The Spanish Armada
Introduction
Armada is the Spanish word for a fleet of ships. The Spanish Armada was a fleet of 150 ships with 29,000 men. It was put together by the Spanish in 1588 to invade England. Its defeat was a major blow to Spain. The event can be seen as signaling the end of the dominance of Spain and the Spanish Empire and the rise of the importance of England and the British Empire.
Religious Issues in the Background
In the late Middle Ages the Catholic Church was extremely powerful. Every country in Europe was a Catholic country. However, in the early 1500s a growing movement called the Reformation began to spread and the leaders of several countries converted to Protestantism. When the leaders changed religion, the people were forced to follow. In the 1530s, King Henry VIII of England started a new Protestant church called the Church of England. He seized the Catholic Church's English property and wealth. After his daughter Elizabeth became queen, England continued to be a Protestant country.
King Henry VIII Queen Elizabeth I
During Elizabeth's reign as queen of England, there were many attempts to restore power to England's Catholics. Many of these were centered on Elizabeth's cousin, Mary Queen of Scots. Mary was a Catholic and many English Catholics felt Mary should be made Queen of England. These people received help from the Catholic countries of France and Spain. Mary was imprisoned in England for many years and was executed for treason in 1587.
Power of Spain
In the mid 1500s, Spain was the most powerful country on Earth. Its state religion was Catholicism. It had an empire larger than the ancient Roman Empire and great wealth as well. It also had the largest and most powerful army in Europe. King Phillip II of Spain saw himself as the protector of the Catholic Church against the forces of the Reformation. He made several peaceful attempts to improve the situation for Catholics and the Catholic Church in England. Starting in the 1560s relations between Spain and England continually worsened. Many people in England believed Spain would try to invade their country.
King Phillip II
Flanders - Revolt and England
In the late 1560s there was a revolt against Spanish rule in the country of Flanders (what the Netherlands were called at that time). This country is just a short distance from England. England secretly aided the rebels. Elizabeth believed helping the revolt in Flanders would keep Spain from using it as a base for an attack on England. Queen Elizabeth also authorized piracy against Spanish ships and ports. She gave many English captains permission to attack Spanish ships and seize their goods. The captains and crews of these ships were called "Privateers." Officially, however, the two countries were still at peace.
Preparation and Cadiz
Phillip II of Spain began to put together the ships for the Spanish Armada in 1586. Many new warships were built, many older ones were given more weapons, and a number of foreign ships were rented. In 1587, Sir Francis Drake raided the port of Cadiz, Spain. He destroyed about 30 ships, delaying the Spanish Armada from sailing until the following year.
Sir Francis Drake
The English also began preparing a large fleet. In addition to British naval ships there were armed merchant ships and ships of the "Privateers."
Duke of Parma Duke of Medina Sidonia
Sailing to Meet with Spanish Troops
The Spanish planned to sail the Armada to the port of Dunkerque in Flanders and meet up with Spanish troops under the command of the Duke of Parma. The Armada would ferry those soldiers across the English Channel and invade England.
The Armada was made of many large ships carrying soldiers and supplies for the invasion. These large ships were not very fast and could not be easily or quickly turned in battle. The English fleet consisted of many smaller, faster and more maneuverable ships.
The Spanish Armada set sail from Lisbon, Portugal, in May 1588 commanded by the Duke of Medina Sidonia. While waiting for supplies off the coast of Northern Spain, bad weather scattered the fleet. The Armada did not restart the voyage until July.
English ships harassed the Spanish fleet as it sailed north but the Spanish only lost a few ships. The Spanish decided it would be too dangerous to attempt to reach Dunkerque and instead anchored off of Calais, France. Word was sent to the Duke of Parma to gather his forces. He responded that it would be at least six days before they would be ready for transport.
As the Spanish fleet was gathered close together at anchor they were vulnerable. The English took advantage of this by filling eight old ships with burnable fuel. That night, with a favorable wind, they set the ships on fire and sent them towards the Spanish fleet. Many of the Spanish captains cut their anchor cables to flee. Several of the Spanish ships collided with each other and the fleet was scattered.
Fire ship attack
Battle of Gravelines
The following morning the English fleet attacked at close range off the coast of Gravelines, Flanders. The Spanish were unable to reform into a group to defend one another well. The battle lasted throughout the day.
The English fleet was able to damage the Spanish Armada, but not many Spanish ships were actually lost. It wasn't enough damage to cause the Armada to withdraw. In addition, the English had run out of ammunition.
However, the Spanish commander, the Duke of Medina Sidonia, did not know the English had no more ammunition. Since many of his ships had cut their anchors he knew they would have a hard time staying together waiting for the Duke of Parma's troops. Believing the English would attack again the following day he decided to sail back to Spain.
Retreat Around Great Britain
The wind shifted during the night, allowing the Spanish ships to sail into the North Sea. The Armada was still largely intact. The plan was to sail up the east coast of England, then round the north of Scotland and down the west coast of Ireland.
However, they ran into horrible storms that battered the Armada and again the ships were dispersed. A large number of the ships sank. Others were severely damaged and many ran out of food and water. Some were forced to land in Ireland where their crews were attacked by English troops.
Weather proved to be the greatest foe to the Spanish Armada. Only about half of the ships that initially set sail returned back home to Spain.
Prepared by Richard Ruane for the Lincoln Community School's Fifth Grade
January 31, 2005
Bibliography
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Citing this page
Use the following as a citation for this web page:
Ruane, Richard. "Spanish Armada." Lincoln Community School. January 31, 2005. Lincoln Community School. February 7, 2005 <http://www.lincolncs.org/5-6/Studies/spanish_armada.htm>.