The Spanish Galleon is one of the most romantic ship types in history. Long associated with sunken treasure, pirates, conquistadores and the Spanish Armada, these ships have come to epitomise Spanish maritime power during the 16th and 17th centuries. Hollywood has much to answer for, and although these galleons were spectacular vessels, they were nothing like the grandiose ships of the Spanish crown portrayed on the silver screen. Rather they were the workhorses of Spain's maritime empire, protecting her interests in European waters, and ensuring that the Spanish crown benefited from the extraordinary wealth produced in her American colonies. This book is an attempt to describe the real vessels behind the popular facade, and to explain how they functioned. We are fortunate in that the Spanish during this period were meticulous record keepers, giving us a wealth of information to help us define exactly what a galleon was.
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