Raid on Cadiz

• What is the raid on Cadiz known as?

  Singeing of the King's beard
• Why was Cadiz important for Spain?

  It held the majority of Spain's most advanced and valuable ships
• What happened during the raid on Cadiz?

  • 19th Apr 1587 - Drake and his fleet sailed into Cadiz
  • In two days, Drake loots, burns or sinks an estimated 30 ships in Cadiz harbour
  • Drake's fleet sail along the coast of Portugal and Spain and destroy ships that contained materials for the barrels that were meant to hold the Armada's food supplies and seized Spanish ships
  • Drake's fleet capture San Felipe, a Spanish ship returning from the Americas with a lot of gold, spices and silk on board
  • Drake returned to England with £114,000 worth of stolen Spanish treasure
• What was the impact of Drake's raid?

  • Delayed the Phillip's plans to invade England by more than a year which gave England more time to prepare a counter-attack
  • Embarrassed Spain as it proved England's galleons and naval command were better than Spain's
  • Obtaining fresh supplies and weapons was expensive and strained Spain's finances
  • Drake stole over 1000 tonnes of seasoned wood planks needed to make barrels so they had to use unseasoned wood to carry food and water which did not preserve it very well