The Spanish Armada Flashcards
How many troops did the Duke of Parma have in the Netherlands to meet the Armada?
20,000
Describe TWO problems with the Spanish plan for the Armada
It required the Duke of Parma (on land) communicating with the Armada (at sea)
Parma’s army could not arrive at Calais too soon before the Armada because they could be attacked by Dutch pirates
In what formation did the Spanish Armada sail up the English Channel?
In a crescent formation
How did the English plan to destroy the Spanish ships?
Firing cannon from a distance
How many times more cannonballs could England fire compared to Spain?
Six times
What did the Earl of Nottingham decide to do with England’s cannonballs?
Save them for later
How did the Spanish plan to seize English ships? Did this work?
They would get close enough to board the ships, then capture them
No - the English cannon fire prevented them
Describe the English use of fireships
The Earl of Nottingham ordered eight English ships to be filled with flammable materials and set on fire at midnight, then the wind blew them toward the Spanish ships
What did the Spanish sailors do in response to the fireships?
Panicked and cut their anchors, losing their tight battle formation
What impact did the Spanish cutting their anchors in response to the fireships have?
It meant they could no longer link up with Parma’s army or shelter in harbours
What battle took place on 8 August 1588?
The Battle of Gravelines
What were the weather conditions at the Battle of Gravelines?
Very poor - rough seas and bad visibility
How many sailors on each side were killed at the Battle of Gravelines?
1,000 Spanish sailors
50 English sailors
Where were the Spanish ships forced to sail on 9 August 1588?
The North Sea
How many Spanish ships were wrecked off the coasts of Scotland and Ireland as they tried to sail back to Spain?
40
