Model of a Flemish galleon

This model of a 1593 Flemish galleon is the only one remaining, 3-dimensional depiction of a 16th-century vessel, and one of the most important objects in the Naval Museum’s collections.

It was thought to have been given to Philip II of Spain by a Flemish ambassador, becoming part of the king’s own collections housed at the El Escorial monastery. From there, it was sent to the Alcázar of Madrid, and then to the Royal Armoury of Madrid, where it remained until Queen Isabella II ordered that it should be sent to the Naval Museum, sometime between 1845 and 1847. It is an ex-voto model, not built to scale, and possibly made in gratitude for a good journey or a victory, as can be seen in the inscription: “ICK VARRE MET NEPTVNVS EN BOREAS ULP EN GHE TOT DIE HAVEN DAER MI ANKER VALT ANNO 1593” (with the aid of Neptune and Boreas I dropped anchor in the port in the year 1593). This type of ex-voto was made to be hung from the ceilings of markets, as was traditional in northern European countries. They, therefore, had to be fairly narrow, and the draught of the freeboard had to be very small in proportion with the rest of the ship (topside and rigging) so that anyone looking at it from below could appreciate the model in its entirety. Despite its lack of proportion, it is an extremely valuable source of information on the features of a galleon of its time. It does not have a quarterdeck but has just one upper deck that is covered with cables or netting. The poop deck resembles Mediterranean galleys; the forecastle is short with a forepeak bulkhead which supports the foremast, which was typical of galleons. Its rigging is composed of 4 masts (bowsprit, foremast, mainmast, spanker, and mizzenmast). It was usual for galleons to have a fourth mast behind the spanker, known as the mizzenmast or Bonaventure mizzen. The topside is beautifully decorated in several colors, depicting different themes such as the links of the collar of the Order of the Golden Fleece painted on the main battery and the lattice-work balcony at the stern. Galleons—Spanish sailing ships—evolved from 15th-century carracks because of the need to adapt vessels for navigation in the Atlantic and to developments in artillery which required warships that were strong and fast, as well as seaworthy and able to carry heavy loads. In the 16th and 17th centuries, galleons were used by all European navies as warships. In Spain, they were used from their very earliest days in the Spanish Treasure Fleets, where they proved to be just as efficient used as merchant ships as they were when used as warships.