Elizabeth- Conflict with Spain / Spanish Armada

Question 1

Why were there bad relations between England and Spain?

Answer 1

• English supporting rebellions in Netherlands
• Tariffs on trade of wool between Netherlands and England
• Privateers stealing Spanish gold (e.g. Drake)
• Various plots involving the Spanish ambassadors (Ridolfi, Throckmorton)

Question 2

Why did tensions turn to war?

Answer 2

• Treaty of Nonsuch between England and dutch rebels- sending over 7000 troops → England and Spain therefore were formally at war
• The death of Mary Queen of Scots outraged Philip

Question 3

What did Philip call an invasion of England?

Answer 3

His ‘Enterprise of England’

Question 4

How big was the Spainish fleet?

Answer 4

• 130 ships
• 30,000 men
• 2500 guns

Question 5

How big was the British army?

Answer 5

• 20,000 men gathered
• poorly trained
• 34 battleships in the navy, but trading companies were ordered to make their ships available so there were then 200 ships in total

Question 6

What initially happened in the Spanish armada?

Answer 6

Initially the Spanish were unharmed as they travelled up the coast (only 3 ships sunk)

Question 7

What did the English fleet have that the Spanish fellt didn’t?

Answer 7

• Better designed ships, lighter and more manouverable
• Better commanders (England had Lord Howard and Francis Drake in comparison to Medina Sedonia who got seasickness)
• Spanish fleet had more preists than sailors
• Many of the Spanish soldiers couldn’t compotently load a canon
• English used light long range guns called ‘culverins’ so that the Spanish couldn’t use their grappling hooks

Question 8

What happened at Calais?

Answer 8

• With winds rising sharply, the armada anchored at Calais
• Night of 28 July 1588, 7 English fireships were sent to the Spanish armada
• This seperated the ships and chaos happened

Question 9

When was the Spanish Armada?

Answer 9

1588

Question 10

What was the key battle after the fireships in Calais?

Answer 10

Battle of Gravelines off the coast of Flanders- English didn’t loose a single ship.

Question 11

What speech did Elizabeth give to troops in Tilbury, Essex?

Answer 11

“I know that I have the body of a weal and feeble woman, but I have the heart and stomach of a King,”

Question 12

What happened to the Spanish fleet in the end?

Answer 12

They were forced to go round Scotland and Ireland- but many were shipwrecked due to the strong winds before being robbed by Irish locals

Question 13

What was the aftermath of the Armada for Spain?

Answer 13

• Humiliation for Philip
• Cost him lots of money
• Atempted two more armadas but both were detered by weather

Question 14

What was the aftermath of the Armada for Elizabeth?

Answer 14

• Great propaganda (e.g. the Armada portrait)
• War would be very expensive for the poorest in society