ArmadaIn the summer of 1588 Philip II's Invincible Armada edged its way slowly down the English Channel towards the Straits of Dover. The fleet consisted of more than 130 ships and 30,000 men, but Philip II of Spain had not sent the Armada to fight the English navy; rather, he had instructed his commander to avoid battle and to ferry the invincible troops of Spain's Army of Flanders across to England to depose Elizabeth I. However, despite its awesome size the Armada did not succeed in embarking one soldier. It was brought to battle and although not conclusively defeated was forced to find its way home by a tortuous voyage around the north coastline of the British Isles. Few of the great galleons that reached Spain ever sailed again and nearly half the men on board did not survive the dreadful journey. |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
Alba Alexander Farnese Antwerp Army of Flanders Atlantic attack August Azores battle Cadiz Calais campaign capture Caribbean Castile Catholic Channel Charles coast commanders Coruña Council crown Crown of Aragon CSPS Eliz damage defeat ducats duke Dunkirk Dutch Elizabeth empire enemy English fleet English ships Enterprise of England Escorial Europe expedition fight flagship force France Francis Drake French galleasses galleons galleys Gran Armada guns Habsburg Spain harbour Hawkins Henry Henry of Navarre Howard Ibid Indies insisted Ireland July king of Spain kingdom La Coruña Lisbon London Low Countries Madrid married Martínez de Recalde Mary Stuart Medina Sidonia monarchy naval navy northern Parker Parma Pedro de Valdés Philip II Pine Engraving Plymouth political port Portugal Portuguese preparations queen rebellion rebels Requesens revolt Rodger Rodríguez-Salgado royal sail sailors San Juan San Martín Santa Cruz Señora September soldiers Spanish Armada squadron strategy succession throne took troops voyage Zeeland