I've Been Wondering About Urca De Lima's True Story For A Bit, And After Reading Some Pirate History
I've been wondering about Urca de Lima's true story for a bit, and after reading some pirate history I thought it was the Hampton Court.
I'm greatful for this explanation, it's very interesting to me to know all these details about those magnificent ships they used to have (also, I'm not very skilled in history, so...if someone else offers their researches it's way better lol).
thank you!
The Man O'War
One of the mysteries of Black Sails is where the Spanish man o’war captured in season 1 vanishes to after Captain Flint and his crew return to Walrus…but another mystery is exactly WHAT is this ship. I’ve seen her referred to as a frigate, but now that I’ve captured a good screenshot (season 2, episode 4), that this is definitely no frigate.
The man o’war has three full gun decks. Counting gun ports, it looks like each has approximately fifteen guns, plus a short gun deck back aft near the main deck. This averages to 45-49 guns per broadside, which makes this grand bitch not just a ship of the line, but a first rate ship of the line. That's the age of sail equivalent of a battleship! Take a look at the gif below of the man o’war savaging Walrus and Ranger.
(Frankly, if she was a frigate, I don't think Flint would've worried much; Walrus has the throw weight of a sixth rate frigate and would've stood a good chance; with Ranger along, they would've been just fine and no one should've panicked.)
So, what ship is this? The Urca de Lima was a real ship, though Urca was only a nickname for Santissima Trinidad, and she was part of a combination of two flotillas that made up the 1715 Treasure Fleet. This fleet consisted of eleven ships, of which at least two were ships of the line.
The first was ex-Hampton Court, a British built third rate ship of the line of 70 guns that was captured by the French then sold to the Spanish. Sources say that she was renamed Nuestra Señora del Carmen, but contemporary sources such as the governor of Jamacia, Archibald Hamilton indicate that this was a separate ship and the flagship of the second part of the fleet. (More on that in a moment.)
The second confirmed ship of the line was the French Griffon, which was the one and only survivor. (Cool fact: the captain of this ship was also likely the informant who gave Hamilton his information).
The third ship is the mystery ship that brought up the rear of the formation. This ship is harder to place, and was either a different "massive war galleon" or Nuestra Señora del Rosario, a third ship of the line. This may have been a third rate or fourth rate ship of the line, but sources make it very hard to tell. Given that the wrecks that have been found have never been positively identified, it's even harder to determine which ship was which.
Back to Black Sails. Historical evidence says that there wasn't a first rate ship of the line in the 1715 Treasure Fleet, but the show does also indicate that the Urca was traveling alone, so a bit of dramatic license says that we've got a first rater along for the ride. It's far from outside the realm of possibility, given the contemporary evidence that the Spanish definitely did use ships of the line as escorts for treasure ships.
I think it's safe to say that the ship isn't Hampton Court, however. An ex-British officer like James Flint would 100% recognize Hampton Court, who would've been captured (1707) after he left England but was a distinctly British design. Additionally, the characters continuously refer to her as a Spanish man o'war, which indicates she's Spanish-built.
Spanish-built ships of the line with three decks have 94 guns or greater. Until 1700ish, they frequently were referred to as galleons, a term that faded out of use and was replaced by navíos. If I'm going to be a real history nerd, Spain didn't really have a three deck ship of the line in this era; they'd scrapped the only one they had in 1705, Nuestra Señora de la Concepción y las Animas. But prior to scrapping, this ship was sent to the colonies to harass settlers around Panama, so she was on the right side of the world in the early 18th century.
Historically speaking, Nuestra Señora de la Concepción y las Animas (Our Lady of the Conception and of Souls) is the best candidate for the Man O'War in Black Sails.
In-universe speaking, that big bitch is a three deck, first rate ship of the line of somewhere between 94-100 guns, just based on the number of gun ports and the mincemeat she makes of two ships at the same time. Why did she vanish? Probably because it'd be hard as hell for anyone to beat Flint if you let him keep that ship, and Woodes Rodgers would've had a much harder time taking Nassau when she was protected by a ship of the line.
Have you seen this post before? Probably a close cousin of it. Dimwit me deleted my tumblr and had to remake it.
Additional sources:
1715 Treasure Fleet Information
Ship resting places, armament, and educated guesswork
Archibald Hamilton's information
More Posts from Dragonsinthedarkness and Others
Swan Queen Spring Break Week 2021 Master List:
The compiled works of Swan Queen Spring Break Week 2021:
DAY 1: Sunset/Sunrise
deathnotelu
Art – “Operation Cobra”
https://deathnotelu.tumblr.com/post/646328347472871424/morning-at-grannys-prompt-sunrise-for-swan-queen
Defying_Expectations
“Please Don’t Take My Sunshine Away”
https://archiveofourown.org/works/30284415
Italymystery
Art – Inspired by the movie Ladyhawke
https://archiveofourown.org/works/30180240
KizuRai
“Sunset”
https://archiveofourown.org/works/30176154/chapters/74346711
LZClotho (LZielinsky)
“We Meet Between Sunset and Sunrise”
https://archiveofourown.org/works/30180042
misseliza23
“Dungeons and Dates”
https://archiveofourown.org/works/30184044
MissSwen108
“The Sunset Date”
https://archiveofourown.org/works/30177729
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13845207/1/SQ-The-Sunset-Date
Noname_Kat
“in love with the sunrise”
https://archiveofourown.org/works/30184857
Theirseyes
“Once Upon A Spring”
English https://archiveofourown.org/works/30178944/chapters/74355135
Italian https://efpfanfic.net/viewstory.php?sid=3969015&i=1
Art https://twitter.com/theirseyes/status/1373730296361840641?s=21
Waknatious
“Sunrise: A Swan Queen Scene”
https://waknatiouswrites.tumblr.com/post/646283699488473088/sunrise
WickedHeadache
“You’ll Be the Evil Witch and I’ll be the Princess”
https://archiveofourown.org/works/30183639/chapters/74368491
DAY 2: Bloom/Gloom
KizuRai
“Bloom”
https://archiveofourown.org/works/30176154/chapters/74346861
LZClotho (LZielinsky)
“Gloom and Bloom”
https://archiveofourown.org/works/30191931
misseliza23
“Or Forever Hold Your Peace”
https://archiveofourown.org/works/30206202
MissSwen108
“A Blooming Romance”
https://archiveofourown.org/works/30201009
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13845991/1/A-Blooming-Romance
Noname_Kat
“gloom on the grave”
https://archiveofourown.org/works/30200940
Theirseyes
“Once Upon A Spring” (Part 2)
English https://archiveofourown.org/works/30178944/chapters/74405184
Italian https://efpfanfic.net/viewstory.php?sid=3969181
-------
DAY 3: Party/Picnic
Italymystery
“Picnic Enchanted Forest Style”
Art https://archiveofourown.org/works/30221265
KizuRai
“Picnic”
https://archiveofourown.org/works/30176154/chapters/74482308
LZClotho (LZielinsky)
“The boss’s girlfriend”
https://archiveofourown.org/works/30199827
MissSwen108
“SQ Royal Matchmaking Party”
https://archiveofourown.org/works/30219555
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13846610/1/SQ-Prompt-Royal-Matchmaking-Party
Theirseyes
“Once Upon A Spring” (Part 3)
English https://archiveofourown.org/works/30178944/chapters/74461059
Italian https://efpfanfic.net/viewstory.php?sid=3969403
------
DAY 4: Working/Relaxation
Italymystery
“Duty First and...Pleasure”
Art https://archiveofourown.org/works/30241959
KizuRai
“Relaxation”
https://archiveofourown.org/works/30176154/chapters/74532072
LZClotho (LZielinsky)
“Leaping Leprechauns”
https://archiveofourown.org/works/30244362
misssliza23
“Let me help you (out)”
https://archiveofourown.org/works/30245514
MissSwen108
“First Comes Duties Then Comes Relaxation”
https://archiveofourown.org/works/30247542
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13847492/1/SQ-One-shot-First-Comes-Duties-Then-Comes-Relaxation
Theirseyes
“Once Upon A Spring” (Part 4)
English https://archiveofourown.org/works/30178944/chapters/74525907
Italian https://efpfanfic.net/viewstory.php?sid=3969629
---
DAY 5: Rainbow/Rainy Day
Aponi_Aquene
“A Rainbow after the Storm”
https://archiveofourown.org/works/30312183
Italymystery
“Open Day”
Art https://archiveofourown.org/works/30261840?view_adult=true
KizuRai
“Rainy Day”
https://archiveofourown.org/works/30176154/chapters/74593629
MissSwen108
“A Rainbow Day”
https://archiveofourown.org/works/30271167
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13848230/1/A-Rainbow-Day
----
DAY 6: Breakfast/Late-night snack
Aponi_Aquene
“Strawberries and Cream”
https://archiveofourown.org/works/30324741
Italymystery
“Unexpected late night visit”
Art https://archiveofourown.org/works/30284085
KizuRai
“Late-night Snack”
https://archiveofourown.org/works/30176154/chapters/74642040
Theregalunicorn
“Foraging”
https://archiveofourown.org/works/30264744
-----
DAY 7: First Date/Anniversary
Italymystery
“Happy Anniversary My Love”
Art https://archiveofourown.org/works/30301788
KizuRai
“Anniversary”
https://archiveofourown.org/works/30176154/chapters/74695683
LZClotho (LZielinsky)
“A Year to Know We Want More”
https://archiveofourown.org/works/30319065
queststar
“A date of anniversaries”
https://archiveofourown.org/works/30259233
SPECIAL EDITION: DAY 1-7
DelicatePoem
“a kiss caught in the rain (this is how it goes)”
https://archiveofourown.org/works/30312318
They eyes, I mean...😍😍
https://archiveofourown.org/works/64803721/chapters/166533523
(Link also in comment)
My attempt at AgathaRio's backstory + Rio character study, inspired by mexican folklore, views of Death in literature, a lot of songs and my love for these two women.
Hope you'll like it.
😏😏
I've always said that, he is immortal. 🙌🏻
(And I refuse to believe that someone like Silver could have been his end, sorry.)
“I have survived starvation, a tempest, pirate hunters, jealous captains, mutinous crews, angry lords, a queen, a king, and the goddamn British navy.” - Captain J Flint, Black Sails (Toby Stephens)
SCREAM THAT!
I still can’t get over the fact that Aubrey Plaza got Kathryn Hahn pregnant on a Disney Plus show. This year has been wild.
These are so beautiful! Also all the other ones, but these last five are my favourite!
I'm the kind of person who looks for tarots about any fandom she steps into, so thank you so much for this gift!
And like...one of the problems with thematic tarots is that so often their creators choose aesthetic over meaning, which is not my favourite interpretation of it. Instead you united both aesthetic and meaning (and I love the meaning) and...wow!
Thank you for sharing!
(The world🥺🥺🥺)
Black Sails tarot part 5 (1, 2, 3, 4)
the star, moon, and sun as max, anne, and jack came to me in a holy vision and i'm still so pleased that i found images of them all sitting and oriented the same way. trio of all time
and that's it! i only did the major arcana bcs any more would've killed me lol. i think i finished the final versions in november, so it's been almost a full year and, despite the flaws i still see, i still really love this project!
The Untamed x Harper’s Bazaar
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She/her, writer, books lover (whichever, from every age and every nation) tv shows lovers (ouat, iwtv, black sails, hannibal, good omens...), anime, manga and danmei lover (mxtx especially), rock lover. Women lover. Earth lover. Ao3: https://archiveofourown.org/users/EleonoraParker/works
196 posts