6. The Spanish Armada

Question 1

What were the reasons for the armada?

Answer 1

1.Philips personal aims:
Philip was a strong catholic- wanted to stop the spread of Protestantism,
Philip wanted to ensure that spain remained the largest and strongest empire in Europe.

2.Events in the Netherlands:
Philip wanted revenge for Elizabeth’s support of Protestant rebels in Netherlands,
Elizabeth signed treaty of nonsuch in 1585 (after the murder of the Dutch Protestant rebel leader, William of orange)- she agreed to fund the Dutch protestants fighting against the Spanish duke of Parma,
Elizabeth protected Dutch Protestants and send a force of 5k troops and 1k cavalry to help maintain rebellion.

3. Actions of English privateers
   Elizabeth encouraged English privateers to attach Spanish treasure ships bringing gold&silver from Spanish Main to Spain,
   In 1572 sir Francis drake attached the Spanish port of nombre de diss in Caribbean & ambushed Spanish treasure ships,

Question 2

What was Philips plan for the invasion of England

Answer 2

1. Sail armada north from Lisbon along coasts of Spain&France into English Channel, destroying the English fleet in the channel.
2. Advance through channel and anchor the fleet off Calais, Spanish soldiers would arrive from the Netherlands and gather in Dunkirk ready to invade- led by duke of Parma.
3. Armada would protect Parma’s soldiers as they crossed the channel.
4. Parma’s army lands in Kent, travel up river Thames to London and overthrow Elizabeth

Question 3

What were the problems with Philips plan?

Answer 3

Drake attacked the fleet in Cadiz using fire ships(destroyed 37 ships and supplies, delayed attack for a year).
Netherlands didn’t have harbours deep enough for the fleet- made picking up Parma’s army difficult.
Duke of medina Sidonia put in charge of armada- he had very little experience and only got the role due to his status.
Soon after armada set sail 1588 it ran into storms and was blown off course- delayed invasion

Question 4

Stages of the invasion

Answer 4

1. Armada set sail 28 may 1588, hit by storm and forced to harbour in Corunna 19 June 2588 to undertake repairs.
2. When the armada left Corunna and headed towards the English Channel, they were sighted by English ent in Cornwall- warning beacons were lit.
3. Lowry Howard, drake and Hawkins sailed out of Plymouth to pursue the armada for a week- engaged in regular fights but didn’t break the crescent formation (protected slow, unarmed store ships in middle with heavily armed balloons on edges.
4. 6 august 1588 armada anchored off calais, duke of medina sidonia waiting for duke of Parma’s forces but they were delayed by a week. Lord Howard attached the anchored fleet with fire ships, breaking the crescent formation.
5. 8 aug 1588 English battleships attacked scattered armada at battle of gravelines. Lasted 8 hrs until english ran out of ammunition. 3 Spanish ships lost, 0 English, 1k Spanish sailors killed and 800wounded.
6. 9 aug wind changed direction and armada was forced to sail through North Sea, past Scotland & Ireland to get back to Spain- hit by storms and only 67 Spanish ships returned to Spain, full of wounded, starving and sick men

Question 5

What were the strengths of the armada

Answer 5

130 galleons and supply ships,
30k men,
1900 cannons&small guns+lots of ammunition
Extensive food and drink supplies
17k well trained soldiers from Netherlands led by duke of Parma

Question 6

Weaknesses of armada

Answer 6

England positioned one of warning beacons along coast to alert when armada was spotted.
Englands navy was strong- commanded by Lord Howard along with Francis drake.
Englands 54 battleships light, fast moving and fitted with long range cannons

Question 7

Why did the armada fail? - English strengths

Answer 7

English ships smaller, faster and more manoeuvrable,
English ships had heavier firepower because of superior long range cannons,
Spanish ships larger and more bulky

Question 8

Why did the armada fail? -Spanish weaknesses

Answer 8

Spanish cannons were ineffective- many exploded when fired.
Spanish commander, duke of medina sidonia was not experienced at fighting at sea.
Duke of Parma’s delay from Netherlands was costly.
Englands Lord Howard and Francis drake were experts at sea

Question 9

Why did the armada fail? -tactics+weather

Answer 9

Englands use of fire ships to break the crescent formation meant that the armada found it difficult to recover.

After battle of gravelines, the scattered Spanish fleet was blown into North Sea meaning they had to go around Scotland &Ireland- they were battered by rough seas and storms. Spanish ships didn’t have enough food for the voyage and many sailors became ill