The guide provided by the City Council has summoned visitors to the shadow of the gate of a walled enclosure. It crowns O Castro Hill, one of the largest urban parks in Vigo, Spain. But before entering the fortress that, for centuries, served to defend the strategic square from foreign sieges, the historian asks the tourists to dare to leave the coolness of the entrance for a moment. By doing so, they can observe two cannons that are heating up in the spring sun.

“Look at the coat of arms they bear,” she points out. “Do you know where it’s from? [Well], we’re investigating the history of these pieces of artillery. We Vigo residents have seen them all our lives… and it turns out that they’re not from here. They bear the double-headed eagle of the Russian Empire!”

One of the biggest scams in the history of the Spanish monarchy ended up littering the coast, from Cartagena to Ferrol, with arms that were cast in Russia for Tsar Alexander I. The Vigo cannons — mounted on rickety British gun carriages, now without wheels (and awaiting restoration) — are aimed directly at a fountain in a roundabout… and at the people sipping vermouth on the terrace of the O Castro Café.

According to the calculations of a scholar on the subject — naval officer Diego Quevedo Carmona, who has authored a dozen books (the latest of which is available in the Naval Museum of Cartagena) — 630 of these artillery pieces arrived in Spain, but they were never put to proper use.

While at least 18 of them decorate military arsenals, naval museums, public gardens, or places of interest in the cities of Vigo, Cádiz, Ferrol, or Cartagena, many were possibly “reused as material” to reinforce the foundations of Navy buildings (under which cannons have indeed been found). Others were also supposedly recycled as bollards, or used as mooring points on the docks of southeastern Spain. Among the bollards, the researcher from Cartagena (a passionate tracker of historical artifacts and a writer specializing in biographies of Spanish naval officers) has counted up to “15 partially-buried cannons.” But the part protruding from the cement — used to tie mooring ropes — isn’t enough to verify whether the two-headed Tsarist eagle still appears on these old weapons.

The reason why there are so many Russian cannons in Spain is because of an extremely bad deal that Ferdinand VII made with Alexander I, at a time when the Spanish Crown urgently needed ships to hold on to the colonial domains that were slipping away from its grasp.

“Spain had lost a large fleet of warships in the Battle of Trafalgar (1805),” the retired military officer recalls. “Building a ship took a very long time,” hence it was decided to buy them “secondhand” in order to protect Spain’s “overseas possessions.” King Ferdinand VII sought advice from his advisors and decided to initially acquire eight ships from the tsar. The agreement was signed on August 11, 1817, for 68 million reales.

The pine ships from the Baltic, under the command of Rear Admiral Anton Vasilevich Von Moller, began their voyage from Tallinn (the current capital of Estonia) in October of 1817, but didn’t arrive in Cádiz until February 21 of the following year. Over the course of four months, the crew had required long stops to make “multiple” repairs.

Upon arriving in Spain, the Russian part of the scam was uncovered: the ships were almost all in very poor condition, with moth-eaten masts and decks. “They’re known as the ‘Black Ships,’” the O Castro guide tells the tourists. That was a characteristic color of their hulls, but they had also been covered “in tar to stay afloat.” They were cracked, with leaks appearing everywhere. After inspection at the port, most of them were deemed unsalvageable. Only the ironwork could be used.

Ferdinand VII complained to Alexander I. The tsar admitted to the disaster. In compensation, Quevedo notes, he gave away three more frigates, which arrived from Russia in October of 1818. Amid the fiasco, several officials — who had nothing to do with the disastrous business deal promoted by shadowy advisors — were dismissed. Some of the units, Quevedo recounts, “were left in a heap from the first day” in the Bay of Cádiz, considered to be useless and impossible to recover. Each ship was armed with between 36 and 76 cannons.

Two of these vessels later managed to cross the ocean, but bad luck befell them as well: the one renamed Reina Isabel (after Queen Isabella I of Castile) was captured in Chile by the independence fighters, while the Viva was sunk in Havana. The one renamed Alejandro I took on water while crossing the Atlantic and had to return to Spain. The timbers of the Russian ships withstood the cold of the Baltic, but were unsuitable for long voyages through warmer waters. The fleet sold to Spain by Russia was “a real wreck,” the Cartagena researcher concludes.

The resounding botched job also had much to do with the corruption that was rampant within the House of Bourbon, connected in its dealings with the Russian ambassador to Spain. As a fairly informed tourist mentions during the visit to O Castro, it was eventually revealed that money was lost in the payment for the ships. It supposedly vanished among the corridors and curtains of the palace, pocketed by some advisors.

Russia ultimately received little more than half of what was stipulated in the contract and unsuccessfully claimed the rest of the payment for a decade. The purchase transaction had been negotiated by close confidants of the monarch behind the backs of the minister of state and those responsible for the Navy and the Treasury.

Most of the so-called “Black Ships” — with their poor, moth-eaten pine wood — were scrapped between 1821 and 1823. Only a few supplies and the artillery, which now eternally points toward the horizon from ports and gardens, were reusable. Some of these cannons were mounted on Spanish ships named Guerrero, Constitución, Soberano, or Héroe, but they remained forever tattooed at the top of their gun barrels with the two-headed Russian imperial eagle. It wears three crowns, while the creature is draped with a scepter, an orb and a shield that depicts Saint George slaying a dragon.

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Two Minnesota state lawmakers were shot Saturday at their homes in Champlin and Brooklyn Park, north of Minneapolis, authorities said. State Senator John Hoffman was wounded, and State Representative Melissa Hortman was killed along with her husband. Hoffman’s wife was also wounded. Both represent districts north of Minneapolis. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz considers it a targeted act of “political violence.” “Peaceful discourse is the foundation of our democracy. We don’t settle our differences with violence or at gunpoint,” he said.

Hortman was the top Democratic leader in the state legislature and former speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives. She was first elected in 2004. She was a lawyer and had two children. Hoffman, also a Democrat, was first elected in 2012. He runs Hoffman Strategic Advisors, a consulting firm. Previously, he was vice chair of the Anoka Hennepin School Board, which oversees Minnesota’s largest school district. Hoffman is married and has one daughter.

Drew Evans, superintendent of the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, said authorities are searching for the suspect, who was wearing a law enforcement uniform. The suspect fired at officers who arrived at the home of one of the lawmakers. A manifesto and a list of dozens of targets —including the congresspeople shot this Saturday, other lawmakers, and pro-abortion activists — were found in his vehicle.

“Suspect exploited the trust of our uniforms, what our uniforms are meant to represent. That betrayal is deeply disturbing to those of us who wear the badge with honor and responsibility,” Public Safety Commissioner Bob Jacobson said. Authorities are working to determine the motive behind the attacks but are still in the early stages of the investigation.

The Brooklyn Park City Council asked residents to stay in their homes within a three-mile radius around a local golf course while the search continues for the suspect, who is considered “armed and dangerous,” according to a post on its Facebook page. “Suspect is white male, brown hair, wearing black body armor over blue shirt and blue pants and may misrepresent himself as law enforcement. Do not approach,“ it warned.

Authorities have asked Minnesota residents to avoid the protests against U.S. President Donald Trump, scheduled for this Saturday under the slogan No Kings, coinciding with the first military parade in Washington since 1991. Their message includes a photograph of flyers bearing that slogan on the seat of a car, apparently the suspect’s vehicle. The organization canceled the protests in Minnesota following the authorities’ recommendation.

The pretext for the parade is the 250th anniversary of the Army, but it coincides with Trump’s 79th birthday. He has been fixated on holding a military parade since his first term and has taken advantage of the timing amid criticism from the Democratic opposition. The parade also comes as Trump has deployed the military to suppress protests in Los Angeles against his immigration policy.

“We are here today because an unspeakable tragedy has unfolded in Minnesota. My good friend, a new colleague, Speaker Melissa Hortman, and her husband Mark, were shot and killed just this morning in what appears to be a politically motivated assassination,” Walz said at a news conference. “Our state has lost a great leader, and I have lost a dearest of friends. Speaker Hortman was someone who served the people of Minnesota with grace, compassion, humor, and a sense of service. She was a formidable public servant, a fixture, and a giant in Minnesota. She woke up every day determined to make this state a better place. She is irreplaceable,” he added.

“My prayers also go out to State Senator John Hoffman and his wife, who were shot multiple times. The Hoffmans have come out of surgery and are receiving care, and we are cautiously optimistic that they will survive this assassination attempt,” the governor said.

“We must all, in Minnesota and across the country, stand against all forms of political violence,” Walz insisted. “This tragic act here in Minnesota should serve as a reminder to all of us that democracy and the debates in the halls of Congress, in state houses, in school boards, is a way to settle our differences peacefully and move society to a better place,” he added.

Trump, who was the target of two assassination attempts last year, addressed the attacks through Truth, his social media platform. “I have been briefed on the terrible shooting that took place in Minnesota, which appears to be a targeted attack against State Lawmakers. Our Attorney General, Pam Bondi, and the FBI, are investigating the situation, and they will be prosecuting anyone involved to the fullest extent of the law. Such horrific violence will not be tolerated in the United States of America,” he wrote.

“This morning Minnesota woke up to news of a brutal act of violence targeting public servants. I am heartbroken to learn that our Speaker Melissa Hortman, Sen. John Hoffman and their spouses have been shot. I’ve worked closely with these fine legislators for many years. Archie and I are grateful for the incredible response of law enforcement and hope that everyone will be safe today,” tweeted State Senator Tina Smith.

It will be a weekend of contrasts. This Saturday, a parade will be held in honor of the 250th anniversary of the United States Army, which falls on the same day as President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday. At the same time, people across the country are planning various protests against the Republican president and his immigration policy. These demonstrations, under the name “No Kings,” could face repression, as has happened in recent days in California, where the National Guard has been deployed and hundreds of arrests have been made.

On his social media platform Truth, the president said of the Army’s 250th anniversary: “We will celebrate with a spectacular military parade in Washington, D.C., like no other.” He also claimed that it would be bigger and better than any other parade ever seen on American soil. In fact, the U.S. Secret Service has designated it as a “special national security event,” similar to a presidential inauguration, which requires special resources. According to the Army, the cost of the event will be between $25 million and $45 million.

On the other hand, there are at least 2,000 protests planned against the Trump administration’s policies. Saturday has been called “No Kings Day of Defiance,” and its intention — according to the organizers — is to “honor civil liberties for all” and protest against deportations, U.S. actions in Gaza and support for Israel, mass layoffs of federal employees, and cuts to government departments such as USAID.

Here’s what to expect this Saturday:

What time does the military parade start?

The military parade will take place on June 14 and will begin at 6:30 pm local time. The event is just one of several that will happen throughout the day from 8:30 am to 10:00 pm.

Parade schedule

The celebrations will begin with a traditional ceremony in which senior Army leaders lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. An athletic competition will follow, and then a festival will be held at the National Mall from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm. The day will end with a fireworks display over the Tidal Basin.

The Army has announced that the parade will feature 6,700 soldiers, tanks, armored vehicles, rocket launchers, precision-guided missiles, and a flyover of 50 aircraft from different eras. The procession includes Abrams tanks, Bradley and Stryker vehicles, Paladin howitzers, helicopters, World War II aircraft such as the P-51 Mustang and C-47, and even a Sherman tank. Marching bands, horses, mules, and a dog named Doc Holiday will also participate.

What route will the parade take?

The parade will take place on Constitution Avenue in D.C., from 23rd Street to 15th Street, and will end near the White House. Upon arrival, a group of paratroopers with the Army’s Golden Knights will jump over the Ellipse to present the president with a folded flag.

Some 200,000 people are expected to attend the parade and the festival, which will be open to the public.

Protests against Trump

The “No Kings” protests were organized by the 50501 Movement (“50 States, 50 Protests, One Movement”), which consists of people who seek to defend democracy and who are against what they consider to be the authoritarianism of the Trump administration.

According to the movement, more than 2,000 protests will take place across the country, in its territories, and even in other countries. On its official website, there is a map showing all the locations where people will gather to demonstrate, and their mission statement, which reads as follows: “No Kings is a day of national rebellion. From city blocks to small towns, from courthouse steps to community parks, we are taking action to reject authoritarianism and show the world what democracy really looks like.”

They also refer to Flag Day, which is that same Saturday: “The flag does not belong to President Trump. It belongs to us. We are not watching history happen. We are creating it. On June 14, we will be everywhere he is not, to say no thrones, no crowns, no kings.”

Although the demonstrations are expected to be peaceful, some authorities have threatened those seeking to protest. In Florida, Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey said, “If you throw a brick, a firebomb, or point a gun at one of our deputies, we will be notifying your family where to collect your remains at. Because we will kill you graveyard dead.” For his part, Governor Ron DeSantis addressed those who would not protest and suggested that they could run over protesters if they feared for their safety.

In Texas, Governor Greg Abbot has called on the state’s National Guard to be present during the protests. In Missouri, Governor Mike Kehoe said he would activate the National Guard, but said they would only be deployed if local authorities needed assistance.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said he could deploy National Guard troops to other states beyond California “if necessary.” “Thankfully, in most of those states you have a governor that recognizes the need for (the National Guard), supports it, mobilizes it for himself or herself,” he said. “In California, unfortunately, the governor (Gavin Newsom) wants to play politics with it.” Newsom has sued Trump for deploying the National Guard during the protests that have rocked the city of Los Angeles over the past week and spread to the rest of the country.