Spanish Armada

• Causes:

  • Treaty of Nonsuch (1585)
  • Plots against Elizabeth
  • Singeing of King's beard (1587)
  • Elizabeth excommunicated (1570)
  • England useful addition
  • Pope encouraged him to invade after Mary's death
• Plan:

  • Armada meet up with Parma and army in Netherlands
  • Army from Netherlands to English coast
  • Kill Queen and set up Catholic Government
  • 130 ships, 2400 guns
• Reasons for English Victory

  • Spanish: Poor communication, lack of supplies, panic
  • English: Tactics, smaller more maneuverable ships
  • Weather
• Poor communication:

  • Duke of Medina Sidonia and Duke of Palma did not communicate well and had no idea where either were
  • Duke of Palma did not know when the Armada was forced to drop anchor
  • Medina Sidonia forced to meet the army at sea
• Lack of supplies:

  • Food rotted
  • Affected morale
• Panic:

  Battle of Gravelines: Spanish captains cut anchors and drifted into North sea, broken formation, fleet fled
• Equipment and ships:

  • Smaller and faster
  • Canons on smaller gun carriages and quicker to reload
  • Bombarded Spanish ships
• Tactics of Howard and Drake:

  • Home advantage
  • Fireships
• Weather:

  • Spanish fled around Scotland to get to Spain
  • Gales battered Armada 'Protestant Wind'
  • three quarters of men were missing