New Delhi: There have been numerous shipwrecks in history, with some of them attaining the status of myth or legend. But there are few shipwrecks which can trump the sinking of Flor de la Mar or Flor do Mar. While the name means ‘Flower of the Sea’, this Portuguese carrack of 400 tons was lost off Sumatra’s coast. According to reports, at that time, it was carrying treasure worth over $2 billion! Yes, that’s the estimated cost of the lost wealth. Interested in going on a treasure hunt? Then let us tell you something about the ship and its tragic end.
Flor de la Mar: The ship before the tragedy
Constructed in 1502 in Lisbon, the quality of Flor de la Mar as a ship was very much appreciated and was meant to ply on the route between India and Portugal. Its total weight was 400 tons and was reportedly the largest carrack in history. To those uninitiated, carrack was a sailing ship built in medieval times that usually had three masts.
In 1502, Flor de la Mar first set sail to India from Portugal and was commanded by Estevão da Gama, who was Vasco da Gama’s cousin. While the ship was returning in 1503, some problems regarding weight were detected. The ship was fixed but it would next set sail towards in March 1505. However, it once again encountered some problems during its return trip in 1506 and docked in Mozambique island for extensive repairement.
It was stuck with its crew for around 10 months there when in February 1507, the outgoing 8th India armada under the command of Tristão da Cunha found the ship. Cunha repaired Flor do Mar and annexed it into his India-bound armada. Flor do Mar and its then captain João da Nova then embarked on several adventures, participating in different conquests. In 1509, it was ordered to serve as Francisco de Almeida’s flagship in the Battle of Diu. Nova died that same year in Cochin. Almeida wanted to take the ship back to Portugal, but Afonso de Albuquerque, his successor, forbade it from returning to Portugal and kept it in India.
The end of its journey
Flor de la Mar was riddled with technical problems since the beginning, and by the time it was designated to support the conquest of Malacca, East Indies’ largest commercial centre, the ship was struggling. Albuquerque planned to use it to transport vast treasures captured in Malacca Sultan’s palace to Portugal due to its massive size.
But in 1511, tragedy struck Flor de la Mar when it came out of Malacca and was sailing in the Strait of Malacca. The ship encountered a storm and failed to survive it. It sank during the night of November 20, 1511, off Timia Point in Sumatra. The entire cargo of the ship along with over 400 men on board were lost. The shipwreck has not been found to date, and it is estimated that at the time of its drowning, Flor de la Mar carried treasures which are today estimated to be over $2 billion in worth.
Constructed in 1502 in Lisbon, the quality of Flor de la Mar as a ship was very much appreciated and was meant to ply the route between India and Portugal. It was reportedly the largest carrack in history. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
