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 Following their defeat at the hands of the English navy in the
summer of 1588, the surviving ships of the Spanish Armada were
forced to make their way home around the north and west coasts of
Scotland. Several ships were lost along the dangerous coastline in
stormy weather. One ship, the San Juan de Sicilia, mysteriously blew
up in Tobermory bay on the Isle of Mull. It has since been claimed
that she was carrying large amounts of gold coins.
It is said that in October 1588 the critically damaged San Juan de
Sicilia anchored in Tobermory bay to take on supplies and make
repairs, there are several theories of what happened next.
The
most popular story of the event is that after sailing into Tobermory
the captain arrogantly demanded food and aid from the local
islanders. The chieftain of clan Maclean said that if the Spanish
captain gave him 100 men at arms he could have all the food he
liked, provided he paid for it.
The Spaniard agreed and Maclean and his newly acquired mercenaries
set out to attack MacLean's enemies, the MacDonald's on the Isles of
Eigg, Muck, Rhum and Canna. When Maclean returned the Spanish
captain announced he was ready to sail. The Spaniard said that he
would only pay once his men were returned. Maclean handed over the
men at arms but kept three officers as hostages. Maclean then sent
his young kinsman Donald Maclean over to the galleon to collect the
gold.
Once on board the young Donald was taken prisoner. Even although
there were still officers being held by MacLean the Spanish began to
set sail. A short while later there was a huge explosion and the
galleon sank to the bottom of the bay. Donald Maclean, realising he
had no escape and not wanting to let the greedy Spanish leave, had
touched off the powder kegs in the magazine.
The survivors and the three Spanish hostages were locked up in the
dungeons of Duart castle.
Tobermory Bay
One of the things that has to be asked is why would a treasure
galleon laden with gold coins be sailing with the Armada? A little
bit of research on the vessel itself and you find that the San Juan
de Sicilia, before joining the Armada, was the Brod Martolosi, a
merchant ship, most likely part of the Spanish treasure fleet that
sailed from the new world to Europe. She was then converted into a
troop ship for the invasion force. This is the most likely cause of
the confusion.
Some claim that the ship at the bottom is in fact the
Duque de
Florencia, a ship laden with gold and silver plate and carrying the
Armada paymaster's chest, a hoard of 30 million ducats in gold coin.
However the Duque de Florencia managed to make it back to Spain.
The claim that
there is huge amounts of gold in Tobermory bay is very unlikely but
a
sunken galleon filled with gold coins makes a good story.
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