Spanish Armada
Eun Young Shin
Background
In the late 1580s, England made raids against the Spanish commerce and their support for the Dutch rebels in the Spanish Netherlands led King Phillip II of Spain to make an attempt to conquer England. With the blessing of Pope Sixtus V, the Spanish fleet was completed by 1587 but set sail towards England on May 1588.[1]
Turning Point
On May 19, the Invincible Armada sailed from Lisbon under the command of Duke of Medina-Sidonia with 130 ships carrying 2,500 ships, 8,000 seamen, and almost 20,000 soldiers.[2] Upon hearing the news of the Spanish fleet coming towards England, Queen Elizabeth I of England gave a speech sending off her men to defend the island from the Spanish: "... not doubting by your obedience to my general, by your concord in the camp, and by your valor in the field, we shall shortly have a famous victory over the enemies of my God, of my kingdom, and of my people."[3] As the Spanish fleet approached the coast of England, the English forces fired upon the Spanish and finally on July 29 at the Battle of Gravelines, the English got into a close range to cause heavier damage upon the Spanish.[4] The heavy damage forced the Spanish fleet to retreat off the Flemish coast[5] to the north and head back to Spain. Shortage of food, money, and sickness brought more loss to the surviving Spanish[6] and by going around Scotland and Ireland, arrived back in Spain in October with half of their original Armada gone, defeated.[7]
Effect
The English victory over the Spanish Armada brought the English to become the world's superpower and introduced the usage of long-range guns in naval warfare.
[1] "Spanish Armada Defeated," 2013, History: A&E Television Networks, LLC, 22 April 2013 <http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/spanish-armada-defeated>.
[2] "Spanish Armada Defeated." History.
[3] "Queen Elizabeth I: Against the Spanish Armada, 1588," Modern History Sourcebook, Internet History Sourcebooks, 22 April 2013 <http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1588elizabeth.asp>.
[4] Lewis, Michael. The Spanish Armada. 1960. 163.
[5] Martin, Colin and Geoffrey Parker. The Spanish Armada. 1988. 192.
[6] Lewis. The Spanish Armada.179.
[7] "Spanish Armada Defeated." History.
Bibliography
"Spanish Armada Defeated," History. A&E Television Networks, LLC, n.d., n.p. Web. 22 April 2013.
"Queen Elizabeth I: Against the Spanish Armada, 1588," Modern History Sourcebook. Internet History Sourcebooks, n.d., n.p. Web. 22 April 2013.
Lewis, Michael. The Spanish Armada. New York: Macmillan, 1960: 163, 179.
Martin, Colin, and Geoffrey Parker. The Spanish Armada. New York: W.W. Norton & Co, 1988: 192.
Eun Young Shin
Background
In the late 1580s, England made raids against the Spanish commerce and their support for the Dutch rebels in the Spanish Netherlands led King Phillip II of Spain to make an attempt to conquer England. With the blessing of Pope Sixtus V, the Spanish fleet was completed by 1587 but set sail towards England on May 1588.[1]
Turning Point
On May 19, the Invincible Armada sailed from Lisbon under the command of Duke of Medina-Sidonia with 130 ships carrying 2,500 ships, 8,000 seamen, and almost 20,000 soldiers.[2] Upon hearing the news of the Spanish fleet coming towards England, Queen Elizabeth I of England gave a speech sending off her men to defend the island from the Spanish: "... not doubting by your obedience to my general, by your concord in the camp, and by your valor in the field, we shall shortly have a famous victory over the enemies of my God, of my kingdom, and of my people."[3] As the Spanish fleet approached the coast of England, the English forces fired upon the Spanish and finally on July 29 at the Battle of Gravelines, the English got into a close range to cause heavier damage upon the Spanish.[4] The heavy damage forced the Spanish fleet to retreat off the Flemish coast[5] to the north and head back to Spain. Shortage of food, money, and sickness brought more loss to the surviving Spanish[6] and by going around Scotland and Ireland, arrived back in Spain in October with half of their original Armada gone, defeated.[7]
Effect
The English victory over the Spanish Armada brought the English to become the world's superpower and introduced the usage of long-range guns in naval warfare.
[1] "Spanish Armada Defeated," 2013, History: A&E Television Networks, LLC, 22 April 2013 <http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/spanish-armada-defeated>.
[2] "Spanish Armada Defeated." History.
[3] "Queen Elizabeth I: Against the Spanish Armada, 1588," Modern History Sourcebook, Internet History Sourcebooks, 22 April 2013 <http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1588elizabeth.asp>.
[4] Lewis, Michael. The Spanish Armada. 1960. 163.
[5] Martin, Colin and Geoffrey Parker. The Spanish Armada. 1988. 192.
[6] Lewis. The Spanish Armada.179.
[7] "Spanish Armada Defeated." History.
Bibliography
"Spanish Armada Defeated," History. A&E Television Networks, LLC, n.d., n.p. Web. 22 April 2013.
"Queen Elizabeth I: Against the Spanish Armada, 1588," Modern History Sourcebook. Internet History Sourcebooks, n.d., n.p. Web. 22 April 2013.
Lewis, Michael. The Spanish Armada. New York: Macmillan, 1960: 163, 179.
Martin, Colin, and Geoffrey Parker. The Spanish Armada. New York: W.W. Norton & Co, 1988: 192.