The Spanish Armada

The Spanish Armada, 1588

In 1588, Philip II launched 151 ships, 7,000 sailors, and 34,000 soldiers, to invade England via the Netherlands. England had interfered in the Spanish Netherlands and the plan was to collect troops from Flanders before invading England.

May - July

The Armada was led by the Duke of Medina Sidonia, who had little experience in the navy.
The Armada left Spain/Portugal in May, but bad weather meant that they did not reach the English Channel until July.
The Spanish fleet reached Cornwall in July. Beacons were lit all along the coast, sending news of the arrival to London.
Philip had filled his ships with land weapons for the battles to come.

6th August

The Spanish fleet was anchored on the Dutch coast for several days, waiting for more soldiers from the Duke of Parma.
They were not in a protected deep water port and they could not anchor very safely.
Sir Francis Drake commanded English sailors to strike. He sent eight fireships (burning ships) the next morning into the Spanish fleet.

8th August: The Battle of Gravelines

Firing from 100 metres away, the English damaged many Spanish ships. The Duke of Medina-Sidonia, commander of the Spanish fleet, turned his ships around to head for home. Only 65 ships made it back.
This attack coincided with a storm, which blew the Armada off course and allowed the English ships to pursue them. Many ships were wrecked off the coast of Scotland and Ireland.

Outcome

A combination of English tactics, Spanish mistakes, and the weather contributed to Spain’s defeat.

Impact of the Spanish Armada

Defeating the Spanish Armada was a significant victory for Elizabeth and proved British naval might. But, the threat that Spain posed was not completely eliminated.

Immediate impact

The defeat of the Armada brought England together, and more Catholics pledged loyalty to the queen. The victory strengthened the sense that England was living through a ‘golden age’.

Long term impact

Arguably, the impact of the Armada’s defeat were minimal. The threat Spain posed was not neutralised.
The war against Spain continued until Elizabeth’s death.
- E.g. in 1596, Lord Howard of Effingham and the Earl of Essex invaded Cadiz in Spain.
In 1596, Spain launched a second Armada. This was hit by storms and returned to Spain.
In 1601, an Armada went to Ireland. They were defeated by English forces.

England’s commitment to the Netherlands

Due to the Treaty of Nonsuch, England was still supporting Dutch claims for independence from Spanish control.
In 1609, the Dutch gained autonomy.

England becoming embroiled in France

In 1589, a Huguenot (Protestant) came to the throne in France.
Elizabeth wanted to aid Henry IV and secure France as a Protestant ally.
In 1592, an English force was sent to support Henry.
The war in France was ended after Henry IV declared he was now Catholic.
In 1598, Spain and France signed the Treaty of Vervins.

Historical assessment of Elizabeth’s foreign policy

Doran (1986): “Ultimately, Elizabeth’s objectives were achieved...external factors were more important, but her policies undoubtedly helped.”
However, wars were costly. Elizabeth was forced to use taxation and monopolies to gain funds. This was unpopular.

1Monarch & Government

1.1Tudor Monarchs

1.1.1Henry VII

1.1.2Henry VIII

1.1.3Edward VI

1.1.4Mary I

1.1.5Elizabeth I

1.1.6Succession Disputes

1.2Changing Role of Parliament

1.2.1Parliament & Henry VII

1.2.2Parliament & Henry VIII

1.2.3Parliament After the Reformation

1.3Principal Servants to the Crown

1.3.1Principal Servants to the Crown

2Religious Changes

2.1Tudor Monarchs & Religious Change

2.1.1The Henrician Reformation

2.1.2Impact of Religious Change Under Henry VIII

2.1.3Religious Change Under Edward VI

2.1.4Religious Change Under Mary I

2.1.5Elizabethan Settlement

2.2Catholicism & Survival

2.2.1Popular Attitudes to Catholicism

2.2.2Catholicism Under Henry VIII

2.2.3Catholicism Under Elizabeth I

2.2.4Catholic Nobility

2.3Protestantism & Puritanism

2.3.1Protestant Influences

2.3.2Protestantism Under Edward VI

2.3.3Protestantism Under Elizabeth I

3State Control & Popular Resistance

3.1Tudor Control of the Country

3.1.1Councils

3.1.2Role of Nobility

3.1.3Justices of the Peace

3.1.4Lord Lieutenant

3.2The State & the Poor

3.2.1Reasons for Growth of Poverty

3.2.2Punishments for Paupers

3.2.3Role of Charities

3.3Resistance to Tudor Rule

3.3.1Resistance to Tax & Subsidies

3.3.2Uprisings Against Henry VIII

3.3.3Uprisings Against Edward VI

3.3.4Uprisings Against Elizabeth I

3.3.5Decline of Popular Resistance

4Economic, Social & Cultural Change

4.1Patterns of Domestic & Foreign Trade

4.1.1Wool & Cloth

4.1.2Exploration & Trade

4.2Changing Structure of Society

4.2.1Population

4.2.2Dissolution of Monasteries

4.2.3Enclosure

4.3Cultural Change

4.3.1Education & Literature

4.3.2Impact of Religious Change

4.3.3Patronage

4.3.4The Arts

4.3.5Cult of Gloriana

5Historical Interpretations

5.1Significance of Threats to National Security

5.1.1Spain

5.1.2The Spanish Armada

5.1.3Ireland

5.2Court Politics

5.2.1Court Factions

5.2.2Essex's Rebellion

5.3Elizabeth & Parliament

5.3.1Conflict with Parliament

5.4Social Distress in the 1590s

5.4.1Social Distress in the 1590s

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