The Battle of the Medway took place in June 1667 during the Second Anglo-Dutch War. It was a significant naval engagement between the forces of the Dutch Republic and the English navy. The Dutch fleet, led by Admiral Michiel de Ruyter, launched a surprise attack on the English ships anchored in the Medway River, near Chatham. The battle resulted in a decisive victory for the Dutch, who managed to capture several English ships, including the flagship Royal Charles. This defeat was a major embarrassment for England and highlighted the growing naval power of the Dutch during this period.