Shipbuilding was an established profession throughout the Indian coastline prior to the advent of the Europeans and it contributed significantly to maritime exploration throughout Indian maritime history. Indian rulers weakened with the advent of the European powers during the middle ages. Indian shipbuilders, however, continued to build ships capable of carrying 800 to 1000 tons. The shipbuilders built ships like HMS "Hindostan" and HMS "Ceylon", inducted into the Royal Navy. Other historical ships made by the Indian shipbuilders included HMS "Asia" (commanded by Edward Codrington during the Battle of Navarino in 1827), HMS "Cornwallis" (on board which the Treaty of Nanking was signed in 1842), and HMS "Minden" (on which Francis Scott Key wrote the poem "The Defence of Fort McHenry", later to become the lyrics to "The Star-Spangled Banner").