Estudios históricos del reinado de Felipe II

This meticulously researched volume offers a vivid portrait of a forgotten naval calamity that unfolded off the island of the Gelves in 1560‑61, during the reign of Philip II. By weaving together contemporary chronicles, official correspondence and cartographic detail, the author reconstructs the geography of the rocky outcrop, the supply difficulties and the strategic ambitions that drove the Spanish armada into the encounter. The narrative stays grounded in the decisions of commanders and the immediate consequences of their actions, giving listeners a clear sense of how the disaster unfolded.

Supplementary material enriches the story: a day‑by‑day journal of the campaign, a collection of letters from figures such as Antonio Pérez, and an epigraph honoring the famed admiral Doria provide direct voices from the period. These documents illuminate the human drama of thirsty soldiers, sudden ambushes and the clash with Ottoman corsairs, while also hinting at the wider impact on Spain’s Mediterranean policy. Listeners will come away with a deeper appreciation for the complexities of 16th‑century warfare and the fragile balance of power in the central Mediterranean.