The Last Voyage of the Mercedes

The situation in Spain in around 1800 was complex. As a result of its offensive-defensive alliance with the Executive Directory of the French Republic, Spain had been at war with England since 1796. This conflict had continued while the Spanish Navy was in a state of decline.

The Treaty of Amiens, signed in 1802 between England and France, and their allies, put an end to the conflict. However, the peace was short-lived as England rekindled its alliances with other powers, with the intention of overthrowing Napoleon.

The Mercedes frigate took part in various battles against the English, with victories on both sides.

It was part of the defense of Ferrol in 1800, successfully preventing the English from destroying the ships that were anchored there as well as the naval base itself.

The English made several attempts to intercept treasure and Spanish goods en route from the Americas.

In 1797, for example, Vice Admiral Nelson of the British Royal Navy attempted to capture the Princesa frigate.

Defeated by General Gutiérrez, the English signed a capitulation in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

In 1801 the frigate Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes set sail from Ferrol with the Santa Clara, later joining the Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, which had set sail from Cadiz, on a voyage to Montevideo.

The Álvaro de Bazán General Archive of the Navy has in its collections a Royal Order signed by Domingo de Grandallana, ordering the preparation of the Clara and Mercedes warships in response to Manuel Godoy's request.

It clearly states that the Mercedes frigate should be included in the expedition.

In 1802 Grandallana signed the new Naval Ordinance for the service of His Majesty's vessels.

This ordinance would determine the voyage and fate of the Mercedes.

It set out the appointment of Diego de Alvear y Ponce de León as second-in-command and major general, with his subsequent transfer to the Medea, the General Statements on the frigates, their flags, the decision to engage in combat, and more.

The officer and Governor of Montevideo, José Bustamante y Guerra, took command of the fleet carrying treasure and produce on the return to Spain, while Jose Manuel Goycoa y Labart commanded the Mercedes.

Royal Navy captain's uniform, according to the ordinances of 1802.

The Viceroy of Peru, Gabriel Miguel de Avilés y del Fierro, delayed the flotilla's departure for Spain until he could be sure that the route was safe, because of the continuing war between England and France, in which Spain remained neutral.

This life-size recreation of a section of the half deck on the Mercedes shows a 12-pounder cannon - one of 26 used in combat against the English.

The cannons fired solid iron cannon balls that pierced the wooden hulls of enemy ships, causing wooden splinters and shrapnel to fly around the deck.

This was what actually caused the majority of wounds and casualties in naval battles.

This Spanish-style bar shot consists of 2 balls joined by a bar, unlike the French and English versions.

It was a type of projectile with a range of one third of a cannon ball, making it the perfect weapon for shorter distances.

The English newspaper "The Star" published a report on the English attack on the Spanish frigate.

This was reported to Manuel Godoy by the Captain General of the Department of Ferrol, Félix de Tejada.

Following the English attack on the Spanish flotilla in which the Mercedes perished, Spain could no longer maintain its neutrality.

As a result, on December 14 of the same year, it declared war on the United Kingdom.

The attack would come to be understood as the prelude to the Battle of Trafalgar.

Box of compasses and measures used in naval engineering to design ships.

José Romero y Fernández de Landa was the first Naval Engineer of the Spanish Royal Navy.

He designed plans for various 2- and 3-deck 'ships of the line', and for frigates that took part in the great naval battles of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, such as the Battles of Cape Santa Maria and Trafalgar.

Fernández de Landa signed the plans for a 34-gun frigate in Ferrol, which followed the French and English innovation of enlarging its gun decks compared with previous designs.

This model of a 34-gun frigate was used in the construction of the Mercedes frigate.

The sinking of the Mercedes frigate, and her discovery, plundering, and subsequent recovery show the importance of research, conservation, and education in cultural heritage, and particularly underwater cultural heritage, which is constantly vulnerable to looting.

Spain's rich underwater archaeological heritage, which is protected by the Law on Spanish Historical Heritage and the 2001 UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage, is fundamental to understanding the country's history.

The authorities have an obligation to conserve it and pass it on to society through cooperation and collaboration.