In the coastal city of Vigo, visitors are invited to explore the rich maritime history by viewing two Russian cannons situated near the entrance of the O Castro fortress, a site that has defended this strategic location for centuries.

The cannons, adorned with the double-headed eagle emblem of the Russian Empire, serve as a reminder of a significant yet problematic transaction that took place under the reign of King Ferdinand VII of Spain.

During the early 19th century, Spain found itself in urgent need of naval vessels to maintain its colonial territories following significant losses at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. Aware of the dire situation, Ferdinand VII initiated negotiations with Tsar Alexander I of Russia to acquire eight warships.

The agreement, signed on August 11, 1817, shocked many due to its scale, amounting to 68 million reales de vellón.

The vessels, constructed from Baltic pine and captained by Admiral Anton Vasilevich Von Moller, embarked from Tallinn, Estonia, but faced numerous delays before arriving in Cádiz on February 21, 1818. Reports indicated that the ships were in poor condition upon arrival, leading to their notorious designation as the 'Black Ships' due to the color of their hulls, which had been coated in tar to keep them afloat during the journey.

Upon inspection, it became evident that many of the ships were severely damaged, with rotting wood and extensive leaks.

Ferdinand VII expressed his dissatisfaction with Alexander I, who subsequently offered three additional frigates as compensation in October 1818. Unfortunately, a number of the original vessels remained stranded at the La Carraca Arsenal in Cádiz, deemed unfit for service.

The ramifications of this flawed procurement extended beyond the initial transaction.

Many of the buildings associated with the Spanish Navy later utilized Russian cannons as fill, while others were repurposed for various uses, like mooring posts at local docks.

Diego Quevedo Carmona, a naval historian and researcher, has traced the fate of these Russian cannons, with at least 18 still displayed in military arsenals, public gardens, and recreational spaces across various Spanish cities, including Ferrol and Cartagena.

While some of these cannons were used on Spanish warships such as the 'Guerrero,' 'Constitución,' 'Soberano,' and 'Héroe,' they remain marked forever by their origins, featuring the distinct imperial insignia of Russia.

The failed acquisition of ships from Russia not only illustrates the challenges faced by the Spanish monarchy at that time but also raises questions regarding the connections between corruption and royal dealings, as funds associated with the transaction reportedly went missing.

The majority of the originally acquired 'Black Ships' were dismantled between 1821 and 1823, leaving only the artillery, which now stands as historical artifacts aiming into the horizon at ports and gardens across Spain.