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"What is THIS? Could two lone pirates have bested the pride of the Spanish Armada?"
Don Carrera de la Vega to Jack Sparrow and Will Turner[src]

The Spanish Royal Navy, also known as the Spanish Navy or the Spanish Armada, was the naval armed force of the Spanish Empire and one of the oldest active naval forces in the world. Most notably under the reign of King Ferdinand, the Spanish Armada was responsible for a number of major historic achievements in navigation. For several centuries, it played a crucial logistical role in the expansion and consolidation of the Spanish Empire, and defended a vast trade network across the Atlantic Ocean between the Americas and Europe, and across the Pacific Ocean between Asia and the Americas. The Spanish Navy was one of the most powerful maritime forces in the world from the 16th century to the 18th century. Reform under the Bourbon dynasty improved its logistical and military capacity in the 18th century, for most of which Spain possessed the world's third largest navy.

History[]

Origin and early history[]

"Are we at war with the Spanish?"
"...Evidently.
"
Will Turner and Jack Sparrow[src]

The Spanish Royal Navy was organized immediately after the Spanish discovery of the New World in 1492. When other nations of Europe started to make colonies in the Americas, a Spanish Treasure Fleet was organized to safely transport silver and gold from the Caribbean to Spain.

In 1588, the Spanish King Philip II attempted to invade England, but his fleet, called the Invincible Armada, was defeated by the English Navy squadron led by several notorious English sea rovers, Francis Drake among them.

In the 1630s, the Spanish Royal Navy in the Caribbean was lead by admiral Joaquin Da Saldanha.[4] Twenty years later, sensing the decline of Spanish power, the English dictator, Oliver Cromwell, initiated the Anglo-Spanish War (1654). The English Royal Navy inflicted several defeats on the Spanish Armada in the Caribbean, and helped England seize the island of Jamaica. This was to be the beginning of minor losses of islands to other powers in the Caribbean, that were used as bases for attacks on Spanish New World towns and shipping by English, French and Dutch pirates and privateers.

At the beginning of the 18th century, a prominent member of the Spanish Royal Navy was Admiral Maldonado, who led the armada of a hundred ships and mercilessly hunted pirates in the Caribbean. However, his ruthless campaign gave rise to one of the most notorious pirates in the Caribbean, Captain James Sterling.[3]

Spanishgalleonspromo

Three galleons of the Spanish Royal Navy.

During the War of the Spanish Succession (1701-1714), Spain was an ally of France, but that didn't stop British privateers led by Benjamin Hornigold and Edward Teach to capture Spanish merchant ships in the Caribbean. The Franco-Spanish alliance was dissolved a few years after the war. In 1720, during the War of the Quadruple Alliance, the Spanish Royal Navy attempted to capture New Providence, the seat of the British power in the Bahamas. However, the attack was repelled by local militia, which was composed mainly of former pirates.

At one point during his pirate career, Captain Jack Sparrow impersonated an officer of the Spanish Royal Navy, which eventually became one of the notorious pirate's many crimes listed in his death sentence.[10]

The Salazars[]

"You know my father was an admiral—and a traitor. He patrolled these very waters, took bribes from pirates—gold and silver—allowed them to sail with impunity!"
Armando Salazar[src]

One of the leaders of the Spanish Navy in the Caribbean was Admiral Salazar, a corrupt officer who let the pirates evade justice as long as they gave him gold and silver in exchange. One day he was arrested for treason and imprisoned. He was released from prison a year after his wife's death, but when the disgraced admiral returned home he was killed by his own son, Armando Salazar.[11]

DMTNT battle

The Silent Mary fires a full broadside at the burning pirate ship.

The young Spaniard swore vengeance on pirates who had destroyed his family and joined the Spanish Navy, eventually becoming the most feared pirate hunter in the history of Spain. Commanding a loyal crew aboard the mighty galleon, the Silent Mary, Armando Salazar destroyed dozens of pirate ships. Salazar became known as "El Matador del Mar", the Butcher of the Sea as he successfully brought piracy in the Caribbean to the brink of extinction until young Jack the Sparrow defeated Salazar.[7][8]

Quest for the Shadow Gold[]

"Typical arrogant Spaniards. As if the East India Trading Company isn't trouble enough, now we have to deal with the regular Spanish navy everywhere and Spanish pirates as well."
Jack Sparrow to his crew[src]

In the late 1710s, the Spanish Navy made a deal with the Spanish Pirate Lord, Eduardo Villanueva, who promised them that he'll drive out the English and the French from the Caribbean forever. He also promised that he'll sink every pirate ship in the Caribbean.[5] But that plan was ruined by another Pirate Lord, Jack Sparrow, who stole the gold with which the Spanish intended to pay Villanueva.

A few months later, the Spanish Royal Navy participated in the battle for the Shadow Gold, controlled by the alchemist known as the Shadow Lord. The Shadow Lord was defeated, and so was the Spanish fleet. After the battle, the Spanish princess Carolina took one of the Spanish ships for herself and named it the Sparrow, in honor of her former captain, the Pirate Lord Jack Sparrow.[12]

The Condenados[]

A pair of identical warships was built for the Spanish Navy, the San Pablo and the San Miguel. The two ships were the pride of Spanish Navy, but during the night of the full moon, both ships disappeared without a trace. However, according to legends, the vanished ships would reappear from time to time, pursuing other ships, and every pursuit would end with the sinking of every captured vessel. Because of these legends, the San Pablo and the San Miguel became known as the Condenados, the Damned.[13]

Threat of a sea god[]

"The Delfin was chartered as a fishing vessel... Now why would the Armada unleash hell on a ship under its own flag, hmm?"
Hector Barbossa[src]

At some point during Hector Barbossa's quest to lift the Aztec curse, the Spanish Armada managed to capture Palaimon, the Greek sea god who fed on human souls. Trapped and shackled, Palaimon was taken aboard the fishing vessel Delfin. However, he managed to devour the souls of the ship's crewmen, and the rest of the ships in the fleet opened fire on the Delfin, destroying it completely.[14]

War of Garcia and Pierre[]

In the 1720s, a privateer war erupted between the French colony of Ille D'Etable De Porc and Isla De La Avaricia, a war which cost the Spanish Royal Navy many of its ships. The sunken ships were later raised from their watery graves by an undead pirate captain Jolly Roger. They were later organized into the Spanish Ghost Fleet, commanded by Roger's minions.[15] However, despite these losses, the Spanish Royal Navy remained a powerful force in the Caribbean.

Quest for the Fountain of Youth[]

Spaniards OST

Spanish Royal Navy soldiers at Fort San Miguel.

"I have a report. The Spanish have located the Fountain of Youth. I will not have some melancholy Spanish Monarch—a Catholic—gain eternal life!"
King George[src]

In 1750, upon gaining possession of the ship's log of Ponce de León, King Ferdinand VI sent The Spaniard and his loyal crew of the Spanish Armada in a quest for the Fountain of Youth. Throughout the quest, The Spaniard's fleet sailed past the HMS Providence, captained by privateer Hector Barbossa, and made camp in the abandoned Fort San Miguel, where they examined the Chalices of Cartagena and dealt with Barbossa and pirate Jack Sparrow. Ultimately, the quest was successful for the Spanish, who managed to destroy the Fountain.[2]

Symbols[]

Modern Flag of Spain

The flag of Spain.

The most prominent symbol of the Spanish Royal Navy was the Flag of Spain, which was usually flown from the mainmasts of the Spanish ships. Another flag, known as the Cross of Burgundy, was used in the time of war. The ships also flew pennants of different colors. Aside from that, the sails of the Spanish Navy ships were often decorated with the coat of arms of the Spanish Monarchy, or with the great Catholic cross and the lion from the coat of arms of León.[2]

Notable vessels[]

Nemesis vs SRN

A battle between the Spanish ship of the line and the pirate ship Nemesis.

Behind the scenes[]

Appearances[]

Wiki
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Sources[]

External links[]

Notes and references[]

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