Don Blas de Lezo
Cartagena was the focus of trade between South America and the rest of the world thanks to its position on the Caribbean and deep-water harbour; gold and silver plundered from the Incas were transported back to Spain from here, in annual convoys. Other European nations knew this, and pirates and buccaneers from France and England had sacked and looted Cartagena on previous occasions; Robert Baal in 1544, Martin Cote in 1569, and Sir Francis Drake in 1586. In each instance, building were destroyed in addition to huge ransoms being extracted, so the resident Governor, using local merchants’ money, started building a fort in the 17th century. The most imposing structure in Cartagena became the trapezoid-shaped Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas. It has no vertical walls, and was designed to deflect cannon balls much like the Stealth Bomber deflects radar. The fort was completed in 1654, and though continually improved and strengthened in ensuing years, Cartagena was taken again by the Fren...
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