The Spanish Armada 1588 Flashcards
How many ships were in the Spanish Armada? How many sailors and soldiers?
130 ships, manned by approximately 8000 sailors and carrying 18,000 soldiers.
Who did Philip II appoint to lead the armada?
The Duke of Medina Sidonia
Why did Philip make the Duke of Medina Sidonia in charge of the armada? Did the Duke accept?
He had a high social status and Philip trusted him to follow instructions. The Duke had little military experience and tried unsuccessfully to turn down the command.
Where did Philip want the armada to meet the Duke of Parma’s Dutch army?
In Dunkirk
When did the Armada set out to reach the English Channel? Why were they delayed?
May 1588- they were delayed by bad weather in the Bay of Biscay and by the attempts of English fleet to intercept it.
Why was the Armadas crescent formation effective?
It used the large, armed galleons to protect the weaker supply and troop ships.
Describe the English attack on Calais
In the Middle of the night, English sent 8 fireships among the anchored Spanish ships
How did Spanish react to them being attacked at Calais
They panicked, broke their defensive formation, and headed out for the open sea.
How did Dutch ships cause trouble for the armada?
Parma and his men were being blockaded by Dutch ships and weren’t able to reach Calais on time.
Problems faced by the armada on the journey around Scotland amd Ireland
The Spanish sailors were unfamiliar with this very dangerous route, and encountered several powerful atlantic storms.
What happened to armada sailors when shipwrecked at Scottish or Irish coasts?
They were shown little mercy
What happened to the armada ships that completed the journey home?
They ran short of supplies and many men died of starvation and disease.
How many men made it home from the armada?
Less than half the Fleet and fewer than 10,000 men.
Why were English ships better than Spanish ships?
The English had long narrow ships which were easier to handle whereas the Spanish relied on large ships which were heavy and difficult to handle.
Why were English tactics more effective than the Spanish tactics?
Spanish aimed to come alongside their opponents, board their vessels and overcome their opponents in hand to hand combat. They couldn’t do this against the English, as the English used their greater manoeuvrability to stay out of range. The English fired broadsides to attack Spanish ships to sink them.
