Spanish Armada

The Spanish Armada was one of the most important historical events during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. The fleet, under the command of Duke Medina Sidonia, and named in Spanish “Grande y Felicísima Armada” or “Armada Invencible” which translated literally to the "Great and Most Fortunate Navy" or "Invincible Fleet”, was comprised of 130 ships, with the purpose of attacking England, overthrowing Elizabeth Tudor and her Protestantism, which was in direct conflict with the Spanish Catholicism under the rule of King Philip II of Spain. Nothing was to go right for the Spanish - the Armada chose not to advance on the English at Plymouth, then after fire ships damaged the Spanish fleet, they finally dropped anchor near Calais. What followed is known as the Battle of Gravelines, the primary battle, and with the loss of many of their fleet, they managed to regroup, and progress north, still pursuing English defeat. It proved that England had the weather in their favour as the winds harrying the Spanish picked up as they tried to advance on the West Coast, and consequently nearly a third of the fleet was lost to the Scottish and Irish coast. This proved a boastful triumph for both England and Elizabeth and being a comprehensive and significant historical event, not only at the time - to the British, and the Spanish - but to the modern day world where religion, which was a central idea in the Spanish Armada, it incorporated many different historical ideas in its composition.

Historical ideas:

Cause

Religious conflict

Revenge

Marriage

Power

Civil conflict

War

Strategy

Faith

Consequence

Civil unrest

Consolidation

Patriotism

Religious stability

Imperial power

War broke out between England and Spain in 1585. With a background shadowed ...

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...eland, where storms destroyed nineteen ships, which were wrecked and sunk off the west coasts of Ireland and Scotland, before Sidonia was forced to retreat, and to report back to his country of the huge numbers of losses.

It is here that the idea of faith comes into play in concerns to the events of the Spanish loss. Both being religious countries, England and Spain believed that God had a hand in determining the outcome of the Armada. What was to be named “The Protestant Wind” lay waste to the Spanish fleet as they rounded the top of Scotland. As seen in the numerous artefacts, documents and acocounts of the event, the phrase “He blew with His winds, and they were scattered,” is common in the English explanation of the Armada’s failure. The English were outnumbered hugely in firepower, with the Spanish available firepower being 50% more than that of the English.