Mars (Makalös)
Baltic Sea, about 22 km northeast of Öland, Sweden (approximate)
What happened
Mars, also called Makalös ('Peerless'), was one of the largest warships of its time and the flagship of the Swedish navy. On 31 May 1564, during a war with Denmark and the German city of Lübeck, enemy ships surrounded it near the island of Öland. The ship caught fire, exploded and sank quickly.
Why it matters
It is one of the best-preserved warships from the 1500s ever found. Its wreck shows how big warships were built and armed at that time.
What came next
Mars lay lost for almost 450 years until divers found it in 2011, about 75 metres deep. About two-thirds of the hull survives, along with many bronze cannons.
Did you know?
The Baltic Sea is less salty than the ocean and lacks the shipworms that eat wood, which is why wooden wrecks there can survive for centuries.
Timeline
- 1561Construction of Mars begins.
- 1563The ship is complete.
- 30 May 1564The First Battle of Öland begins.
- 31 May 1564Mars catches fire, explodes and sinks.
- Summer 2011Ocean Discovery finds the wreck using sonar.