Elizabeth -Spanish Armada Flashcards
When was the Spanish Armada attack?
The Spanish Armada attacked in 1588.
Who led the Spanish Armada?
The Armada was led by the duke of Medina Sidonia.
What were the causes of the Spanish Armada?
The religious differences between the two countries were a main cause.
Phillip proposed to Liz. Aim was to unite Spain and England under a Catholic king and queen. However, Elizabeth did not respond to his proposal.
Elizabeth supported Protestant uprisings in the Spanish Netherlands in 1585.
Sir Francis Drake and other English privateers had spent years raiding Spanish ports and ships, and stealing treasures from Spanish colonies in South America. Elizabeth encouraged these acts.
1570, papal bull
What happened during the attack of the Spanish Armada?
The Armada left Spain in May and reached Cornwall in July. The Armada was spotted. Philip was unprepared for a naval battle as he had filled his ships with land weapons.
6th August the Spanish fleet was anchored in Calais harbour, waiting for more soldiers. Drake sent in eight fireships, which caused the Armada to scatter and break its formation.
8th August English damaged Spanish ships by firing from 100 metres away.
Strong winds blew the Armada into the North Sea. Forced to sail around Scotland and Ireland in order to return home. With no maps and bad weather, many ships were wrecked on rocks close to the shore or sank. Only 65 out of the 151 ships returned.
Why was the Spanish Armada defeated?
The weather blew the Armada into the North Sea.
The duke of Medina Sidonia was an inexperienced and incompetent leader
The Spanish galleons were large and only used to the deep seas not the shallower waters
The English had superior ships, weapons and tactics.
