São Martinho or San Martín (meaning Saint Martin), built as a Portuguese Navy galleon, became the flagship of the Duke of Medina Sedonia, the commander-in-chief of the Spanish Armada.

The São Martinho and crew played a crucial role in defending the armada throughout the English Channel.

[1] São Martinho had suffered already heavy damage in the battle of Gravelines in July 1588 when a group of English ships led by Sir Francis Drake in Revenge bore down upon her.

With the assistance of the galleon São Mateus she escaped the attack and led the Armada back to Spain through a ferocious storm, where she had to be towed into port at Santander.

Because of a storm, São Martinho had to take refuge at Laredo, where Medina Sidonia found the galleass Napolitana and other ships in harbor.