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.
What were broadsides
Massive barrages of cannonballs.
How were the Spanish men inexperienced compared to British?
Most of Spains men lacked naval experience whereas the English fleet was manned with experienced sailors.
Why was the Spanish plan to meet the Duke of Parma at Dunkirk seriously flawed?
Spain didn’t control a deep water port where the Armada could land safely, so the ships were extremely vulnerable to am attack while it waited for Parmas troops to escape the Dutch blockade.
What did the death of Spains leading admiral Santa Cruz in February 1588 lead to.
The appointment of the inexperienced Duke of Medina Sidonia to lead the armada.
Why was the weather unfortunate for the Spanish fleet?
It made it impossible for them to return to the channel after the battle of the Gravelines, forcing them to travel around the dangerous waters of Ireland amd Scotland.
When did. Philip send two further unsuccessful Armadas?
1590
How much longer did the Armadas Continue for?
15 years
When was the last serious threat to Elizabeths reign?
1588
How did the English Armada victory affect Protestantism amd Elizabeth?
It boosted Elizabeths popularity and strengthened the Protestant cause. It was seen as a sign that God favoured Protestantism.
