Elizabethan England / 1587
Elizabethan England: Raid of Cadiz
Drake attacked Cadiz to slow Spain down, damage Armada preparation and show England could strike first.
What To Remember
- Drake attacked Cadiz harbour in 1587 just before the Armada sailed.
- The raid damaged Spanish ships and destroyed supplies for the invasion fleet.
- It bought Elizabeth more time to prepare and made Philip II furious.
What Drake did
Drake convinced Elizabeth that attack was the best defence, then launched a daring raid on Cadiz in 1587.
The attack damaged Spanish shipping so badly that it became known as the singeing of the King of Spain's beard.
Afterwards Drake headed north, destroyed Portuguese ships used to store food and captured the treasure ship San Felipe.
Why it mattered
The raid weakened Spanish supplies, destroyed food stores and helped delay the Armada by about 12 months.
It also sent a clear signal that England was willing to strike Spain directly rather than just wait for invasion.
The raid was profitable too, because Drake returned with the treasure ship and a large haul that boosted English confidence.
Revision Prompt
Why was the Raid of Cadiz important?