Treasure of the San José

Carla Rahn Phillips is the Union Pacific Professor in Comparative Early Modern History at the University of Minnesota. She has published two award-winning books with Johns Hopkins, Six Galleons for the King of Spain: Imperial Defense in the Early Seventeenth Century and, with William D. Phillips, Jr., Spain's Golden Fleece: Wool Production and the Wool Trade from the Middle Ages to the Nineteenth Century.

• AcknowledgmentsList of AbbreviationsIntroduction1. The Last Galleons2. Commanders of the Fleet3. The Men of the San José4. A Tale of Two Viceroys, One Captain General,and a World at War5. The Last Voyage of the San José6. After the BattlePostscriptAppendix 1: The Spanish and English Calendars in 1708Appendix 2: Treasure Registered on the San Joaquín in 1712NotesBibliographyIndex

Not just another maritime disaster drama, this history of a Spanish galleon sunk by the English in 1708 offers fascinating glimpses into Spain's American empire... By plumbing the dashed hopes of those invested in the success of the San Jose, Phillips endows her narrative with a foreboding poignancy. Booklist 2007 Her work proceeds, even with its scholarship, to retain the basic magic of the tale of the magnificent galleon under the command of the Count of Casa Alegrre and manned by 600 souls, all still resting untouched and waiting. Library Journal (starred review) 2007 Phillips' book does much to dispel longstanding myths and provides a close look at maritime practices as well as the difficulties posed by allowing memory to stand in for fact... Certainly the most fascinating portion of the book was Phillips minute description of the battle that resulted in the loss of the San Jose. PhiloBiblos 2007 It sounds like the title of a boy's own adventure tale or an Erroll Flynn movie, and rightly so: The Treasure of San Jose has a swashbuckling spirit and contains all the elements for an old-fashioned romance: sea battles, suave adventurers and sunken treasure. But it also displays the kind of detail and precision that comes from shrewdly plundered archives. Carla Rahn Phillips is clearly an assiduous historian with an eye for an extraordinary story. Wall Street Journal 2007 Phillips' impeccable scholarship, detailed reporting, and careful analysis will appeal primarily to students of Spanish history and naval affairs. -- Margaret A. Koger Magill Book Reviews 2008 A book that will please and reward all students of Spanish imperial and maritime history. -- N.A.M. Rodger International Journal of Maritime History 2007 A well-written and well-researched book which can be effectively read by both scholar and novice. -- John Leiby Hispanic American Historical Review 2008 For Carla Rahn Phillips, the sinking of the San Jose is significant beyond the terrible tragedy and can be used as a lens to view complex themes in a changing Spanish Empire... This is a very well-written, analytical study based on extensive fresh archival research. -- Christon I. Archer American Historical Review 2009 The author has used this wealth of documents to write a marvellous book, fascinating from beginning to end. -- Jaap de Moor The Northern Mariner 2007 A penetrating micro-study of the Spanish monarchy during the conflict over the Spanish succession... The human element is never forgotten as she probes the lives and careers not only of viceroys, but of lesser officials and soldiers, and even the humblest seamen and their families. -- Jerzy Lukowski Bulletin of Latin American Research 2009 A first-rate book written by an experienced historian at the height of her career. -- James A. Lewis Itinerario