Spanish Armada 1588 Flashcards
Having sailed up the channel Medina Sidonia anchored at Calais to wait for Parma’s troops.What happened
Parma and his men were blockaded by Dutch ships and weren’t able to reach the coast in time.
Why was it significant that Duke of Parma’s troops was not able to meet up with the rest ?
As the Spanish had thousands more soldiers stationed in the Nethedlands under the Duke”s leadership
What happened at the Battle of Calais ?
In the middle of the night, the English sent eight fireshipa ( loaded with flammable materials and set on fire ) among the Spanish ships.This caused panic among the Spanish sailors.They cut their anchor cables, broke their formation and headed for open sea.
What happned at the Battle of Gravelines ?
Spanish ships regrouped at Gravelines, but the weather made it impossible to get into a defensive formation.The English moved in and the battle lasted many hours.
5 Spanish ships were sunk and the rest had to sail away from the French coast and into the North Sea.The English followed them north as far as possible to stop them regrouping with Parma’s army
Significance of Spanish ships sailing north
Tough windy oceans.
Couldn’t regroup with Parma’s army
Spanish Armada key Facts
By spring 1558 , the Armada was ready to launch.
Armada was a huge fleet of adound 130 ships.
Manned by about 8,000 sailors , carrying estimated 18,000 soldiers.
Who was Duke of Medina Sidonia
He was appointed to lead the Armada
Why was the Duke of Maedina Sidonia not a good leader ?
Philip respected the Duke’s high social status and trusted him to obey instructions.The Duke had little had little military or naval experience, and he tried unsuccessfully to turn down the command.
Medina Sidonia decided to call off the attack and return to Spain via sailing around Scotland and Ireland .Why was this a bad decision ?
Spanish sailors were unfamiliar with this dangerous route, and they encountered several powerful Atlantic Storms
As a result of sailing in Scotland and Ireland
Many ships sank or were wrecked on the Scottish and Irish coasts, where local inhabitants showed them liftle mercy.
Those ships that complete the journey
Ran out of supplies and many men dies of starbation and disease.In all, less than half the fleet and 10, 000 men made it back to Spain
