Qualla: Spanish Armada

Spanish Armada: Introduction

Sat, 23 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Photo credit Public domain. On the morning of 29 July 1588, watchers on the cliffs of the Lizard in Cornwall lit the first warning beacon. By nightfall a chain of fires ran along the south coast of England all the way to the Sussex Downs and beyond, each beacon lit by the one before, the news of the Spanish Armada's arrival running faster than any horse could carry it. The fleet that had sailed from Lisbon eight weeks before was finally in English waters - 130 ships, more than 30,000 men, the largest invasion force ever sent against the British Isles. Philip II of Spain had named it the Enterprise of England. His goal was Catholic restoration, an end to English support for the Dutch revolt, and the overthrow of Elizabeth I. What followed was decided as much by wind and weather as by men.

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Image: Public domain

Spanish Armada: The Enterprise of England

Sat, 23 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Photo credit anonymous, Public domain. The Armada sailed on 21 July 1588 (New Style) from Lisbon, commanded by Alonso de Guzmán, Duke of Medina Sidonia. He was a competent administrator and a distinguished soldier, but he had no naval experience and he knew it. He wrote to Philip expressing grave doubts about the plan...

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Image: anonymous | Public domain

Spanish Armada: Plymouth and the Crescent

Sat, 23 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Photo credit Public domain. The English fleet was trapped at anchor in Plymouth Harbour by an incoming tide when the Armada was first sighted off the Lizard. Spanish subordinates urged Medina Sidonia to enter Plymouth Sound and attack the ships before they could leave. He refused. His orders were to join Pa...

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Spanish Armada: Fireships at Calais

Sat, 23 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Photo credit Otter, CC BY-SA 4.0. On 7 August the Armada anchored off Calais in a tightly packed defensive crescent, waiting for word from Parma. Parma's army was not ready. Communication had been slower than the campaign required - the Duke did not even receive Medina Sidonia's first report until 5 August - and ...

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Image: Otter | CC BY-SA 4.0

Spanish Armada: Round Scotland, Round Ireland

Sat, 23 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Photo credit Unknown author, Public domain. The wind that had broken the Armada's formation also drove it north into the North Sea, away from Parma forever. Howard pursued until 12 August, then broke off at the latitude of the Firth of Forth, his ships almost out of shot. The only way home for the Spanish was north around ...

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Image: Unknown author | Public domain

Spanish Armada: What the Sea Decided

Sat, 23 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Photo credit Hendrick Cornelisz Vroom, Public domain. Estimates of total Spanish losses still vary - modern historians put the figure between 44 and 51 ships out of the fleet that entered the Channel, with around 11,000 to 17,000 men dead. The English losses in battle were almost nothing. Their losses afterward were enormous - typhu...

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Image: Hendrick Cornelisz Vroom | Public domain