Spanish treasure fleets and imperial commerce (1503–1733)

1. Casa de la Contratación founded in Seville

   Jan 1, 1503Labels: Casa de, Seville

   • Britannica
   • Casa EN

2. Council of the Indies created for colonial governance

   Jan 1, 1524Labels: Council of

   • Casa EN
   • Britannica

3. Seville merchants’ consulate founded for Indies trade

   Jan 1, 1543Labels: Consulado de, Seville

   • PARES
   • Consulado ES

4. Regular treasure-fleet convoys take shape in the 1560s

   Jan 1, 1560Labels: Treasure fleets, Atlantic convoys

   • Britannica

5. Two-fleet pattern becomes standard Atlantic schedule

   Jan 1, 1564Labels: New Spain, Tierra Firme

   • Britannica
   • GADEAS

6. Hurricane sinks Atocha and part of the 1622 convoy

   Sep 6, 1622Labels: Nuestra Se, Florida Straits

   • Atocha EN
   • Britannica

7. Dutch capture Spanish silver fleet at Matanzas

   Sep 8, 1628Labels: Piet Heyn, Matanzas

   • Britannica
   • Matanzas

8. Armada de Barlovento created to defend Caribbean routes

   Jan 1, 1635Labels: Armada de

   • Barlovento
   • Britannica

9. English attack under Robert Blake hits treasure traffic

   Jan 1, 1657Labels: Robert Blake, Azores

   • Britannica

10. Cádiz becomes the main arrival port for fleets

    Jan 1, 1680Labels: C diz

    • Consulado ES
    • NatGeo ES

11. Battle of Vigo Bay disrupts silver fleet in wartime

    Oct 23, 1702Labels: Battle of

    • Vigo Bay
    • Britannica

12. 1715 treasure fleet lost in hurricane off Florida

    Jul 31, 1715Labels: 1715 fleet, Florida coast

    • NOAA AOML
    • 1715 Fleet

13. Casa and Consulado moved from Seville to Cádiz

    May 12, 1717Labels: Philip V, C diz

    • Consulado ES
    • NatGeo ES

14. 1733 plate fleet wrecks signal the system’s late phase

    Jul 15, 1733Labels: 1733 plate, San Jos

    • San Jos FL
    • Britannica

15. Fleet system declines as freer sailings expand

    Jan 1, 1740Labels: Free trade

    • Britannica