6. the spanish armada

• the ambitions of King Phillip of Spain

• the war in the Netherlands

• Elizabeth’s react to events in the Netherlands

• the action of the English privateers in the Spanish Main

• the execution of Mary queen of Scots

1566- Protestants rebelled against catholic rule of Spain and rioted, smashing catholic icons and religious images in churches

Sent army of 10,000 troops under Duke of Alba and arrested over 18,000 dutch protestants

Provided unofficial support for the rebels, supplying them with money and weapons.

She signed the treaty of Nonsuch with the dutch rebels in 1585.

He was an English Privateer who led pirate attacks on Spanish treasure ships during the 1570s. This attacks angered Spain and had a significant impact on their economy.

£140,000 (roughly £200 million today)

1. 19th June - hit by storms it is forced to take fresh supplied at Corunna and sail north towards the English channel

2. 29th July - sighted off Cornish Lizard Point and warning beacons were set off across the country

3. Sailed through English Channel in crescent formation

4. Anchored off Calais but delayed as the Duke of Parma’s troops had not arrived (they were delayed by dutch forces)

5. 7th august - lord Howard sent fireships against the Armada and they broke their crescent formation

6. 8th august - English warships attacked the scattered Armada in the battle of gravelines

7. 9th august - Elizabeth rallied her troops at tilbury against an invasion

8. on the same day the wind changed direction and the armada sailed into the North Sea into dangerous waters

Drake attacked the Spanish fleet at Cadiz - major set back for the armada and the following year their barrels leaked and split as they were made of unseasoned wood

There were no harbours in the Netherlands deep enough for the ships and barges had to be built on the spot. England however had well made battle ships.

Duke of Medina Sidonia

High Lord Admiral, Lord Howard

Sea captains: Francis Drake and John Hawkins

• They were slower and hard to manoeuvre.

• Their cannons were heavier and had shorter range than the English.

• Their cannons could only fire once.

• The galleons were easy targets for the English.

• John Hawkins spent years designing ships that were light and fast moving.

• Spanish could not get close to the enemy, which was there usual naval tactic

England sent 8 fire ships into the Spanish fleet, which caused the fleet to break their crescent formation and head to see in all directions so were easy to attack.

8th august:

• 3 Spanish ships lost, 1,000 killed and 800 wounded

• English did not lose a single ship and only 50 were killed

She visited her troops at Tilbury on horseback and clad in armour and made a rousing speech

The Spanish sailed into the North Sea and had to proceed around the coast of Scotland and Ireland:

• they lost fleet through storms

• thousands drowned

• only 67 ships returned to Spain

• full of wounded, starving and sick men

• England remained protestant - no further catholic plots or rebellions for the rest of her reign

• war against Spain continued for a further decade

• still a successful Spanish army in the Netherlands under the leader the Duke of Parma

• still a risk of Spanish invasion - Philip constructed a new armada of over 100 ships and on two occasions sent it to invade England - driven out by storms

• English continued to support Dutch protestants in their rebellion against catholic Spain

• English sailors continued to attack Spanish treasure ships and ports across the Spanish Main

• increased anti-catholic feeling within England