allies in 1805. They can rightly be termed the "Four Greatest Naval Battles."

Admiral Grau was truly a great navigator of the world’s oceans who will continue to inspire generations of heroes for years to come.

Choe Chong-dae is a guest columnist of The Korea Times. He is president of Dae-kwang International Co. and director of the Korean-Swedish Association. He can be reached at choecd@naver.com.