THE SPANISH ARMADA

BACKGROUND/PRIOR CIRCUMSTANCES

• In the late 1500s, Elizabeth I ruled England and Phillip II ruled Spain.
• At the time Spain was already an established world power.
• With a very capable leader and a strong navy, England was emerging on the international stage.
• Elizabeth rose to power in 1558, ironically with the help of Phillip.

TENSION BETWEEN ENGLAND AND SPAIN

• There was certainly religious and political tension between England and Spain at the time.
• Spain was determined to bring Protestant England back into Catholic arms.
• Pope Sixtus V gave his blessing known as "The Enterprise of England", prompting Spain to conquer England.
• Elizabeth began to encourage and sponsor raids and revolts against Spain.
• For example, Elizabeth instructed Sir Francis Drake to lead raids on Spanish embargoes.

INVASION PLANS

• Phillip's original plans to invade England were devised in 1559.
• Construction of the fleet began in 1586, as the plans finally came together.
• Spain had planned to send their fleet from Flanders(Netherlands).
• However, due to a revolt funded by England there, the armada was to be dispatched directly from Spain
• By 1587, the construction of the armada was complete with 130 ships and approximately 30,000 men.

THE INVASION BEGINS

• The armada was launched from Lisbon on May 19, 1588, led by the Duke of Medina-Sidonia.
• Delayed by a storm, the fleet did not arrive in the English Channel until July 19, 1588.
• The English navy wielded a fleet of around 100 ships led by Lord Admiral Charles Howard of Effingham.
• By the time the armada arrived the English were well prepared and waiting.

THE CONFLICT

• On July 21, English ships at Plymouth bombarded the seven mile line of the armada with their long range cannons and guns.
• This forced the Spanish to anchor off of Calais, France on the 27th.
• On July 29, Howard sent eight burning ships towards the Spanish anchored in Calais' harbour.
• This caused the Spanish to disperse and flee Calais.
• Thus, the armada lost it's organization and strong formation, giving the English the advantage.

DECISIVE BATTLE

• The English held the advantage over the Spanish with quicker, smaller ships than the Spanish galleons.
• The Spanish had planned to succeed by boarding English ships, but that was prevented because of superior English weaponry and technology.
• The key battle occurred off of Gravelines, Flanders.
• The English dominated the armada at close range naval warfare.
• The armada was finally defeated on August 8th.

ENGLISH VICTORY

• The English decisively defeated the Spanish.
• The so-called "invincible" Spanish Armada was utterly devastated.
• As a result of the battle, the Spanish lost 800 men, two galleons, and one ship.
• The Spanish attempted to flee around Ireland and Scotland, but many ships were wrecked on Irish coasts or lost at sea.
• Only 65 ships made it back to Spain, with around 15,000 men perishing due to the expedition.

IMPACT OF THE CONFLICT

• This defeat was crushing to Spanish morale and legacy.
• It began the decline of Spanish power and dominance over Western Europe.
• It marked the beginning of the dominance of the English navy, making them a world power.
• Queen Elizabeth I obtained her first major victory, helping to solidify her legacy.
• It was a key turning point in both Spanish and English history.

WORKS CITED

• Adams, Simon. "The Spanish Armada." BBC History. BBC, 17 February 2011. Web. 18 Nov. 2014. .
• "July 29, 1588: Spanish Armada defeated." History. A&E Television Networks, 2014. Web. 18 Nov. 2014. . Pierson, Peter. "Armada, Spanish." Europe, 1450 to 1789: Encyclopedia of the Early Modern World. Ed. Jonathan Dewald. Vol. 1. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 2004. 104-106. World History in Context. Web. 18 Nov. 2014.
• Pierson, Peter. "Armada, Spanish." Europe, 1450 to 1789: Encyclopedia of the Early Modern World. Ed. Jonathan Dewald. Vol. 1. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 2004. 104-106. World History in Context. Web. 18 Nov. 2014.
• Pollen, John. "The Spanish Armada." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 1. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1907. Web. 23 Nov. 2014. .
• Walker, Bryce. The Armada. Virginia: Time-Life Books, 1981. Print.

PICTURES WORKS CITED

• http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/spanish_armada.htm
• http://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/yourpaintings/paintings/defeat-of-the-spanish-arm...
• http://jewishcurrents.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Another_Spanish_Armada...
• http://www.educationforum.co.uk/KS3_2/armada.htm
• http://myincarnations.com/bard/calais.htm