The Spanish Armada was the defining moment of Elizabeth I's reign. Spain's defeat secured Protestant rule in England, and launched Elizabeth onto the global stage.
History of the Spanish Armada
The Spanish Armada was one part of a planned invasion of England by King Philip II of Spain.
Launched in 1588, ‘la felicissima armada’, or ‘the most fortunate fleet’, was made up of roughly 150 ships and 18,000 men. At the time, it was the largest fleet ever seen in Europe and Philip II of Spain considered it invincible.
What happened?
The Armada Portrait of Elizabeth I (© National Maritime Museum, London).
Why did the Spanish Armada happen?
Years of religious and political differences led up to the conflict between Catholic Spain and Protestant England.
The Spanish saw England as a competitor in trade and expansion in the ‘New World’ of the Americas.
