Elizabethan England / 1588
Elizabethan England: Spanish Armada
In 1588 Spain sent a huge fleet, but English tactics, fireships and bad Spanish coordination won the day.
What To Remember
- The Armada aimed to invade England and support Catholic power.
- Spain sent around 130 ships and about 30,000 men under the Duke of Medina Sidonia.
- The Armada failed to link up with Parma's army in the Netherlands.
The battle
The Armada sailed into the Channel in 1588, was pushed towards Calais and then attacked again near Gravelines.
English ships stayed at a distance and fired more quickly, while Spanish tactics depended on boarding enemy vessels.
Once the Armada was scattered, it could no longer move in a disciplined formation.
Why Spain lost
Spanish supplies were poor and the Armada had already been weakened by earlier English attacks, especially Cadiz.
Communication with Parma was slow, so the fleets in Spain and the Netherlands could not join up in time.
The defeat became a huge propaganda success for Elizabeth because it made her look protected and Spain look vulnerable.
Revision Prompt
Why did the Spanish Armada fail in 1588?