Beyond the Battle of San Juan de Ulúa: The Jesus of Lübeck in the Memory of Slavery

 


The *Jesus of Lübeck*, a 16th-century carrack, stands as a stark symbol of the moral and economic contradictions inherent in the transatlantic slave trade. Originally constructed in the German Hanseatic city of Lübeck around 1540, the ship was sold to King Henry VIII of England in 1544, marking the beginning of its infamous legacy (Kelsey, 2003, p. 45). By the 1560s, under the reign of Elizabeth I, the vessel became instrumental in England’s early forays into the slave trade, spearheaded by naval commander John Hawkins. Its name, evoking Christian piety, starkly contrasted with its role in human trafficking, underscoring the hypocrisy of using religion to legitimize exploitation. 

 

Origins and Acquisition 

The *Jesus of Lübeck* was initially a merchant vessel, reflecting Lübeck’s prominence in Baltic trade. Historian Harry Kelsey notes that the ship’s sale to England was part of Henry VIII’s efforts to bolster his navy, though it later languished until Hawkins “recognized its potential for long-distance voyages” (Kelsey, 2003, p. 78). Hawkins, often regarded as England’s first slave trader, leased the ship in 1562 for his inaugural slaving expedition, inaugurating its grim transformation. 

 

Role in the Slave Trade 

Hawkins’ voyages epitomized the triangular trade model, exchanging European goods for enslaved Africans in West Africa, then transporting them to the Spanish Caribbean. The *Jesus of Lübeck*, capable of carrying over 400 enslaved individuals, became a floating prison. Marcus Rediker, in *The Slave Ship: A Human History*, describes such vessels as “factories of suffering,” where enslaved people endured “unfathomable horrors” (Rediker, 2007, p. 5). Though specific accounts of conditions aboard the *Jesus of Lübeck* are sparse, its size and Hawkins’ profit-driven approach suggest similar brutality. 

 

The 1568 Incident and Demise 

The ship’s final voyage during Hawkins’ third expedition (1567–1569) ended disastrously at San Juan de Ulúa, Mexico. Hawkins’ fleet, including the *Jesus of Lübeck*, faced a Spanish ambush in 1568, resulting in the ship’s abandonment. Historian David Eltis contextualizes this event within broader imperial rivalries, noting that the attack “heightened Anglo-Spanish tensions, foreshadowing the naval conflicts of the late 16th century” (Eltis, 2000, p. 122). The loss of the *Jesus of Lübeck* marked a temporary setback for English slaving ventures, though Hawkins’ exploits laid groundwork for future colonial endeavors. 

 

Picture Source: Wikipedia

Reality 

The *Jesus of Lübeck* exemplifies the entanglement of commerce, imperialism, and exploitation. Eric Williams, in *Capitalism and Slavery*, argues that such early ventures “primed the economic pump for England’s later industrial dominance,” fueled by slave-derived profits (Williams, 1944, p. 52). Moreover, the ship’s name underscores the perverse moral justifications of the era. As Rediker observes, slave ships often bore “benign or sacred names,” masking the violence they perpetuated (Rediker, 2007, p. 10). 

 

The *Jesus of Lübeck* remains a potent reminder of the transatlantic slave trade’s brutality and the contradictions of its historical actors. Its story illuminates the nexus of religion, commerce, and human suffering, offering critical insights into the origins of global capitalism and racial exploitation. 

 

References 

 

- Eltis, David. *The Rise of African Slavery in the Americas*. Cambridge University Press, 2000. 

- Kelsey, Harry. *Sir John Hawkins: Queen Elizabeth’s Slave Trader*. Yale University Press, 2003. 

- Rediker, Marcus. *The Slave Ship: A Human History*. Viking Press, 2007. 

- Williams, Eric. *Capitalism and Slavery*. University of North Carolina Press, 1944. 

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