The Spanish Armada

• Who was sent to disrupt Spanish preparations for the Armada?

  Francis Drake
• What was the purpose of sending Francis Drake to Spain?

  To spy and attack Spanish ships and supplies
• In what month and year did Drake attack the Spanish port of Cadiz?

  April 1587
• How many ships did Drake destroy during his attack on Cadiz?

  Around 30 ships
• What was the impact of Drake's attack on the Spanish Armada's preparations?

  It delayed the Armada by more than a year
• What financial impact did Drake's raid have on Spain?

  It seriously strained Spain's finances
• What materials did Drake capture during his raid?

  Planks made from seasoned wood
• Why were seasoned wood planks important for the Spanish Armada?

  They were needed to make barrels for supplies
• What was the consequence of using unseasoned wood for barrels?

  It couldn't preserve food and water well
• How did the supply problems affect the Spanish troops and sailors?

  It affected their morale and caused food loss
• What happened to fresh water supplies during the Armada's journey to England in 1588?

  They were lost
• How did Drake describe his raid on Cadiz?

  As 'singeing the King of Spain's beard'
• What did Drake mean by 'singeing the King of Spain's beard'?

  He inflicted temporary damage on the Armada
• What did Drake imply would happen to the Armada after his attack?

  It would 'grow back' in time
• What was the purpose of the Spanish Armada in 1588?

  To meet the Duke of Parma at Dunkirk
• How many ships were in the Spanish Armada?

  Approximately 130 ships
• How many sailors manned the Spanish Armada?

  Approximately 8000 sailors
• How many soldiers did the Spanish Armada carry?

  Estimated 18,000 soldiers
• Who was appointed to lead the Spanish Armada?

  The Duke of Medina Sidonia
• Why did Philip appoint the Duke of Medina Sidonia?

  He respected his high social status
• What was a drawback of the Duke of Medina Sidonia's appointment?

  He had little military or naval experience
• Where were thousands of additional Spanish soldiers stationed?

  In the Netherlands under the Duke of Parma
• What was Philip's plan for the Armada and Parma's army?

  To meet at Dunkirk and sail to England
• What was the intended route for the combined forces of the Armada and Parma's army?

  To sail across the Channel to England
• What was the role of the Armada's warships in the plan?

  To protect the combined forces during the crossing
• When did the Armada set out?

  May 1588
• What happened when the Armada was sighted off Cornwall?

  English ships attacked but caused little damage
• How many Spanish ships were lost during the attack?

  Two ships
• How were the two Spanish ships lost?

  They were destroyed by accident
• What formation did the Armada use while sailing up the Channel?

  Crescent formation
• Why was the crescent formation an effective strategy for the Armada?

  It protected weaker ships with armed galleons
• Where did Medina Sidonia anchor after sailing up the Channel?

  Calais
• Why did Medina Sidonia wait at Calais?

  To wait for Parma's troops
• What prevented Parma's troops from reaching the coast in time?

  They were blockaded by Dutch ships
• Things went from bad to worse for Spain

  1. That night, England sent eight fireships (ships loaded with flammable materials and set alight) among the anchored Spanish ships. The Spanish sailors panicked and headed for the open.

  2. The English advanced, and the following battle lasted for many hours. Five Spanish ships were sunk, and the rest of the fleet was forced to sail away from the French coast into the North Sea.
• The Armada's journey back to Spain was a disaster

  . Medina Sidonia decided to call off the attack on England and return to Spain by sailing round Scotland and Ireland.

  . The Spanish sailors were unfamiliar with this very dangerous route, and they encountered several powerful Atlantic storms. Many ships sank or were wrecked on the Scottish and Irish coasts.

  . Those ships that completed the journey ran short of supplies, and many men died of starvation and disease. Less than half the fleet and fewer than 10,000 men made it back to Spain.
• When did the war with Spain continue until?

  1604
• What sustained the war between England and Spain despite the Armada's defeat?

  Continued tension between England and Spain
• What was the impact of the 1588 victory on Elizabeth's popularity?

  It boosted Elizabeth's popularity
• What was seen as a sign that God favored Protestantism?

  The victory of 1588