The 'Juan Sebastián de Elcano' Naval Historical Archive, a benchmark in maritime and military research

King Felipe VI with the Minister for Defence, Margarita Robles, in the family photo of the visit

The 'Juan Sebastián de Elcano' Naval Historical Archive has received the first official visit of King Felipe VI, accompanied by the Minister for Defence, Margarita Robles, to learn about the archival, technical and scientific work carried out by the centre.

This institution, which is key to the conservation of Spain's naval documentary heritage, is an international benchmark in maritime and military research.

During the visit, the King and the Minister toured the document management area and the workshop room, the repositories of personal files and special cartography, the historical walkways that connect the buildings of the complex and the researchers' room where essential collections are kept to understand the evolution of the Navy over five centuries.

In addition, as part of the itinerary, they viewed a representative selection of original documents, chosen to offer a broad and chronological overview of Spain's maritime history. Among these pieces are manuscripts from the 15th and 16th centuries linked to the great expeditions, such as the first voyage of Christopher Columbus (1492), the voyage of Magellan and Elcano and the instructions given to Miguel López de Legazpi for the expedition to the Philippines. Also on display are valuable 17th century items related to the defence of the Empire, from privateer's patents and navigation routes to documents on privateers, campaigns in the Mediterranean and the valuable general book of the Spanish Galley Squadron.

New facilities

The collection that Felipe VI and Margarita Robles were able to view also included pieces from the 18th century corresponding to the heyday of the Royal Navy, such as naval plans, technical treatises, navigation diaries and documentation on decisive battles.

They were also presented with a sample of 19th century testimonies linked to the end of the Spanish Empire, overseas campaigns and the development of naval engineering. Completing the exhibition is a section dedicated to the creation of the national flag, featuring the designs presented to Charles III in 1785, as well as a selection of key documents from the 'Odyssey Case,' which illustrates the legal and historical value of the Archive in the defence of Spain's underwater heritage.

The 'Juan Sebastián de Elcano' headquarters is currently the main repository of the Navy's documentary heritage, with more than 14 linear km, extendable up to 28 km already approved in the following years. The great value of the Navy's documentary collection, both for researchers and for society in general, has led to the need for these new facilities, inaugurated in September 2024, designed for digital transformation and with an archive 4.0, in line with current trends demanded by society.

Non official translation