The treasure ships were also under serious threat from pirates. Military muscle was needed to defend against attacks from Britain's Royal Navy, which tried to capture the vessels as a way of cutting off Spain's war finances. The other, the Esquadron de Terra Firme, would set sail in August for Cartagena, in modern day Colombia, and Porto Bello (now Portobelo), on the Atlantic coast of Panama.Īfter wintering in the Americas, both fleets would meet at Havana the following spring and return to Spain together, under the protection of warships, known as galleons.Ī change of strategy was implemented in the 17th century, however, when all treasure from the New World started to be transported in the galleons themselves. After wintering in the Americas, both fleets met at Havana the following spring and returned to Spain together
One - the Flota de Nova Espana - left in the spring for Vera Cruz, in what is now Mexico, with ships detached to the West Indies and Honduras on the way. The other - the Esquadron de Terra Firme - left in August for Cartagena, in modern day Colombia, and Porto Bello, on the Atlantic coast of Panama.
On average, two fleets of between 30 and 90 Spanish ships would sail from Sevilla (Seville) to the American colonies every year.
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