Rivalry, War And The Spanish Armada Flashcards
Over how many ships sank off different parts of the west coast of NI?
40
What was the land in South America generally called?
The New World
In what year did Philip II also become ‘King of Portugal’?
1580
In what year did Protestants in the Netherlands rebel?
1572
Who specifically was supportive of helping the Dutch rebels?
Earl of Leicester
Why did Elizabeth decide to help the Dutch?
It would help keep Spain occupied
What 3 things did Elizabeth do to help the Dutch?
- Sent an army of 7000
- Sent money
- Used Brill and Flushing as bases for English soldiers
In 1578 who arrived with a larger Spanish army?
Duke of Parma
What treaty was formed in August 1585?
Treaty of Nonsuch
What did Leicester feel about the money and equipment provided for the Dutch, which made him quarrel with his officers?
He felt that it was not enough
What title did Leicester accept, which made Elizabeth furious?
Governor General of the Low Countries
Why was Elizabeth furious about the acceptance of this title?
She believed it would enrage Spain even more, because it implied England wanted control over the Netherlands
What did Elizabeth do to strengthen coastal defences in the 3 years between 1585 and 1588? (3)
- Set up warning beacons
- Converted trading ships to fighting ships
- Provided soldiers
Who did Elizabeth put in charge of an expedition to attack which Spanish country?
Francis Drake to attack the West Indies
In what year did Francis Drake sail and with how many ships and men, when attacking the West Indies?
1585 with 30 ships and 2300 men
What were the 3 results of the attack on the West Indies to Drake and his men?
- Heavy casualties and disease
- Captured 2 wealthy towns
- Came back with £30,000
What was Drake also called?
El Draque (the Dragon)
When did the raid on Cadiz in Spain happen?
April 1587
What was the point of the Cadiz attack?
To weaken Spain’s preparations for the war
What was the result of the Cadiz attack?
- Heavy damage was inflicted on the Spanish ships
- Portuguese vessels heading to Lisbon with materials were destroyed
- Captured a treasure ship, the San Felipe, in Azores
- Returned with £114,000
What was the Cadiz attack also known as?
The singeing of the King of Spain’s beard
What did the Spanish have to do after the Cadiz attack?
They couldn’t attack for another 12 months to receive all the materials again
What were the 5 steps of Philip’s initial plan?
- Armada to sail through Channel to Calais
- Duke of Parma to march army from Netherlands to Calais
- Everyone travels from Calais to Kent
- English Catholics will rebel
- Elizabeth will be overthrown
How many troops were in the Duke of Parma’s army?
20,000
Why did the timing of the meet up have to be precise?
If Parma’s army was too early then they could easily be attacked by Dutch pirates
On what day, month and year did the Armada sail up to Calais?
21 July 1588
With how many ships and men did the Armada depart?
130 ships with 17000 men
What formation did the Armada have?
A crescent formation
Where did the English fleet depart from and for how many days did they follow he Armada?
Plymouth and followed them for 8 days
What did Philip instruct his commander to do, which was not possible because the English were at a distance?
He told them to go close up so they could board and capture the English ships
What happened on 6 August?
Spanish ships reached Calais harbour and dropped anchor
Who was the English commander?
Lord Charles Howard
What did Lord Howard order on the night of the 6th August?
He ordered them to fill eight unmanned ships with inflammable materials like tar and gunpowder
Around what time were the ships set on fire, with the winds carrying the towards to the harbour?
Midnight
How did the Spanish sailors react to the fireships coming towards them?
They pulled up or cut their anchors in panic, losing their tight battle formation
What coast was the Armada blown towards?
The Netherlands
What did the loss of the anchors and the use of the fireships mean for the Armada?
They could not shelter in harbours and could no longer link up with Parma’s army
At daylight on 8 August, who gave the order to attack?
Lord Howard
What was the event on 8 August called?
Battle of Gravelines
What conditions was the Battle of Gravelines fought under? (2)
- Rough seas
- Bad visibility
How many Spanish soldiers were killed?
1000
How many English soldiers were killed?
50
What words were scribed onto the medal after the defeat of the Armada?
God blew and they were scattered?
What happened to the course of wind on 9 August?
It changed direction
What did the change of direction mean for the Spanish?
They had to make their way back around Scotland and Ireland
How did the English respond to the change of route for the Spanish?
They gave Chas for a while but turned back after they ran short of supplies
How many ships struggled back to Spanish ports by the end of the year?
80 ships
What happened to thousands of Spanish soldiers? (2)
- Drowned
- Killed by the local inhabitants
How many days after the Battle of Gravelines did Elizabeth appear at Tilbury, with her famous speech?
11 days
Who was John Hawkins?
The naval commander of the English ships
What was Lord Charles Howard’s other title?
Earl of Nottingham
What was Howard made by Elizabeth in 1585?
Lord High Admiral
Who were the 3 main leaders of the defeat of the Spanish Armada?
Francis Drake, Lord Charles Howard and John Hawkins
Why did Philip appoint Duke of Medina Sidonia as the commander of the Armada?
His first choice died in 1587
What did Duke of Medina Sidonia suffer from?
Seasickness
Did the Duke of Medina Sidonia have naval background?
No
How many ships did the English have?
194 ships
How many ships did the Spanish have?
151
What type and how many weapons did the English have?
2000 cannons and smaller guns
What type and how many weapons did the Spanish have?
2000 cannon
How many sailors did the English have?
14000
How many of 30,000 men that fought for the Spanish were actually experienced sailors?
8,000
How many soldiers did the English have?
20,000
Where were the English soldiers mainly situated? (3)
- Tilbury
- Essex
- Kent
How many soldiers did the Spanish have (who were they)?
20000, but it was just Parma’s army
Who had designed a new type of English battleship?
John Hawkins
Which battleships were easier to manoeuvre and faster?
The English battleships
What were the qualities of the Spanish battleships? (2)
- Tall
- Heavy
Why type of battleships did the Spanish use?
Galleons
What were the qualities of the Spanish cannons? (2)
- Heavier
- Shorter range
What were the Spanish cannons designed to do?
Fire once
How did the English inflict so much damage upon the Spanish?
Their guns could fire consecutively
Were both the admirals on each side experienced sea captains?
Yes
Why was Parma’s army a week’s walk away when the Armada had already arrived?
They were held up by rebels at Dunkirk
Who army was the best trained and equipped in Europe?
The Spanish
Why did England have the upper hand, even though they did not have a permanent and regular army?
All able-bodied men received annual training, in case a situation like this emerged
