The Spanish Armada (AQA GCSE History)
Revision Note
The Impacts of the Spanish Armada on Elizabethan England - Timeline & Summary
Philip II of Spain finally launched the Spanish Armada against England in 1588. The word 'armada' is Spanish for an 'armed force'. The Armada, in this context, means the large number of armed ships Spain sent to attack England in the summer of 1558.
Historians study the Spanish Armada from two perspectives:
The English defeated the Spanish Armada
Spain made mistakes that caused the defeat of the Spanish Armada
Overall, England's defeat of the Spanish Armada was pivotal to Elizabethan England. Elizabeth claimed that God granted England victory over Catholic Spain. This strengthened the validity of Protestantism in England and Europe. In addition, it marked the beginning of England's supremacy on the sea.
Naval warfare
Henry VIII established a powerful navy during his reign
He aimed to have a navy capable of protecting England
This was essential as England is an island country
England was vulnerable to being invaded or attacked by the sea
Under Elizabeth I, John Hawkins developed the navy
Under his leadership, the navy grew to 25 galleons and 18 smaller warships prior to the Spanish Armada
Other European countries also strengthened their navies
Spain spent a lot of money making their navy the strongest in the world
This was essential for creating and maintaining their colonies
Naval tactics
Naval tactics during the Elizabeth period differed depending on:
The situation
People commanding the attack
However, the most popular naval tactics were:
Surprise raids
Fireships
“Line of battle” tactic
Popular Elizabethan Naval Tactics
Naval Tactic | Description | Benefits |
|---|---|---|
Surprise raids | This was a sudden or unexpected attack on an enemy ship This was commonly used near the coast A common tactic used to steal supplies from ships Sir Francis Drake used this tactic. He infamously used it in Cadiz in 1587 during the ‘Singeing the King of Spain’s Beard’ | It damaged enemies' ships with little damage to their ships Allowed sailors or privateers to steal goods or wealth from their enemy |
Fireships | An old ship was set on fire and pushed into enemy ships | Enemy ships either fled or were destroyed by the fire This created chaos amongst the enemy ships |
“Line of battle” tactic | Used during a battle Ships created a single line and fired on an enemies ships together | Easy to manoeuvre Created a lot of damage to enemies' ships |
New technology
An effect of the Renaissance and Elizabeth’s ‘Golden Age’ was the advancements in technology
There were three main technological advancements that affected the navy
A lateen
A new type of triangular sail
Improved speed and manoeuvrability
Ships could travel longer distances
The astrolabe
Used to plan voyages
Made the planning of voyages more accurate
Cannons
Cannons were now used on ships
They could be used to sink ships from a distance
Effective in a ‘line of battle’ tactic
Causes of the Spanish Armada
Philip II of Spain wanted to invade England from late 1585
There were multiple reasons why Philip launched the Spanish Armada in 1588:
Events of the Spanish Armada
Comparison of the forces of England and Spain
| Spain | England |
|---|---|---|
Commander of the navy | The Duke of Medina-Sidonia. He was not an experienced sailor. He reportedly suffered from seasickness | Lord Howard of Effingham, The Earl of Nottingham. He was not an experienced sailor but was good with naval tactics. Sir Francis Drake and John Hawkins gave support and advice to Effingham |
Types and number of ships | Spain's navy consisted of 130 ships. The majority of their ships were for transporting soldiers rather than fighting. Their fleet included large ships. The ships took a long time to manoeuvre | England's navy possessed 200 ships. Their fleet consisted of small galleons. These ships were quick to turn. The English only had roughly 100 ships in and around the English Channel |
Number of sailors | The Armada contained 30,000 soldiers | England contained 14,000 sailors to fight the Armada along with 20,000 soldiers in England |
Access to supplies | Spain did not have fresh food supplies. Their ships contained six months' worth of food inside barrels | Due to the proximity to England, sailors had access to fresh food every day |
Weapons | Spain's army had 2,431 canons. Spanish cannons took a long time to reload and worked at short-range | England fitted their ships with 200 smaller cannons. These cannons were quick to load and worked at long-range |
What was Philip's strategy for the Armada?
Once Philip became aware of the amount of Spanish troops and ships available, he created a plan for the Armada
Philip requested that:
The Armada sailed from Lisbon to Calais through the English Channel
The Duke of Parma marched an army of 20,000 soldiers from the Netherlands. Parma would meet the Armada in Calais
Parma's army would land in Kent, England with the protection of the Armada
The arrival of the Spanish army in England would trigger an uprising from English Catholics
The Spanish army, along with the English Catholics, would depose Elizabeth and restore Catholicism in England
Events of the Spanish Armada
Philip launched the Armada in May 1588
AWAITING IMAGE
A storyboard illustrating the key events of the Spanish Armada, 1588
Why did the Spanish Armada fail?
Some historians argue that Spain failed to invade England because Philip and his commanders made mistakes
Spain's actions | How did this factor make the Spanish Armada unsuccessful? |
|---|---|
Spain did not prepare the Armada effectively | Bad weather delayed Spain's fleet from reaching England. By the time Spain reached the English Channel, the Armada had been at sea for 10 weeks. These delays and the poor-quality barrels caused Spain's food provisions to rot. Spain also did not have enough cannonballs to fight the English ships |
A lack of communication between Medina-Sidonia and the Duke of Parma | The Spanish did not have a sufficient harbour for its Armada. The Duke of Parma and Medina-Sidonia communicated by sea. Their messages would take a week to reach their destination. Parma received Medina-Sidonia's message that the Armada had reached the English Channel too late. The Armada became vulnerable to attack as they waited for Parma's forces to arrive |
Philip II's leadership of the Armada | Philip did not listen to his commanders' advice and concerns. He gave very restrictive instructions to Medina-Sidonia that did not allow him to take the initiative in the battles. Medina-Sidonia had little naval experience. The order for the Armada to anchor in Calais made the fleet an easy target for the English navy |
Spanish Tactics | Spain used a crescent formation during the battles. The crescent formation lacked the manoeuvrability needed against the English ships. The Spanish were planning on using grappling hooks or planks to board the English ships. The English stayed out of range so the Spanish were unable to use them |
Spanish Ships | The Spanish galleons were known as ‘floating castles’. They contained supplies for a land invasion which made them heavy. This made them hard to manoeuvre |
How did Elizabeth defeat the Spanish Armada?
Some historians argue that England's actions defeated the Spanish Armada
England's actions | How did this factor defeat the Spanish Armada? |
|---|---|
The galleon ship design | John Hawkins advised Elizabeth to build more galleons years before the Armada. The galleons moved quicker than the Spanish warships. The sailors found galleons easier to turn around to attack the enemy. The galleon's cannon design allowed for faster reloads |
English tactics | The English ships had smaller cannons with a longer range. The English hit the Spanish Armada from a distance. The Armada was unable to get close enough to the English ships to use their more powerful cannon and boarding tactics. |
Actions of Sir Francis Drake | Drake used the fireship tactic against the Spanish at Calais. This caused the Spanish to cut their anchors and flee. The Spanish were unable to dock at a harbour and were forced into the North Sea. |
Elizabeth also credited her victory to the support of God
The Spanish Armada was forced to go into the North Sea and around the British Isles to return to Spain
They were met by storms which destroyed the Armada
Out of the 151 ships that left Spain only 65 returned
This showed that:
God supported Elizabeth’s reign
Protestantism was the one true religion
Elizabeth used this divine intervention as propaganda to strengthen her reign
How significant was Elizabeth’s victory over the Spanish?
The defeat of the Spanish Armada had a significant impact on Elizabeth's reign
In August, Elizabeth spoke to her troops in Tilbury. Her speech became famous as she stated the line:
“I know I have the body but of a weak and feeble woman; but I have the heart and the stomach of a king”
The victory against the Armada proved that:
A queen regnant could win military campaigns
Elizabeth was a legitimate English monarch
Elizabeth created propaganda to celebrate the defeat of the Spanish Armada
She commissioned the Armada portrait in 1588
It showed Elizabeth's hand resting on a globe
This showed her subjects that Elizabeth's ambition was for England to dominate and explore the world
King Philip II of Spain was humiliated
Over the next few years, Philip continued attempts to invade England but failed
Elizabeth emphasised that the defeat of the Armada was a religious victory
It strengthened Protestantism across Europe
In England, the Spanish Armada shows Catholicism as hostile and foreign
Exam Tip
The Spanish Armada has previously been a historical environment 16-mark question. You will need more detailed knowledge of Elizabethan naval warfare and the Spanish Armada than what is mentioned above.
Worked Example
How convincing is Interpretation A about England's defeat of the Spanish Armada?
[8 Marks]
Interpretation A: James Oliphant, A History of England, written in 1920 “Though the English ships were smaller and fewer than those opposed to them, they were better built and better manned... their skilful use of artillery gave them a great advantage. |
Partial answer:
The interpretation is convincing as it explains how the English ships were responsible for the victory over the Spanish Armada. The interpretation states “the English ships were smaller”. The English had 200 small galleons, which were better than the larger Spanish galleons as they were smaller, lighter and more manoeuvrable. This helped the English to defeat the Spanish Armada because they could turn more easily and attack the enemy quicker than the Spanish.
Exam Tip
The question above is a partial answer to an 8-mark “How convincing question”. This question requires you to explain two reasons why the content of the interpretation is convincing.
You need to include detailed and relevant information in your answer, that focuses on showing why the interpretation is convincing.
The second paragraph to the answer above could focus on the reference to the English ships being “better manned”. You could include knowledge about how English commanders like Sir Francis Drake and John Hawkins were more experienced than the Spanish commanders.
For further guidance on this question, read this revision note on how to answer the 8-mark “Explain the importance” question.
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