Spanish Armada Flashcards
1
Q
Describe rebellion in the Netherlands
A
- most people were Protestant
- 1566- civil war
- Duke of Alba and 10,000 sent to deal with rebellion brutally
- ‘Peace Party’ gave indirect help to the rebels by allowing Rebel ships to stay in English ports and allowing Pirates to stack and disrupt Spanish supply to the Netherlands
- 1581 onwards - Liz went rebels funds
2
Q
Why did England want the Dutch rebellion solved?
A
- various race restrictions brought in disrupted English business
- Spain was the richest and most powerful European country - did not want them to rule the Netherlands as they were a hostile catholic power
3
Q
Describe privateers, plots and persecution
A
- attacks on Spanish treasure ships by privateers angered the Spaniards
- Liz’s support of the French Huguenots angered them too
- Pope encouraged Philip to plot
- English auspicious because of Spanish ambassadors’ roles in plots
- persecution of English Catholics
4
Q
Tension turning to war
A
- Walsingham and Dudley (+ other courtiers) called for military action
- 1584 - Spanish signed Treaty of Joinville with French
- William ‘the Silent’ was assassinated
- 1585- Treaty of Nonsuch signed between England and Dutch rebels - England would send 7000 troops (under Dudley’s command) -> formal war
- execution of Mary
5
Q
Describe the Duke of Parma
A
- nephew of Philip II
- Governor of the Spanish Netherlands (1578-92)
- in charge of stopping the Protestant revolt
- expert military leader
- wanted to use the large army to conquer England
- poor communication stopped the Armanda picking up his troops
6
Q
Describe the Duke of Medina Sidonia
A
- one of the wealthiest Spanish noblemen
- chosen to lead the armada after the first choice died
- lacked self-confidence, tried to turn position down
- doubted chances of success
- capable soldier, no experience fighting at sea
- little initiative, incompetent
- one of the few to survive
7
Q
Plans for invasion
A
- delayed for more than a year due to Drake’s raid on Spanish ships at Cádiz (destroyed much of the Spanish fleet and supplies)
- prepared fleet of 130 ships and 2500 guns
- plan to sail channel and meet with troops in Netherlands (army of 30,000)
- plan to capture ports on south coast and March to London
- English catholics expected to rebel
8
Q
Leadership of English fleet
A
- Lord Howard
- Queen’s cousin
- Lord High Admiral
- second-in-command was Francis Drake (experienced in hit-and-run tactics)
- also had John Hawkins and Martin Frobisher
9
Q
English resources
A
- no full-time army
- ordered every county to supply soldiers
- 20,000 gathered -> little training or equipment
- spread across the coast because they didn’t know where the Spanish would land
- main armies placed in the North, Kent, Tilbury (Essex)
- 34 battleships
- private individuals and companies ordered to make their ships available
- total 200 ships
10
Q
Launch
A
- May 1558- Armada left Lisbon
- ran into storms, lost supplies and forced them back for repair
- set sail again and entered the channel in a defensive crescent formation -> slower, unarmed galleons and store ships well protected in the middle. Faster, heavily armed ships on outside
- 19th July - spotted off Lizard Point in Cornwall -> beckons sent news to London and church bells rant warning
- English sailed and 3 Spanish ships lost
11
Q
Ship design
A
- Hawkins designed and unloved
- faster. Lighter and more manoeuvrable
- used culverins (light and accurate long-range guns) to attack from a safe distance
12
Q
Fire ships
A
- armada anchored at Calais because of rising winner
- 28th July - 8 old English ships filled with tar and oil and set on fire, allowed to drift into the anchored fleet -> no Spanish ships burnt, but the crews panicked and cut their anchor ropes, fleeing out to sea
- some crashed into each other and others ran aground -> scattered by wind and blown towards dangerous sandbanks off the coast of the Netherlands
- broke the right crescent formation
13
Q
Battle of Gravelines
A
- off the coast of Flanders
- forced Armada to sail into the wind
- Spanish provoked into firing when English were out of range - guns impossible to reload
- English culverins battered the Spanish fleet by firing repeated broadsides, hitting below waterline
- English did not lose a single ship
- 1000 Spanish lives lost, 5 ships destroyed, more badly damaged
14
Q
The journey
A
- prevented use of Solent for communication
- English pushes armada towards Owers (dangerous ledges and rocks just south is Delaney), forcing them into open sea without word from Parma
- Spanish had poor maps and didn’t know the effect of the Gulf Stream in the North Atlantic -> turned south too early and were driven into rocks off the north and west coasts of Ireland by gales and strong westerly winds
15
Q
Elizabeth at Tilbury
A
- Essex, north bank of river Thames
- 1539- fort built by Henry VIII to defend England from naval attacks
- summer 1558- reinforced with 2 concentric earthwork ramparts with ditches and a palisade
- 8th August - Elizabeth gave speech to 4000 troops
