Genoese Ship Sunk by Francis Drake Identified in Cádiz Bay

Map of Sir Francis Drake's attack on the Spanish fleet in Cádiz, 1587, drawn by his second-in-command William Borough. Inset portrait of Drake.

May

/ 2026

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More than four centuries after the famous English privateer Sir Francis Drake raided the Spanish port of Cádiz, archaeologists have identified the remains of one of his victims. Lying beneath the mud of the Bay of Cádiz, researchers have confirmed the wreck of the San Giorgio e Sant'Elmo Buonaventura, a Genoese merchant vessel sunk during Drake's audacious 1587 attack. Reported by El País, this discovery offers a rare and tangible glimpse into the maritime trade and naval preparations that preceded the launch of the Spanish Armada.

The San Giorgio e Sant'Elmo Buonaventura was first uncovered in 2012 during dredging operations for a new container terminal at the Port of Cádiz, where it was initially labeled the "Delta II" wreck. A multidisciplinary study by the Andalusian Historical Heritage Institute (IAPH), involving specialists in genomics, dendroarchaeology, palaeobiology, physicochemistry, and archival research, has now confirmed its identity. The vessel, owned by Pietro Paolo Vassallo and captained by Clemente Vassallo, had arrived in Cádiz on a state mission ordered by King Philip II of Spain, carrying military supplies and bronze cannons intended for the massive Spanish Armada being assembled in Lisbon.

Portrait of Sir Francis Drake by Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger, 1591. (Public Domain)

The "Singeing of the King of Spain's Beard"

The wreck is a direct casualty of one of the most famous naval raids in history. Between April 29 and May 1, 1587, Sir Francis Drake led an English fleet into the Bay of Cádiz in a pre-emptive strike against Spain's naval preparations for the planned invasion of England. This daring assault, later described by Drake himself as the "singeing of the King of Spain's beard," destroyed between 30 and 35 ships and significantly delayed the launch of the Spanish Armada. The raid is widely credited with setting back Spain's invasion plans by a full year, giving England crucial time to bolster its defenses.

The San Giorgio was caught in this chaotic crossfire. The ship was not merely a commercial vessel; it was part of the military and logistical network that Philip II had constructed to supply his Armada. Today, its remains lie under eight meters of mud, which created an anaerobic environment that exceptionally preserved organic materials that would otherwise have long since disintegrated in seawater. The thick sediment layer is what makes the Delta II wreck so remarkable - it is described as almost completely intact, a rarity in underwater archaeology.

Precious Cargo from a Connected World

The excavation of the Delta II wreck has yielded a remarkable collection of artifacts that illuminate the complex trade networks of the 16th century. Among the most significant finds were wooden barrels containing a dense red substance. Analysis by the University of La Laguna identified this as Dactylopius coccus, the insect from which cochineal dye is extracted. This vibrant red dye, sourced from the Oaxaca region of Mexico, was highly prized in Europe for producing an intense crimson color used in luxury textiles, and it was the third most valuable export from the Americas after gold and silver.

Cochineal insects (Dactylopius coccus) on a cactus pad. These insects were the source of the precious red dye found in the wreck's barrels. (Dick Culbert/CC BY 2.0)

Dendrochronological analysis of the barrel staves revealed they were made from Baltic oak, cut between 1586 and 1601 — a date that aligns precisely with the ship's sinking. This single detail opens a wide commercial map: American dye, Baltic timber, Genoese ownership, and Spanish royal military needs, all converging at Cádiz as the meeting point of multiple maritime worlds. The cargo also included ceramic jars sealed with olives, capers, bay leaves, rosemary, and oregano, alongside remains of ginger and guaiac wood from the Americas. DNA analysis of the jar contents even identified pathogens associated with pneumonia and skin infections, shedding light on the health conditions endured by the crew.

A Human Face of Naval War

The wreck also preserved evidence of the individuals caught in Drake's raid. Among the human remains recovered from the Delta II was the skull of a young woman, estimated to have been between 25 and 35 years old. Anthropological study identified a perimortem injury on the right side of the forehead, compatible with the impact of a projectile or a bladed object. This poignant find adds a deeply personal dimension to a historical event usually defined by grand strategy and imperial rivalry.

$Skull of a woman with a frontal fracture found in the Bay of Cádiz.$

Skull of a woman with a frontal fracture found in the Bay of Cádiz. (Garcia, M./IAPH)

Paleobiological studies also identified animal bones from cattle, pigs, caprines, and poultry, helping to reconstruct the ship's provisioning and the diet of those aboard. The importance of the Delta II wreck lies in how it connects different scales of history: the story of a single Genoese merchant ship is also a window into the global systems of the late 16th century — the Spanish Armada, English privateering, Mediterranean finance, American colonial products, and the economic power of ports. More than 400 years after Drake's fleet entered Cádiz, the San Giorgio e Sant'Elmo Buonaventura has resurfaced not as a legend, but as evidence.

Top image: Map of Sir Francis Drake's attack on the Spanish fleet in Cádiz, 1587, drawn by his second-in-command William Borough. Source: Public Domain

By Gary Manners