The "matacapitanes" was a type of bastard emery (shortening its length to be more manageable than the "classic" embers) of cast bronze, of 8 ounces of bullet, used in the Spanish galleys of the second half of the century Unlike the falconetes, whose function was to cause personal injuries in general, their specific function seemed to be to penetrate the breasts, morriones or slices, the armor worn by the officers and that were "arquebus-proof." < / p>
A closed chamber, with a total length of 56.8 cm (bore of 46.5 cm), with stumps in an iron fork with its corresponding pinzote to fit in a corner of the side of the gallery, is a unique piece of naval artillery discovered - without inventory - in the Archives-Museum "Don Álvaro de Bazán" of the palace of the Marquis of Santa Cruz in Viso del Marqués, Ciudad Real and expected to belong to the Marquis Alvaro de Bazán, first marquis of Santa Cruz, who was in command of 30 galeras in the battle of Lepanto.
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