Soanish invasion plans

• Philip I had a range of different reasons for launching the Spanish Armada
• The pope promised remission of sin to those taking part in the Armada
• The Treaty of Nonsuch soldiers were part of the Act
• Philip searched the Spanish Armada in 1588
• Drake's actions in the New World threatened Spanish commercial interests
• Elizabeth's support for Dutch rebels challenged Spanish interests there
• Philip II's strategy


  1. Philip ordered the Armada (130 ships and 2431 guns) to sail along the English Channel to the Netherlands

  2. From there, the ships would join forces with Spanish troops under the Duke of Parma and transport 27000 troops to Kent

  3. The Spanish army would then attack London, end Elizabeth's reign and establish a new Catholic government
• Why was the Armada such a threat?

  • Spain acquired Portugal in 1580, giving Philip access to Portuguese ports and ships
  • The Duke of Parma's success in the Netherlands gave Spain a positive position there
  • Elizabeth's hesitation to help the Dutch rebels was seen as a sign of weakness and encouraged Philip to act
• Tactics


  1. For the invasion to succeed, the Spanish needed control of the English Channel to transport Parma's troops to England

  2. It was vital that the English Navy disrupt Spanish shipping, as the Spanish had a bigger and better army than the English and were likely to defeat them if they landed successfully in Kent
• If the Armada succeeded, Elizabeth could lose her throne and possibly her life
• For English Protestants, a successful invasion meant the restoration of Catholicism in England and the persecution of Protestants
• For many, the war with Spain was a life and death struggle to preserve their religion and their lives