THE ARMADA

• PHILIP'S STRATEGY

  • Once Philip became aware of the amount of Spanish troops and ships available, he created a plan for the Armada
  • Philip requested that:
  • The Armada sailed from Lisbon to Calais through the English Channel
  • The Duke of Parma marched an army of 20,000 soldiers from the Netherlands. Parma would meet the Armada in Calais
  • Parma's army would land in Kent, England with the protection of the Armada
  • The arrival of the Spanish army in England would trigger an uprising from English Catholics
  • Spanish would depose Elizabeth and restore Catholicism in England
• WHY DID THE ARMADA FAIL?

  • Spain did not prepare the Armada effectively: The Raid of Cadiz destroyed the barrels that Spain needed to store provisions. Spain rushed to make new barrels for the Armada. Bad weather delayed Spain's fleet from reaching England. By the time Spain reached the English Channel, the Armada had been at sea for 10 weeks. These delays and the poor-quality barrels caused Spain's food provisions to rot. Spain also did not have enough cannonballs to fight the English ships
• WHY DID THE ARMADA FAIL?

  • A lack of communication between Medina-Sidonia and the Duke of Parma: Dudley's capture of the deep sea port of Ostend meant that Spain did not have a sufficient harbour for its Armada. The Duke of Parma and Medina-Sidonia communicated by sea. Their messages would take a week to reach their destination. Parma received Medina-Sidonia's message that the Armada had reached the English Channel too late. The Armada became vulnerable to attack as they waited for Parma's forces to arrive
• WHY DID THE ARMADA FAIL?

  • Philip II's leadership of the Armada: Philip did not listen to his commanders' advice and concerns. He gave very restrictive instructions to Medina-Sidonia that did not allow him to take the initiative in the battles. Medina-Sidonia had little naval experience. The order for the Armada to anchor in Calais made the fleet an easy target for the English navy
• IMPACT OF VICTORY ON ELIZABETH

  • The victory against the Armada proved that a queen regnant could win military campaigns. This improved her legitimacy as England's monarch
  • Elizabeth created propaganda:
  • She commissioned the Armada portrait in 1588. It drew Elizabeth's hand resting on a globe. This showed her subjects that Elizabeth's ambition was for England to dominate and explore the world
  • Elizabeth emphasised that the defeat of the Armada was a religious victory
  • It strengthened Protestantism across Europe
  • In England, the Armada shows Catholicism as hostile and foreign
• COMPARISON OF FORCES

  • Types and number of ships: SPAIN: Spain's navy consisted of 130 ships, however they were difficult to manoeuvre, ENGLAND: England's navy possessed 200 ships. Their fleet consisted of small galleons. These ships were quick to turn.
  • Number of sailors: SPAIN: The Armada contained 30,000 soldiers, ENGLAND: England contained 14,000 sailors to fight the Armada along with 20,000 soldiers in England
  • Weapons: SPAIN: Spain's army had 2,431 canons, short range, took long to reload, ENGLAND: England fitted their ships with200 smaller cannons, quick to load & worked at long-range
• EVENTS OF SPANISH ARMADA

  • The Armada left Spain in May 1588 and reached Cornwall in July. The Armada was spotted off the coast and beacons were lit, sending news of their arrival. Philip was unprepared for a naval battle as he had filled his ships with land weapons, expecting hand-to-hand combat.
  • On 6th August the Spanish fleet was anchored in Calais harbour, waiting for more soldiers from the Duke of Parma. Drake sent in eight fireships, which caused the Armada to scatter and break its crescent formation.
• EVENTS OF SPANISH ARMADA

  • On 8th August at the Battle of Gravelines the English damaged many Spanish ships by firing from 100 metres away. The Spanish could barely defend themselves.
  • Strong winds blew the Armada into the North Sea. They were forced to sail around Scotland and Ireland in order to return home. With no maps and bad weather, many ships were wrecked on rocks close to the shore or sank. Only 65 out of the 151 ships returned.