Elizabeth I and Philip II

Elizabeth I and Philip II The Armada of 1588 Richard Fitzsimmons Strathallan School By Mr. Fitzsimmons at www.activehistory.co.uk

Elizabeth I and Philip II You will learn … • Why Elizabeth’s England and Philip’s Spain went to war • Why Philip believed he should send the Armada • About the Armada’s composition • How and why the Armada was defeated By Mr. Fitzsimmons at www.activehistory.co.uk

Elizabeth I and Philip II By Mr. Fitzsimmons at www.activehistory.co.uk

1559 – Philip had proposed to Elizabeth – she refused 1569 – Elizabeth was considering marriage to the Duke of Alencon, heir to the French throne 1570 – Drake raids Spanish ships and gives the spoils to Elizabeth 1570 – the Pope excommunicates Elizabeth – anyone can assassinate her and go straight to Heaven 1585 – Elizabeth sends troops to aid the Dutch rebels in their revolt against Spain Relations between England and Spain, 1558-1585 By Mr. Fitzsimmons at www.activehistory.co.uk

England’s interference in the Netherlands … • English ports had been harbouring Dutch exiles since the revolt broke out in 1566 • Elizabeth had expelled the Sea Beggars in 1572 and accidentally helped cause the 2nd Revolt • Protestants in England were giving the Dutch rebels money, supplies and men • In 1585 Elizabeth signed a treaty with the Dutch rebels at Nonsuch Palace – it guaranteed English troops under the Earl of Leicester By Mr. Fitzsimmons at www.activehistory.co.uk

Sir Francis Drake – pirate or hero ? • Not from a wealthy or famous family, but rose to be vice-admiral of the English fleet • A committed Protestant • Related to John Hawkins • First Englishman to sail around the world, 1577-80, in the Golden Hinde • Sailed into Cadiz harbour in 1587 and attacked the Spanish fleet By Mr. Fitzsimmons at www.activehistory.co.uk

Mary, Queen of Scots • She had been a threat to Elizabeth since fleeing to England in 1568 • She was at the centre of a number of plots aimed at replacing Elizabeth as Queen • She was Elizabeth’s cousin • She was Elizabeth’s heir to the English throne as Elizabeth had no children By Mr. Fitzsimmons at www.activehistory.co.uk

Plots against Elizabeth • 1569 – northern nobles rose in rebellion – defeated and leaders executed • 1570 – Pope excommunicated Elizabeth • 1572 – Ridolfi plot – Thomas Howard, Duke of Norfolk executed for treason • 1583-4 – Throckmorton plot led to the Spanish ambassador being expelled • 1586 – Babington plot – Mary Stuart implicated By Mr. Fitzsimmons at www.activehistory.co.uk

Execution of Mary Stuart, Feb 1587 • She had been imprisoned in England since 1568 • She was implicated in the Babington Plot of 1586 and found guilty of treason • She was executed at Fotheringay castle on 8th February 1587 By Mr. Fitzsimmons at www.activehistory.co.uk

Planning the Armada…1 • Philip II had had enough of heretic England and her heretic Queen – Elizabeth; the execution of Mary Stuart in February 1587 was to be avenged by the Armada • In April 1587 Drake had sailed into Cadiz harbour and sank several ships – this is known as ‘Singeing the King of Spain’s beard’, but it was not enough to prevent the Armada being built … By Mr. Fitzsimmons at www.activehistory.co.uk

Planning the Armada …2 • The Armada was to be commanded by the Duke of Medina Sidonia who was not an experienced naval commander – why ? The Admiral of the Fleet, Santa Cruz, had just died. But, he has several able Admirals under his command … • Almost immediately, ‘la Armada invincibile’ had to go back to port after being hit by a storm in the Bay of Biscay – not exactly off to a good start ! By Mr. Fitzsimmons at www.activehistory.co.uk

Composition of the Armada • 130 ships – galleons, galleasses, supply • 30,000 men – sailors, soldiers, officers and servants, gunners, doctors, priests (180) • Cannon, field guns, small arms, powder, cannon balls (123,790), bullets, pikes, swords, armour • Supplies of food and drink By Mr. Fitzsimmons at www.activehistory.co.uk

English commanders … • Charles, Lord Howard of Effingham in the Ark Royal • Sir Francis Drake • Sir John Hawkins in the Victory • Sir Martin Frobisher in the Triumph • Lord Henry Seymour in the Golden Lion By Mr. Fitzsimmons at www.activehistory.co.uk

Put together a fleet of 130 warships Muster an army of 35,000 men in the Netherlands, under the Duke of Parma in preparation for an invasion of England Sail the fleet of ships from Spain to the Netherlands and ferry the soldiers across the Channel to England Rely on Parma and his veteran soldiers to defeat the smaller English forces Pray for God’s help Overthrow Elizabeth, restoring Catholicism to England, [hopefully] helped by an English Catholic rebellion The Spanish plan … By Mr. Fitzsimmons at www.activehistory.co.uk

1. Gather as many merchant ships as possible to join Elizabeth’snavy of 28 warships atPlymouth 2. Order the Lords Lieutenantto trainsmall bands of men todefend the coast in eachcounty 3. Gather an army of about5, 000 men to defend London – led by the Earl of Leicester 4. Depend on the famous skillof England’s sailors and her sea captains to repel the Spanish fleet 5. Pray for God’s help The English Plan … By Mr. Fitzsimmons at www.activehistory.co.uk

The Armada sets out … • Set out in May 1588 from Lisbon • Forced to take shelter in Corunna harbour after being hit by a fierce summer storm in the Bay of Biscay • Spotted off English coast on 29th July and harassed by English ships, but crescent formation does not break By Mr. Fitzsimmons at www.activehistory.co.uk

Armada formation • The crescent formation was very strong and helped the Spanish resist the lighter, faster English ships • By 6th August the Armada was anchored at Calais waiting for the Duke of Parma’s army to arrive – the Calais harbour was not deep enough for the Spanish galleons. • Parma was late By Mr. Fitzsimmons at www.activehistory.co.uk

The Armada route … By Mr. Fitzsimmons at www.activehistory.co.uk

Hell Burners ! • On the night of 7th August, the English sent ‘hell-burners’ into the Calais harbour – it broke up the Spanish formation • Spanish ships cut their anchors and headed out to sea • Over the next 6 days a series of engagements took place in the North Sea By Mr. Fitzsimmons at www.activehistory.co.uk

Results of the battles … • English guns proved more effective than Spanish ones, though the English ran out of ammunition • Probably 6 Spanish ships were sunk, no English • The Armada was forced to sail around Britain by a combination of harassment from the English fleet, and summer storms • Many ships were lost off the Scottish and Irish coasts • Probably a third of Spanish ships and half the soldiers did not make it back to Spain By Mr. Fitzsimmons at www.activehistory.co.uk

Results of the Armada defeat • There was no Catholic uprising in England in support of the Armada • Elizabeth’s army at Tilbury, which was no match for veteran Spanish soldiers, did not have to fight • Elizabeth’s throne was safe • Philip had to go back to the drawing board – further Armadas were planned in the 1590s but amounted to little By Mr. Fitzsimmons at www.activehistory.co.uk

Elizabeth at Tilbury My loving people, I amcome amongst you at this time, not as for my recreation or sport, but being resolved, in the midst and heat of the battle, to live or die amongst you all; to lay down, for my God, and for my kingdom, and for my people, my honor and my blood, even the dust. I know I have but the body of a weak and feeble woman; but I have the heart of a king, and of a king of England, too; and think foul scorn that Parma or Spain, or any prince of Europe, should dare to invade the borders of my realms: we shall shortly have a famous victory over the enemies of my God, of my kingdom, and of my people. By Mr. Fitzsimmons at www.activehistory.co.uk

Fate of the Armada • The flag ship of the Spanish Armada, the San Martin, reached Spain on 23rd September 1588. Most of the ships of the Armada that managed to stay with the Duke of Medina's flag ship in the Atlantic, keeping on a course far to the west of Ireland, reached ports in Spain. The ships that made it into safe harbours were in a poor state. Nearly all the ships were damaged - a result of the sea battles in the English Channel, the rough passage around Scotland and the storms in the Atlantic Ocean. A large number of men on the ships that reached Spain were very sick or weak from hunger or thirst. In the weeks that followed their return, many of the soldiers and sailors were to die of wounds, disease and exhaustion. By Mr. Fitzsimmons at www.activehistory.co.uk

Elizabeth I and Philip II