LOS NAVIOS DEL REY DE ESPAÑA
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ANNUS HORRIBILIS
(1805)
FUENTES PARA LA INVESTIGACION GLOBAL
Nota: Este relato es un homenaje a los hombres que entregaron sus vidas por una causa de estado; a la ciudad,
Cádiz, cuyos habitantes fueron testigos de excepción de la batalla naval anglo-española de (1805), que plegaron
y rogaron a Dios por el buen fin de la contienda y por las almas de quienes tan ardientemente defendieron el
honor de la Nación.
EL INGENIO POPULAR
https://www.eusko-ikaskuntza.eus/PDFAnlt/riev/37/37113165.pdf
El ingenio Popular dedicó una copla, a Don Juan de Hoyos quizás el personaje con más éxito popular, pues se
decía, que su gallarda actuación de regresar con su nave en defensa del San Francisco Javier y pelear hasta ser
apresado, fue motivada por el amor profundo que sentía por una de las hijas del Marqués de Baydes e intentar
salvar a la madre de ella, resaltando su honor, honra y emulando los amores que hacían furor en las
representaciones calderonianas del momento:
En defensa de su dama - Don Juan de Hoyos se empeñó – y en su nombre tropezó;
Mullida estaba la cama - El inglés puso la llama - El amor avivó el fuego, y hallase en el agua ciego;
Mojaron se las alas - y en viendo que llueven balas - Ser dio por perdido luego...”
Las noticias que corren en Londres de la batalla son de júbilo por la victoria y el botín conseguido, pero el coraje
y valor esgrimido por los hombres españoles era objeto de halago y respetuosos calificativos a la hora de
enjuiciar una rendición que les costó horas de combate, pérdidas de hombres y deterioro de fragatas.
El Marqués, que deseaba ver al fuego destruir la riqueza antes que la disfrutara el adversario;
De su nave que ardía echó a sus hijos a penar en un más manso elemento.
Entonces se tendió junto a su esposa en llamas, y pues que no podía salvarla, allí murió con ella;
Especias y gomas fundían se en derredor, y como el Fénix, en aquel rico nido perecieron.
Si amarga es la muerte por lo que dejamos atrás, grato es llevarnos todo cuanto amamos;
¿qué más podría querer llegado de su vivir término, que retener su tesoro y su esposa, aún más preciada?
Vivos, en llamas de mutuo amor se consumieron, y juntos, ahora son sólo cenizas;
Cenizas de más valor que sus funerales, que el vasto tesoro que se perdió con ellos.
Estos amantes que mueren, y sus hijos a flote, detienen la huida y silencian nuestras armas;
La belleza y la juventud, a punto de morir, tanta piedad inspira a los bravos ingleses;
Que, olvidando el rico suelo y el botín, todos ahora luchan por salvar a sus enemigos” 1 -,
El pueblo inglés, fue sensible al dramatismo de la contienda, y quedo sumamente impresionado por el triste
final de los Marqueses de Baydes, un ejemplo de un profundo amor que los llevó a una muerte compartida y
que relatan en este poema:
1 The History and Life of Robert Blake, Esq.; of Bridgewaler, General and Admiral of the Fleets and Naval Forces of England. Written by a
Gentleman bred in this Family. London, 1740. Págs. 97-98. Ver apéndice, poema complet
BATALLA DE
TRAFALGAR
I. LOS NAVIOS DEL REY.
1. Los Navios en Trafalgar.
1.1. San Juan Nepomuceno.
https://chatgpt.com/c/67e980b1-2714-8012-87a6-5afb133489f3
The San Juan Nepomuceno was a (74) gun Spanish ship of the line launched in (1766), It notably participated in the Battle of Trafalgar in
(1805) under the command of Brigadier Don Cosme Damián Churruca 2 ; despite a valiant fight, the ship was captured by the British Royal
Navy and subsequently renamed HMS San Juan. 3
This vessel was designed by Francisco Gautier, a prominent French naval architect who introduced the "French system" of shipbuilding to
Spain; the construction of the San Juan Nepomuceno start a year before at the Royal Shipyard of Guarnizo in Cantabria, with Manuel de
Zubiría overseeing the project and became the lead vessel of its class, which included several other ships built during that period.
Francisco Gautier's influence marked a significant shift in Spanish naval architecture, moving away from the "English system" previously
advocated by Jorge Juan; Gautier's designs were characterized by their emphasis on speed and manoeuvrability, aligning with the French
naval strategies of the time.
The San Juan Nepomuceno and its sister ships 4 were among the (1 st ) constructed under this new approach, demonstrating improved sailing
qualities compared to their predecessors, she had a distinguished service record, participating in various naval engagements, including the
capture of Pensacola in (1781) 5 , but Its most notable action was at Trafalgar, where, under the command of Captain Cosme Damián
Churruca, the ship fought valiantly against multiple British vessels before being captured by the British Navy & commissioned as HMS San
Juan, using it primarily as a prison hulk in Gibraltar until it was decommissioned and dismantled in (1816).
1.2. Francisco Gautier Vs Jorge Juan:
Francisco Gautier and Jorge Juan were (2) key figures in (18 th C) Spanish naval architecture, but they followed different shipbuilding
philosophies, their approaches reflect the broader debate between French and English naval design systems during that period & here are
their differences 6 :
1. Background and Influence:
Jorge Juan y Santacilia (1713–1773)
Spanish naval officer, scientist, and shipbuilder.
A disciple of British shipbuilding techniques.
Played a major role in modernizing the Spanish Navy under King Ferdinand VI.
Studied in England and brought back innovations in ship design.
Francisco Gautier (c. 1730–1778)
French naval architect hired by Spain in the mid-18th century.
Introduced the "French system" of shipbuilding.
Focused on making Spanish ships more maneuverable and seaworthy.
2. Shipbuilding Systems:
Jorge Juan: "English System" 7
Ships built wider and sturdier, with a focus on durability.
More stable gun platforms, making them ideal for prolonged battles.
Heavier hulls provided resistance against cannon fire.
Slower than French designs but could take more damage.
2 Cosme Damián Churruca y Elorza, en euskera Cosme Damian Txurruka Elortza (Motrico, Guipúzcoa, 27 de septiembre de 1761-Trafalgar,
Cádiz, 21 de octubre de 1805) fue un científico, marino y militar español, brigadier de la Real Armada y alcalde de Motrico.
4 Her sister ships were San Pascual, San Francisco de Asis, San Lorenzo, Santo Domingo and San Agustín. She was originally fitted with a
total of (74 cannons: 28 24-pounders, 30 18-pounders, 8 12-pounders and 8 8-pounders), and was manned by (8 officers, 11 midshipmen,
19 leading seamen and 492 able seamen, 530 total).
5 With artillery in place, the Spanish opened fire on Fort George at short range; no longer capable of defending Fort George from
unforgiving Spanish artillery, British General John Campbell raised the white flag of surrender on May 8th, (1781). Pensacola officially came
under control of the Spanish on (May 10th, 1781).
7 El sistema inglés implantado en España entre (1759 a 1765), alcanzó su punto álgido con el navío de línea Velasco, (74) cañones en (1764)
construido por Bryant en el Arsenal de Cartagena que diópaso al sistema «sistema francés» introducido por Francisco Gautier, tras sus
críticas por los defectos: tala, corte y el secado de la madera, poca elevación en el agua de la batería baja, poco aguante de la vela y escasa
velocidad.
Francisco Gautier: "French System"
Ships were longer and slimmer, prioritizing speed and maneuverability.
Lighter hulls, making them faster but also more vulnerable.
Designed for tactical flexibility, often preferred in naval battles requiring mobility.
Inspired by the École française de construction navale, widely used in France at the time.
3. Impact on the Spanish Navy:
Jorge Juan’s system was dominant in Spain until the (1760s), shaping the fleet with robust, well-armed ships.
Francisco Gautier, replaced the English system with the French one, starting with the San Juan Nepomuceno class (1765–1766).
The French-style ships were generally better suited to the fast-paced naval warfare of the late (18th C).
However, the shift to lighter ships was controversial, as they were less resilient in long, drawn-out battles.
4. Historical Legacy:
Jorge Juan is remembered as a scientist, strategist, and reformer who introduced scientific shipbuilding methods to Spain.
Gautier’s contributions were more practical, shaping the Spanish fleet for late 18th-century naval warfare.
Ships built under Gautier’s system played major roles in conflicts like the American Revolutionary War & Battle of Trafalgar
(1805).
1.3. San Juan Nepomuceno Vs Glorioso.
Here’s a comparison between the San Juan Nepomuceno under Francisco Gautier’s French system & Glorioso, built under control of Jorge
Juan’s following the English system 8 .
1. Shipbuilders and Design Philosophy:
FEATURE San Juan Nepomuceno (1766) Glorioso (1740)
DESIGNER Francisco Gautier (French System) Jorge Juan (English System)
INFLUENC
E
French Naval Architecture British Naval Architecture
PURPOSE Speed & Maneuverability Strength & Durability
STRENGTH Fast Sailing & Tactical Flexibility Heavily reinforced, resilient in battle
2. Physical Characteristics:
FEATURE San Juan Nepomuceno (1766) Glorioso (1740)
CLASS (74) Gun ship of the line (70) Gun ship of the line
LENGT (54 m) (50 m)
WIDTH (14,5 m) (14,8 m)
DRAFT (7,5 m) (7,8 m)
DISPLACE
M
(3000 Tns) (2500 Tns)
3. Armament and Battle Role:
FEATURE San Juan Nepomuceno (1766) Glorioso (1740)
CANNONS (74) Guns (70) Guns
MAIN
BATT
(24) Pounders (Low Deck) / (18) Pounders (Upper
Deck)
(24) Pounders (Low Deck) / (18) Pounders (Upper Deck)
(2º) WEAP (8) Pounders Carronades (8) Pounders
COMBAT Balanced Ship of the line Defernsive Firepowder, lone engagements
4. Performancer in Battle:
FEATURE San Juan Nepomuceno (1766) Glorioso (1740)
BATTLES Battle of Trafalgar (1805) Glorious First of June (1747)
SPEED Faster, more maneouverable Slower, but very stable
ENDURAN
C
Could hold its own in battle but less durable Famous for surviving multiple engagements
FINAL FATE Captured at Trafalgar (1805) Captured after (4) Battles (1747)
5. Performance at Trafalgar:
FEATURE San Juan Nepomuceno (1766) Glorioso (1740)
ENEMY (4) Br5itish Ships (HMS Dreadnough, HMS Tonnant,
etc)
(10) British warships over (4) Battles
COMMAND Cosme Damián Churruca Pedro Mesía de la Cerda
OUTCOME Fought Bravely but was Captured Survived multiple battles, but finally surrendered
CASULATIE Churruca killed, crew heavily wounded Nearly out of ammunition, but hull remained intact
8 The so-called English system, introduced into Spanish shipbuilding in the mid-(18th C), owes its name to the British shipbuilders hired by
George John, the protégé of the Marquis of Ensenada; among the differences & advantages compared to the construction systems used in
Spain until the implementation of George John's system is that, by using more elaborate plans & in which the pieces were outlined before
being crafted, it allowed for the serial construction of several identical vessels.
S
6: Conclusión:
FEATURE San Juan Nepomuceno (1766) Glorioso (1740)
ENEMY Longer and narrower, making it faster. Slightly wider & deeper, giving it better stability and
durability.
COMMAND Carried more guns, giving it slightly betters firepower. Famous & Legendary for resilience but at Trafalgar surrender.
FIGHT Fought bravely but was overwhelmed by British forces. Nearly out of ammunition, but hull remained intact
CASULATIE
S
Churruca killed, crew heavily wounded For prolonged survival in brutal combat
If Spain had more Glorioso-type ships in Trafalgar, they might have endured the battle longer; however, by the late (18th C), faster ships
like San Juan Nepomuceno were better suited for strategic naval warfare, especially in conflicts like the American Revolutionary War & its
design became the future standard for naval warfare.
1.4. San Juan Nepomuceno Vs Montañes.
Both ships were (74) gun Spanish ships of the line, but they represented different generations of naval design, the Montañés (1794) 9 was an
improved version of the San Juan Nepomuceno (1766), optimized for better speed and maneuverability.
1. Shipbuilders and Design Philosophy:
FEATURE San Juan Nepomuceno (1766) Montañes (1794)
DESIGNER Francisco Gautier (French System) Romero Landa (Spanish System, French influernced)
INFLUENC
E
French Naval Architecture Evolution of Gautier´s design with Spanish improvements
PURPOSE Speed & Maneuverability Faster, more maneuverable & better armed
STRENGTH Fast Sailing & Tactical Flexibility Superior sailing speed & agility
2. Physical Characteristics:
FEATURE San Juan Nepomuceno (1766) Montañes (1794)
CLASS (74) Gun ship of the line (74) Gun ship of the line
LENGT (54 m) (55 m)
WIDTH (14,5 m) (14,7 m)
DRAFT (7,5 m) (7,3 m)
DISPLACE
M
(3000 Tns) (2900 Tns)
3. Armament and Battle Role:
FEATURE San Juan Nepomuceno (1766) Montañes (1794)
CANNONS (74) Guns (76) Guns
MAIN
BATT
(24) Pounders (Low Deck) / (18) Pounders (Upper
Deck)
(24) Pounders (Low Deck) / (18) Pounders (Upper Deck)
(2º) WEAP (8) Pounders Carronades (8) Pounders, Additional Carronades
COMBAT Balanced Ship of the line Fast, aggressive ship of the line
4. Performancer in Battle:
FEATURE San Juan Nepomuceno (1766) Montañes (1794)
BATTLES Battle of Trafalgar (1805) Battle of Trafalgar (1805)
SPEED Good speed for its time Faster than most (74) gun ships
ABILITY Agile but heavier Extremely manoeuvrable
WIND Optimized for fleet battles Excellent in all wind conditions
5. Performance at Trafalgar:
FEATURE San Juan Nepomuceno (1766) Montañes (1794)
BATTLES Notable battles of Trafalgar (1805) Battle of Trafalgar (1805)
FATE Captured by the British at Trafalgar Lost in a storm (1810)
COMBAT Fought heroically at Trafalgar but captured Fought at Trafalgar the Ship survived his commander dead 10
CASULATIE
S
Churruca killed, crew heavily wounded Nearly out of ammunition, but hull remained intact
6: Results:
FEATURE San Juan Nepomuceno (1766) Montañes (1784)
COMAND Cosme Damián Churruca Francisco Alsedo y Bustamante 11
DURABILIT
Y
Strong & Reliable Lighter but still durable
FIRE POW. Standard for a (74) Gun More guns & better close-range firepower
SPEED Was nor so agile & speed vessel for the time Ship design & built in Spain reaching (14 Knts)
6: Conclusión:
9 https://www.todoababor.es/historia/navio-montanes/
10 "He dicho que orcen, que yo quiero arrimarme más a ese navío de tres puentes, batirme a quemarropa y abordarle".
11 El brigadier Dionisio Alcalá Galiano, comandante del «Bahama», opuso esistencia feroz a las fuerzas británicas, defendiendo su buque
con valentía hasta su muerte y el capitán de navío Francisco Alsedo, que mandaba el «Montañés», murió en combate tras luchar con valor.
FEATURE San Juan Nepomuceno (1766) Montañes (1784)
COMBAT Fought heroically at Trafalgar but was captured Fought at Trafalgar & survived the battle, los in storm (1810)
AGILITY Speed & Agility Faster & more manoeuvrable
PERFORM Battle Performance, Resiliente but Tradicional More dynamic & effective in fast combat
BALANCE Solid & Balanced but time demand faster
manoeuvrable
Better Armed, faster & more manoeuvrable
REFINED Less light & manoeuvrable Advanced model, refined & best balance speed & firepower
1.5. NAVIOS & ARQUITECTOS.
(3) Navios. San Juan Nepomuceno, Glorioso y Montañes, lucharon en la Batalla de Trafalgar el (21 de octubre de 1805), como parte de la
flota combinada Hispano – francesa al mando del Almirante Villeneuve contra la Armada Británica; y la experiencia fue distinta para todos
ellos debido a su situación y ejecución durante el combate.
(3) Arquitecto Navaless: Francisco Gautier, Jorge Juan y Romero Landa: Contribuyeron al diseño y construcción de barcos de guerra, sin
embargo, sus enfoques y resultados de los navíos que diseñaron tienen ciertas diferencias en términos de características de construcción y
desempeño en la batalla.
San Juan Nepomuceno, capituló, aunque el barco destacó por su resistencia heroica y su capacidad para mantener el combate mucho
tiempo; el Glorioso luchó valientemente, pero fue superado por (Nº) y táctica; fue capturado tras sufrir graves daños a pesar de su potencia
y diseño robusto, no pudo evitar ser rodeado por el enemigo, mientras el Montañés luchó ferozmente contra varios barcos británicos, pero
logró escapar del combate debido a su agilidad.