Spanish treasure fleet (Flota de Indias) operations (1503–1715)

1. Casa de la Contratación founded in Seville

   Jan 20, 1503Labels: Casa de, Seville

   • Britannica
   • Casa Contrataci n

2. Pilot Major office created to standardize navigation

   Mar 22, 1508Labels: Piloto mayor, Casa de

   • Piloto mayor
   • Casa Contrataci n

3. First asiento de negros contract formalizes forced-labor supply

   Jan 1, 1517Labels: Asiento de, Spanish America

   • Britannica

4. Seville merchants’ guild formed to manage Indies trade

   Aug 23, 1543Labels: Consulado de, Seville

   • Arts Culture
   • Cargadores

5. Regular convoy system takes shape in the 1560s

   Jan 1, 1560Labels: Treasure convoys, New Spain

   • Britannica

6. Dutch capture the silver fleet at Matanzas Bay

   Sep 7, 1628Labels: Piet Hein, Matanzas Bay

   • Matanzas
   • Rijksmuseum

7. Armada de Barlovento authorized to police Caribbean routes

   Jan 1, 1635Labels: Armada de, Caribbean

   • TSHA
   • Barlovento

8. Blake destroys Spanish ships at Santa Cruz de Tenerife

   Apr 20, 1657Labels: Robert Blake, Santa Cruz

   • Britannica
   • Santa Cruz

9. Cádiz set as the official head port for arrivals

   Jan 1, 1680Labels: C diz, Spanish reforms

   • Cargadores

10. Battle of Vigo Bay damages the treasure convoy system

    Oct 12, 1702Labels: Vigo Bay, War of

    • Vigo Bay

11. Treaty of Utrecht grants Britain limited legal access

    Apr 11, 1713Labels: Treaty of, Britain

    • Britannica
    • South Sea

12. 1715 fleet disaster ends an era of treasure-fleet operations

    Jul 31, 1715Labels: 1715 fleet, Havana

    • 1715 Fleet
    • Britannica