Santiago (1551 ship) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids History |
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|---|---|
 Spain |
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| Name | Santiago |
| Launched | 1551 |
| Stricken | 1588 |
| Fate | Wrecked |
The Santiago was a supply ship that sailed with the famous Spanish Armada. It sadly sank near Bergen, Norway, in 1588. Built around 1551, probably in a place called Flanders, it was one of the oldest ships in the Armada at 37 years old.
The Santiago was an urca, which means it was a large cargo ship. These ships were perfect for carrying goods between northern and southern Europe. Spanish officials took control of the Santiago in 1587. It was in a port called Sanlúcar de Barrameda. They made it join the Armada for their big plan to invade England.
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What Did the Santiago Carry?
The Santiago carried many important supplies. These included 24 mules for pulling cannons. It also had gunpowder, musket balls, and things like horseshoes. Other items were hinges, wagon parts, and metal plates. The ship also carried hardtack, which is a very hard biscuit for sailors.
The Santiago was also ready for battle. It had 19 cannons on board. This shows it was not just a simple cargo ship. It was prepared to defend itself if needed.
Who Was On Board the Santiago?
When the Santiago sailed from La Coruña in July 1588, 116 people were on board. They were heading into the English Channel to fight the English fleet. The crew included 33 sailors and officers. There were also 16 stable boys to look after the animals.
The ship also carried 3 artillerists, who were experts with cannons. There were 32 Spanish soldiers on board. What was unusual was that 32 women were also on the ship. These women were the wives of the soldiers. Because of this, the Santiago was nicknamed the "ship of the women."
Ship Leaders
Four main people were in charge of the ship and everyone on it. The captain was Nicolán de Juan from Aragon. The skipper, who was like the first mate, was Simon Unique.
Alonso de Olmos was the commander of the Spanish soldiers. Diego de la Nava was in charge of the men who worked the cannons. He also took care of the mules.
The Armada's Difficult Journey
After several battles, the Spanish Armada lost to the English fleet. They decided to escape by sailing north. Their plan was to go around the top of the British Isles. Then they would sail into the Atlantic Ocean and head south back to Spain. Many ships started to fall behind during this long journey.
Santiago's Final Voyage
The Santiago faced very bad weather. There was a strong headwind, meaning the wind blew against them. They were also running low on supplies and the ship was leaking badly. The crew decided to turn east and sail with the wind towards Norway.
They reached land on September 18, 1588, near Skudeneshavn. They found a local man who agreed to guide them north to Bergen. As they sailed along the coast, another big storm hit. The ship was leaking even more. They turned into Hardanger Fjord and finally wrecked near Mosterhamn.
What Happened After the Wreck?
Amazingly, everyone on board the Santiago survived the shipwreck. They stayed in the Bergen area for a few months. Most of the crew then sailed on a German ship towards Hamburg. However, their bad luck continued. Their new ship wrecked again near Halmstad, Sweden.
After that second wreck, they traveled mostly by land. They went to Buxtehude, a town near Hamburg. There, they asked to be set free so they could find their own way home to Spain.
