The system of Flotas and Galeones

In response to the increasingly common attacks suffered by Spanish ships carrying goods of colonies to Spain, King Felipe II of Spain created the system called sistema de flotas y galeones. This system was based on two annual trips, formed by the galleons carrying products such as gold, silver and other commodities, accompanied by naval ships whose aim was to prevent attacks from pirates, buccaneers and privateers sent by European enemies the Spanish Crown

Now we are going to explain the different routes that the Spanish ships had to follow. Firstly, they left from Cartagena and it had to arrive at Nueva España, specifically to the port of Vera Cruz. Then, in august another one left the Spanish port and arrived at Cartagena and Portobello. Both met in La Habana and went together to Spain, so as we can see is a system of Puerto único.

“Desde mediados de siglo y ante la intensificación de la piratería, los españoles tuvieron que proteger los encíos de mercancias y metales preciosos con una serie de barcos de escolta. A partir de 1564 todos los años salían de España dos flotas bien protegidas que se dirigían respectivamente a Mexico y Panamá. Tras pasar el invierno en América, se reunian en La Habana para realizer juntas el viaje de regreso en la primavera o comienzos del verano. El Sistema, ideado por Menéndez de Áviles, fue en lineas generals bastante eficaz.”[1]

So now we are going to see how the system of Galeons and Flotas was abolish. There are many reasons, but these are the more relevant ones:

-          They need to send every month mercury from the Azores to maintain the mining of silver in America, so this systems was not very appropriate.

-          The need to be communicated with the Americas. They need to keep a system of post and urgent communication to support the communication between two territories. This was the only case in which the ships were departure from La Coruña and not from Sevilla. There was also a need to send precious metals more than twice a year.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

 RIBOT GARCÍA, L.A.; “Europa y América en la época del monopolio ibérico”, in NAVARRO GARCÍA, L., Historia de las Américas II, Madrid, Universidad de Sevilla, 1991.

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[1]  RIBOT GARCÍA, L.A.; “Europa y América en la época del monopolio ibérico”, in NAVARRO GARCÍA, L., Historia de las Américas II, Madrid, Universidad de Sevilla, 1991. Page 18