Spanish first rates such as the 112-gun Principe de Asturias and Santa Ana were capable, strongly built ships. The case for Gravina commanding the combined fleet rests on his experience and reputation, including respect from British opponents. The Gibraltar Chronicle praised his conduct after his death from Trafalgar wounds in 1806, despite his earlier service against Gibraltar. Napoleon also praised Gravina's decisiveness and believed those qualities could have turned Cape Finisterre into a victory, although that assessment of Calder's vulnerability is disputed here. A reported deathbed wish to join Nelson is treated with particular skepticism because it sounds suspiciously convenient.
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Gravina and the Spanish fleet's fighting quality
Gravina's reputation and the strength of Spanish first rates complicate assumptions about the defeated fleet.