Cindy Vallar's Blog - Posts Tagged "spain"

Armada / A Little History of the World by Colin Martin

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


In late July 1588, two fleets engaged off the coast of England in what has become known as the Spanish Armada. It was King Philip II’s attempt to invade England and return her people to the Catholic faith. Queen Elizabeth and her ministers took the threat seriously, and all understood the stakes should England lose. To Philip, this was an operation blessed by God and He would not allow Spain to fail. But the endeavor did fail and the reasons for that failure were many, as Martin and Parker deftly show.

The authors explain the historical background, starting with King Henry VIII’s setting aside his wife, the Spanish Catherine of Aragon, in favor of Anne Boleyn through to Queen Elizabeth’s execution of her cousin, Mary, Queen of Scots. We meet the key players on both sides of the conflict, including the monarchs and their ruling styles, as well as the strengths and weaknesses of the admirals, the navies, and the ships. Also shared is information gleaned from exploring the shipwrecks and artifacts that have been found.

This book is divided into four parts: The Fleets Assemble, God’s Obvious Design, “It came, it saw, it departed,” and The Aftermath. It contains more than 155 illustrations and six tables, as well as a glossary, a chronology, notes, a bibliography, and an index. There is also a URL to a downloadable digital file that contains five appendices. The majority of illustrations are in color – some artifacts are black-and-white renderings, rather than photographs – and these are spread throughout the book rather than in separate sections.

This new edition of Armada, which was previously published in 1988, has been revised and expanded. At over 700 pages, it is a comprehensive and highly readable account of this well-known event. Written by an underwater archaeologist and a historian, it incorporates artefacts and contemporary documents to entertain, enlighten, and separate reality from myth. Archives around the world have been searched to provide the most comprehensive account of the events and people involved in this historical milestone.

What also makes this a compelling read is that the authors allow the participants to tell the story without relying on the myths and nationalistic fervor that have colored many previous histories of the Armada. In addition, the authors explore the failures on both sides, the aftermath of the attack, who should take the blame, lessons learned and not learned, survivors’ stories, what if’s, how England and Iberia remember the Armada, and what we might learn in the future. For those seeking an informative account of the events that occurred in the summer of 1588, Armada is well-worth the read and a bargain since readers are left with a clear understanding of who was involved, what happened, and why it unfolded as it did without needing to undertake the depth of research that Martin and Parker have.


This review was originally published at Pirates and Privateers (http://www.cindyvallar.com/Martin-Par...)




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Spanish Warships in the Age of Sail, 1700-1860: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates by Rif Winfield

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


As history passes, change is inevitable. Sometimes, it’s hard to see how those changes influence fundamental elements within an organization and its equipment. Spanish Warships in the Age of Sail, the latest volume in the Warships in the Age of Sail series, seeks to alter this by showcasing how Spain’s naval fleet evolved during a specific span of time. In this case, the book focuses on the period in which the Bourbon monarchy came to power in November 1700 until steam began to replace sail. Whenever possible, the authors also discuss each ship’s career, where she sailed and fought, and what became of her.

The book opens with an explanation of the Spanish Navy’s structure and organization, which is followed by information concerning Spain’s weights and measurements, names, dates, naval ranks, monetary units, flags and royal arms, and conversions. Two chronologies are included; that of the Trastamara and Habsburg Eras covers 1492 through 1697, and the Bourbon Era begins with the death of Carlos II in 1700 and extends through the monarchy’s restoration in 1874. The next seventy-six pages provide a historical overview (before the Habsburgs into the mid-19th century), the leaders of the Bourbon Navy, Spain’s regional navies that were precursors to its national navy, auxiliary groups (such as the guardacostas or coastguard), the Manila Galleons, fleet lists, naval construction, departmental organization and dockyards, naval ordnance and architecture, copper sheathing, management of material resources, and acquiring, training, maintaining, and retaining naval personnel.

It is at this juncture that the authors discuss the sources and archives that were consulted, as well as the difficulties they encountered in identifying and providing information on individual vessels. There is also a bibliography, a glossary, and a list of the abbreviations used in the main portion of the book.

The heart of the book appears in twenty-four chapters where Spanish naval vessels are discussed, beginning with ships of the line with three decks and ending with lesser fore-and-aft rig boats. The major warships cover six chapters and each is arranged chronologically. Among the other vessels found in subsequent chapters are brigs, bomb vessels, storeships, fireships, packets, galleys, xebecs, barks, and cutters. There is also an addendum about paddle and screw warships that were powered by a combination of sail and steam; these are not reviewed in detail. Seven appendices pertain to vessels that participated in the 1588 Felicísima Armada and the 1639 Battle of the Downs; rules governing the building of ships during the 1600s; the types and numbers of ships in various years between 1782 and 1860; expenses for the Spanish Navy in different locales (1714-1800) as well as government expenditures (1801-1860); ordnance regulations; and official officer and crew numbers aboard different types of vessels.

Although there is an index, it lists only the names of specific vessels. Black-and-white illustrations (portraits, drafts, and maps) and tables are found throughout. Technical details for the different classes of vessels and single designs are provided, as is information on the ship architects, shipwrights, and building dates if known. Significant details about individual ships are provided, as is the order of battle for major sea battles. That being said, the authors make it clear that there are gaps in the provided information. Some of this stems from a fire that swept through naval archives in 1734.

Spanish Warships is not meant to be read from cover to cover. Written by eminently qualified authors, it is a reference book that provides researchers with invaluable information that is as accurate and comprehensive as it can be. Much of the source material comes from archival primary documents. It is highly recommended and is a great companion to previous titles in the series.


(This review originally appeared at Pirates and Privateers: http://www.cindyvallar.com/adultpirat...)




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