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THE “GREAT SPANISH NAVY” IN THE 18TH CENTURY: HISTORICAL PROCESSES, MENTALITIES AND IDENTITY. THE CASE OF THE BIRTH OF THE UNITED STATES.

JosГ© Gregorio Cayuela FernГЎndez

First published: 2025https://doi.org/10.35603/sws.iscah.2025/s01.07View metrics

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to provide a deep and original view of the subject of the Great Spanish Navy and the men who surrounded it in the 18th century, stopping as a culmination at the Emancipation of the United States. The navies of France and Great Britain will also be involved in this. All of this in order to analyse, among other topics, the protonationalisation of Spain in the last third of the 18th century through the Navy or the mentality of the naval officers at that time. For the first part of the text, it is a long-term overall analysis that allows us to approach some of the most interesting, little-known and novel aspects of the Spanish naval heritage. Let us remember that at that time the Great Spanish Navy was the third in the world in number of ships and firepower. Thus, the long term is very necessary for the common understanding of the phenomena of the past. The second part, however, would be within the short term, in order to get closer to the processes of History that we are dealing with in themselves. The materials and methods used to carry out the study are interrelated and correspond to sources from Spanish and French archives and an extensive bibliography. All of this with renewed and original points of view.

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Title
THE “GREAT SPANISH NAVY” IN THE 18TH CENTURY: HISTORICAL PROCESSES, MENTALITIES AND IDENTITY. THE CASE OF THE BIRTH OF THE UNITED STATES.
Authors
JosГ© Gregorio Cayuela FernГЎndez
Proceedings
Proceedings of 12th SWS International Scientific Conference on Arts And Humanities - ISCAH 2025
Publisher
SGEM WORLD SCIENCE (SWS) Scholarly Society
Year
2025
Pages
59-82
SWS Citekey
Fernandez202515982
ISSN
2682-9940
ISBN
978-3-903438-15-6
Language
en
Publication type
Proceedings Paper
Keywords
Great Spanish NavyGreat BritainFranceprotonationalizationBirth of the United States
References30

  1. On the above and also the Independence of the United States and Spain, see the works of CONROTTE, Manuel, La intervenciГіn de EspaГ±a en la guerra de Independencia de los Estados Unidos de la AmГ©rica del Norte, LibrerГ­a General de Victoriano SuГЎrez, Madrid, Spain, 1929 (in National Library of Spain, Old Funds), pp. 105-286; YELA UTRILLA, Juan, EspaГ±a ante la Independencia de los Estados Unidos, Istmo, Madrid, Spain, 1988, ISBN 13: 9788470901867, pp. 232-457, BEERMAN, Eric, EspaГ±a y la Independencia de los Estados Unidos, Arguval, MГЎlaga, Spain, 1992, ISBN 13 9788486167677, pp. 187-205 and CHГЃVEZ, Thomas E., EspaГ±a y la independencia de Estados Unidos, Taurus, Madrid, Spain, 2006, ISBN 13: 9788430605774, pp. 312-399.

  2. On the strategic axes see the work of CAYUELA FERNГЃNDEZ, JosГ© Gregorio and POZUELO REINA, ГЃngel, Trafalgar, hombres y naves entre dos Г©pocas, Ariel-Planeta, Barcelona, Spain, 2004, ISBN 978-84-473-5179-4, pp. 18-43. Likewise, for more information on the above and also on the Atlantic struggle between Spain, Great Britain and France, see the collections of the Naval Museum of Madrid, Manuscripts, legs. 1281, 1282. Also Archives Nationales, France (Paris) Fonds Marine, F 5/2/68, 5/2/81 and F 5/282. Also, FF/2/64-66, FF/2/102, FF/2/108, A.E. B/ I, 209-210.

  3. On the flows between Europe and America and for more information on the above and on the Ocean as a centre of power, ships and for this study as a whole, see the collections of the Historical Archive of the Naval Museum of Madrid, Manuscripts, legs. 1281, 1282 and 1689. For resolutions, ships, pensions, battles, prisoners, surrenders and prizes for the period 1779-1783, “Vargas Ponce” Collection, in Naval Museum of Madrid, vol. 1, part 2, volume XXXVII (1779): docs. 361, 368, 377, 378, 379, 380, 382, 384, 385, 391, (1780): docs. 403, 409, 413, 415, 421, (1981): docs. 432, 433, 437, 440, volume XXXVIII (1782): docs. 3, 7, 8, 9, 12, 19, 29, 37, (1783): 47, 52, 56, 57, 80, 82, 83, 84, 87, 89, 96, 101, 104, 106. Also National Library of Spain, Manuscripts, 12966/33, as well as the funds of the General Archive of the Navy “Álvaro de Bazán” for the 18th century, Secretariat of the Navy, Personnel Section, Officers, legs. 620/60, 620/1205; Section of the Navy's Ships, Status of Force and Life, legs. 2235-40, 2235-41, 2235-43; Section of the Navy's Secretariat and Higher Organisms, legs. 5021, 5031; Section of the Historical Archive, legs. 4801, 4812. We must point out that the sources and the bibliography are of obvious use, due to the historiographical gap that exists in this regard. On the other hand, the citations in the footnotes are individualized according to the broad historical contexts that we are dealing with, especially those of long time.

  4. Fort the Great Spanish Navy, the relations of Europe-America and, also, the independence of the United States, Spain and France, see the works of GUTIÉRREZ-STENKAMP, Martha, Spain: The Forgotten Alliance. Independence of United States, CreateSpace, Seattle, USA, 2013, ISBN 978-1482733747, pp. 112-228, RODRÍGUEZ GONZÁLEZ, Agustín, “Les Objectifs de la Marine Espagnole”, en CHALINE, Olivier, BONNICHON, Philippe, y VERGENNES, Charles-Philippe, dirs., Les Marines de la Guerre d’Indépendance Américaine (1763-1783). I- LÍnstrument Naval, PUPS, Paris, France, 2013, ISBN 9782840508908, pp. 129-150, as well as CHALINE, Olivier, BONNICHON, Philippe, y VERGENNES, Charles-Philippe, dirs., Les Marines de la Guerre d’Indépendance Américaine (1763-1783). 2- L’opérational Naval, PUPS., Paris, France, 2018, ISBN 979-10-231-0585-8, pp. 121-223. Likewise, about the Navy in the 18th century, see GUIMERÁ RAVINA, Agustín y CHALINE, Olivier, dirs., La Real Armada y el mundo hispánico en el siglo XVIII, Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (UNED)., Madrid, Spain, 2022, ISBN 978-84-362-7818-7, pp. 25-285, as well as the complete works of TORRES SÁNCHEZ, Rafael, Historia de un triunfo. La Armada española en el siglo XVIII, Desperta Ferro Ed. Madrid, Spain, 2021, ISBN 978-84-946499-2-9, pp. 18-440.

  5. On the Atlantic as a nucleus of revolutions, see the works of PALMER, Robert R., The Age of the Democratic Revolution. A Political History of Europe and America, 1760-1800, Vol. 2: The Struggle, Princeton University Press, Princeton, USA, 1969, ISBN 978-0691161280, pp. 9-179, GODECHOT, Jaques, Europa y AmГ©rica en le Г‰poca NapoleГіnica, ClГ­o, Barcelona, Spain, 1979, ISBN 8433593471, pp. 50-123, LINEBAUGH, Peter and REDIKER, Marcus, The Many-Headed Hydra: Sailors, Slaves, Commoners and the Hidden History of the Revolutionary Atlantic, Beacon Press, Boston, USA, 2001, ISBN 978-0807050071, pp. 13-156.

  6. On the Atlantic and thalassocratic power see the works of MACAULAY, Catharine and WARREN, Otis, The Revolutionary Atlantic and the Politics of Gender, Oxford University Press, Oxford, United Kingdom, 2005, ISBN 0-19-928110-6, pp. 103-167, MEDINA PINEDA, Medófilo, “Alcances y límites del paradigma de las Revoluciones hispánicas”, en Anuario colombiano de historia social y de la cultura, vol 38, nº1, Bogotá, Colombia, (2011), pp. 302-324.

  7. On the Atlantic struggle see the work of CAYUELA FERNГЃNDEZ, JosГ© Gregorio and POZUELO REINA, ГЃngel, Trafalgar, hombres y naves entre dos Г©pocas, Ariel-Planeta, Barcelona, Spain, 2004, ISBN 978-84-473-5179-4, pp. 15-86.

  8. On the British Navy, its economic and political structure, see the works of LINCOLN, Margaret, Representing the Royal Navy: British Sea Power, 1775-1815, Routledge, London, United Kingdom, 2002, ISBN 978-0754608301, pp. 56-187 and HARDING, Seapower and Naval warfare, 1650-1830, Routledge, London, United Kingdom, 2006, ISBN 9781857284782, pp. 123-234.

  9. For the 18th century, see General Archive of the Navy “Álvaro de Bazán”. Secretariat of the Navy. Historical Archive Section, legs. 4802, 4798.

  10. On Manuel Godoy see GUIMERÁ RAVINA, Agustín, “Godoy y la Armada” en MELÓN M.A., LA PARRA E., y TOMÁS PÉREZ F., dirs., Manuel Godoy y su tiempo, Editora Regional de Extremadura, Badajoz, Spain, 2003, ISBN 978-8476717158, pp. 381-403 and LA PARRA, Emilio, Manuel Godoy, la aventura del poder, Tusquets, Barcelona, Spain, 2002, ISBN 9788483108055, pp. 224-345.

  11. On the development of the British Navy and its economic impact, see together the works of RODGERS, Nicholas, The Command of the Ocean. A Naval History of Britain 1645-1815, Allen Lane, London, United Kingdon, 2004, ISBN 978-0141026909, pp. 87-196.

  12. Between Utrecht, Trafalgar and the Navy, see the works of CAYUELA FERNГЃNDEZ, JosГ© Gregorio and POZUELO REINA, ГЃngel, Trafalgar, hombres y naves entre dos Г©pocas, Ariel-Planeta, Barcelona, Spain, 2004, ISBN 978-84-473-5179-4, pp. 15-126, GUIMERГЃ RAVINA, AgustГ­n y PERALTA, VГ­ctor, dirs., El equilibrio de los imperios. De Utrech a Trafalgar, FundaciГіn EspaГ±ola de Historia Moderna, Madrid, Spain, 2005, ISBN 84-931692-3-4, pp. 319-439.

  13. VALLESPÍN GÓMEZ, José Ramón, “Bandera encarnada y amarilla”, in Revista General de Marina, vol. 275, mes 10, Madrid, Spain, (october 2018), pp. 485-501.

  14. On the Spanish Navy and the Enlightenment, CAYUELA FERNÁNDEZ, José Gregorio, “La cuestión de la “identidad de España” y su Flota Atlántica: la incidencia del proceso de Independencia de los Estados Unidos”, Revista Studia Histórica-Historia Contemporánea. University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain, nº35 (2017), pp. 289-316.

  15. On this Navy, its History and its development in the 18th century see the entire work of FERRER DE COUTO, JosГ© y MARCH Y LABORES, JosГ©, Historia de la Marina Real EspaГ±ola desde el Descubrimiento de AmГ©rica al combate de Trafalgar, Imp. Militar, Madrid, Spain, 1856 (in the National Library of Spain, Old Founds), volume III, 487-695.

  16. On the impact of the Enlightenment on the Idea of Spain see the works of MORALES MOYA, Antonio, “El proceso nacionalizador en la Ilustración: nacionalismos ¿en el siglo XVIII? El patriotismo como impulso”, Revista Antrophos. Huellas del conocimiento, nº 236, pp. 41-53. Madrid, Spain (2012), pp. 41-53.

  17. For the above and the study of these issues and the 18th century, see the funds of the Historical Archive of the Naval Museum of Madrid, Secretariat of State and Dispatch, Manuscripts, legs. 1281 and 1689. Also General Archive of the Navy “Álvaro de Bazán”, Secretariat of the Navy Dispatch, Personnel Section, Officers, legs. 620/60, 620/914, 620/1205; Historical Archive Section, legs. 4801, 4802.

  18. For 18th century ships, General Archive of the Navy “Álvaro de Bazán”, Secretariat of the Navy. Navy Ships Section, Status of Force and Life, legs. 2235/01.085, 2235/01.086, 2235/01.292, 2235/02.275, 2235/02.299.

  19. CAYUELA FERNÁNDEZ, José Gregorio and POZUELO REINA, Ángel, Trafalgar, hombres y naves entre dos épocas, Ariel-Planeta, Barcelona, Spain, 2004, ISBN 978-84-473-5179-4, pp. 15-126 and BLANCO NÚÑEZ, José María (2004): La Armada española en la segunda mitad del siglo XVIII, Izar Construcciones Navales, Barcelona, Spain, 2004, ISBN 978-92-0-311391-5, pp. 63-249. For information on the Navy's crews in the 18th century, see the archives of the General Archive of the Navy “Álvaro de Bazán”, Secretariat of the Navy, Personnel Section, Officers, legs. 620/60, 620/914.

  20. For Trafalgar see the entire work of CAYUELA FERNГЃNDEZ, JosГ© Gregorio y POZUELO REINA, ГЃngel, Trafalgar, hombres y naves entre dos Г©pocas, Ariel-Planeta, Barcelona, Spain, 2004, ISBN 978-84-473-5179-4, pp. 311-486.

  21. For the British case in terms of mentalities see as a whole the work of RODGERS, Nicholas, “Honor and Duty at Sea, 1660-1815” in Historical Research, vol.75, nº190, London, United Kigdom (2002), pp. 425-447.

  22. For the Combined Navy and France, Archives Nationales, France (ParГ­s) Fonds Marine, legs. B/4/154-212, C 6384, C/112/11, C13a/50, 51 y G/2141. Also, Archivo General de Simancas, Expediciones a Indias, legs. 420: 1-107, 880-900, 423: 173-443.

  23. On France, the Family Pacts and the Combined Armada see Archives Nationales, France (ParГ­s) Fonds Marine, legs. FF/2/64-66, FF/2/102, FF/2/108, A.E. B/ I, 209-210. Also, B/4/154-212.

  24. For France, in light of all the above, Archives Nationales, France (Paris) Marine Funds, legs. FF/2/64-66, FF/2/102, FF/2/108, A.E. B/ I, 209-210.

  25. For the French case and this connection, see the work of CHALINE, Olivier, BONNICHON, Philippe, y VERGENNES, Charles-Philippe, dirs., Les Marines de la Guerre d’Indépendance Américaine (1763-1783). 2- L’opérational Naval, PUPS., Paris, France, 2018, ISBN 9791023105858, pp. 365-420.

  26. As regards the French case, Archives Nationales, France (Paris) Fonds Marine, F 5/2/68, 5/2/81 and F 5/282. Also, FF/2/64-66, FF/2/102, FF/2/108, A.E. B/ I, 209-210. As regards Florida and Pensacola, Archivo General de Simancas, Expeditions to the Indies, legs. 420: 438-529, 421: 240-361.

  27. For all the above, see FERNГЃNDEZ DURO, Cesareo, La Armada EspaГ±ola desde la uniГіn de los Reinos de Castilla y AragГіn, Sucesores de Rivadeyra, Madrid, Spain (in the National Library of Spain, Old Founds), vols. VI y VII, volume VII, pp. 234-247.

  28. FERNГЃNDEZ DURO, Cesareo, La Armada EspaГ±ola desde la uniГіn de los Reinos de Castilla y AragГіn, Sucesores de Rivadeyra, Madrid, Spain (in the National Library of Spain, Old Founds), volume VII, pp. 310-328.

  29. On this battle and its repercussions in America, General Archive of Simancas, Expeditions to the Indies, leg. 420: 438-529, 530-804.

  30. For the end of the Independence of the United States and Spain, see National Library of Spain, Manuscripts, 12966/33. Also, General Archive of Simancas, Expeditions to the Indies, leg. 424: 1-62.

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