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How did the defeat of the Spanish Armada (1588) change England

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[[File: Armada 32.jpg|200px390px|thumbnail|left|King Phillip II English fireships attacking Spanish vessels at the Battle of Spain-mortal enemy of Elizabeth IGrevellines]]The defeat and destruction of the Spanish Armada (1588 is seen by many as the high point of Elizabeth I’s of England’s reign. If the Armada had been successful then it could have changed the course of English and indeed, world history. The defeat of the Armada was to have profound consequences for England. The first consequence of the English victory was that it secured the independence of that kingdom.
The defeat and destruction of the Spanish Armada led to England becoming a naval power and this was to prove important in 1588 are seen by many as the foundation high point of Elizabeth I’s of the future British EmpireEngland’s reign. As a result of If the failed invasionArmada had been successful, by Catholic Spain, England became more self-consciously Protestant it could have changed the course of English and, Catholicism became very unpopular and seen as anti-Englishworld history. The defeat of the Armada was an act had profound consequences for England. The first consequence of divine providence and it confirmed the opinion of many English victory was that England was a kingdom destined for greatness and this was to play a very important role in English national identity for many centuriesit secured its independence.
===Background===In With the sixteenth century, Europe was divided into two mutually hostile religious groups. The North defeat of Europe was dominated by Protestantism and the south was mainly Catholic. Armada, England had become becomes a Protestant realm by the mid-sixteenth century, but this serious European naval power. Britain's navy was opposed by many Catholics. Contrary to popular belief, Catholicism had been popular in England before the Reformation and many people still sympathized with what they called foundation of the ‘old religion.’<ref> Duffy, Efuture British Empire. Stripping As a result of the Altars (Cambridgefailed invasion by Catholic Spain, Cambridge University PressEngland became more self-consciously Protestant, 2000), p. 113</ref> Queen Elizabeth, I initially pursued a moderate religious policy to minimize religious conflict between Catholic and ProtestantCatholicism became increasingly unpopular and was viewed as anti-English. However, Elizabeth soon found herself under pressure from The English also saw the great Catholic power defeat of the time, SpainArmada as an act of divine providence. It confirmed to them that England was the dominant Catholic power in Europe because of its vast territories in Europe and the Americasa kingdom destined for greatness.
The == Why did Spain send the Spanish Armada to invade England? ==[[File: Armada 3.jpg|150px|thumbnail|left|King Phillip II of Spain-mortal enemy of Elizabeth I]]In the sixteenth century, Europe was an ardent Catholic and he had divided into two ambitionsmutually hostile religious groups. Protestants' regimes dominated northern Europe, and the first south was to return mainly Catholic. England had become an increasing Protestant state in the Protestants mid-sixteenth century. Contrary to popular belief, Catholicism had been popular in England before the Catholic faith Reformation, and to expand many people still sympathized with what they called the power ‘old religion.’<ref> Duffy, E. <i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0300108281/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0300108281&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=b06f0eb9358da3a5da4c6146421bcff6 Stripping of Spainthe Altars]</i> (Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2000), p. 113</ref> The Spanish King had been married Queen Elizabeth the First initially pursued a moderate religious policy to Mary I of England minimize religious conflict between Catholic and it seemed that for a time that England would become part of the Spanish dominionsProtestant. However, the coronation of Elizabeth I had changed all of this and she was determined on a policy of independence soon found herself under pressure from Spain. Spain wanted to force the English back into - the preeminent Catholic fold and to end power in the attacks of English pirates on their shipping world. Spain's influence reaches stretched across Europe and colonies in into the Americas.
ElizabethThe Spanish King Phillip II was an ardent Catholic, I and he had encouraged English privateerstwo primary ambitions. First, such as Sir Francis Drake he wanted to return all Protestants to mount attacks on Spanish targetsthe Catholic faith. Elizabeth sought Second, he hoped to limit expand the growing power of Spain and . The Spanish King had been married to secure some Mary I of the riches ‘of the America colonies England, and it seemed that England would fall under Spanish influence for her subjectsa time.’<ref> HolmesHowever, Richard. <i>The Oxford Companion Elizabeth I's coronation had fundamentally altered this dynamic because she was determined to Military History</i> (Oxford, Oxford University Pressmaintain England's independence from Spain. 2001)On the other hand, p. 214</ref> The English Queen also supported the Dutch in their revolt against Phillip II. Relations between Spain and England began wanted to deteriorate and by force the mid-1580s English back into the two countries were in an undeclared war, that was to last the rest of Elizabeth’s reign. Spain was the richest Catholic fold and end the most powerful Empire in Europe English pirates' attacks on their ships and Phillip decided that he would invade England, believing that if he was successful it would help him to secure many of his strategic objectives colonies in Europe. The Spanish presented the Armada as a Catholic crusade and it was partially funded by the PapacyAmericas.
===The Spanish Armada=== [[File: Armada 4.jpg|350px|thumbnail|left| A contemporary painting of the Armada]]The launch of the Armada Elizabeth, I had been delayed several timesencouraged English privateers, including once because of a raid by the English such as Sir Francis Drake, to mount attacks on CadizSpanish targets. The Spanish Armada was a fleet of 130 ships Elizabeth sought to limit Spain's power and it first left the port secure some of Coruna in August 1588, under the command of riches ‘of the Duke of Medina Sidoniaamerican colonies for her subjects.’<ref> Holmes, the most powerful noble in SpainRichard.<i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0198662092/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0198662092&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=94311aba3c2131eec83402c57e9f3338 The Oxford Companion to Military History]</i> Holmes(Oxford, Oxford University Press. 2001), p. 215214</ref> The fleet was ordered to sail to English Queen also supported the English Channel Dutch in their revolt against Phillip II. Relations between Spain and England deteriorated rapidly, and transport a large army by the mid-1580s, the two countries were in Flanders into Englandan undeclared war. The aim of the invasion A war that was to depose Elizabeth I and to reimpose Catholicism on last until the English peopleend of Elizabeth’s reign. The fleet Spain was an impressive one the richest and the Spanish were experiencedmost powerful Empire in Europe, sailors and navigatorsPhillip decided to invade England. He believed that it would help him secure many of Europe's strategic objectives if he were successful. However The Spanish presented the Armada as a Catholic crusade, and the commander Medina-Sidonia was old and relatively inexperienced and he was to commit mistake after mistakePapacy partially funded it.
The Spanish fleet despite its numerical advantage == How did not attack England defeat the English fleet based at Portsmouth and instead sailed to CalaisSpanish Armada? ==[[File: Armada 4. The Spanish army under the Duke jpg|350px|thumbnail|left| A contemporary painting of Parma was advancing to Calais to be transported to England. However, the English navy under Drake and Howard attacked the Armada with fireships]]The Armada launch had been delayed several times, and this was the start including once because of what became known as a raid by the Battle of Grave linesEnglish on Cadiz. The English tactic Spanish Armada was a fleet of using fire-130 ships, created panic among and it first left the Spaniards and port of Coruna in August 1588, under the fleet was broken up into small groups Duke of shipsMedina Sidonia, the most powerful noble in Spain.<ref> Holmes, p. 215</ref> The battle fleet was ordered to sail to last over the English Channel and transport a week with both sides launching attackslarge army in Flanders into England. However, Medina-Sidonia decided The invasion aimed to withdraw depose Elizabeth I and this was decisive as it meant that the Spanish army was unable to rendezvous with reimpose Catholicism on the invasion armyEnglish people. Drake The fleet was impressive, and the other English commanders Spanish were happy to let the Armada sail away from the invasion forceexperienced, sailors and navigators. Then a strong wind from However, the southwest forced the fleet to sail to the north commander Medina-Sidonia was old and relatively inexperienced, and into he committed mistake after mistake throughout the North Seacampaign.
Medina-Sidonia could regroup his ships Despite its numerical advantage, the Spanish fleet did not attack the English fleet based at Portsmouth and decided instead sailed to Calais. The Spanish army under the Duke of Parma was advancing to withdraw Calais to Spain and the attempt be transported to invade England was over. Now However, the Armada sought only to survive English navy under Drake and return to Spain. The inclement weather and a strong south-western meant that Howard attacked the Spanish could not return via the English Channel Armada with fireships, and this wind was the start of what became known in England as a ‘Protestant Windthe Battle of Grave lines.’<ref>McDermott The English tactic of using fire-ships created panic among the Spaniards, James. England and the Spanish Armada: The Necessary Quarrelfleet was broken up into small groups of ships. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2005), P. 215</ref> The Spanish Commandbattle lasted over a week, which could not communicate with Madrid both sides launching attacks. However, Medina-Sidonia decided to round the British Isleswithdraw. The Armada sailed around Scotland but all the while This decision was harried by the English fleet. The weather was very unseasonable for decisive as it meant that time of years and the fleet of Phillip II was battered by gales and storms. As Spanish army could not rendezvous with the Armada made their way around Scotland the suffered many lossesinvasion army. Many more ships were wrecked on the west coast of Ireland Drake and the survivors other English commanders were hunted down and killed by natives loyal happy to let the English crown.<ref>T. P. Kilfeather. <i>Ireland: Graveyard of Armada sail away from the Spanish Armada</i> (Anvil Books, 1967), pinvasion force. 167</ref> By the time that A strong wind from the remnants of southwest forced the Spanish invasion fleet made it to Spain over two-thirds of sail to the original Armada had been lost. The undeclared Anglo-Spanish War did not end with the defeat of north and into the Armada but was to continue until 1604 and ended in a stalemateNorth Sea.
===England’s salvation=How was the Spanish Armada destroyed? ==The Spanish Armada is one of the great ‘ifs’ in historyMedina-Sidonia tried to regroup his ships and withdraw to Spain. If the Spanish ships had been able This ended Spain's attempt to rendezvous with the army of Flanders and transported invade England, but it across did not end the ChannelArmada's problems. At this point, then it is quite likely that England would have been defeated. The Spanish army was considered the Armada sought only to be the best in Europe at this time survive and it was composed not only of Spanish veterans but also German veteransreturn to Spain. The English army was mainly composed of local militias Unfortunately, inclement weather and was poorly led and trained. In a set piece battle, on land, it seems likely strong south-western wind meant that the Spanish would have overcome could not return via the English and deposed Elizabeth IChannel. The kingdom of This wind later became known in England would have become part of the Spanish Empireas a ‘Protestant Wind.’<ref>McDermott, James. <i>[https://www.amazon. Phillip II did not plan to rule it directly but planned to place a Catholic on the throne and they would have been the ally com/gp/product/030010698X/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=030010698X&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=f473dc1cecf6852131ce8bd6e86de229 England and dependent of the Spanish. Armada: The defeat of the Armada prevented this from happening and it secured the independence of England and allowed her to become a world power by the eighteenth century.Necessary Quarrel]<ref/i> Holmes. (New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2005), pP. 257215</ref>
===The Spanish Command, which could not communicate with Madrid, decided to round the British Isles. The Armada and Religion===[[File: Armada 2.jpg|200px|thumbnail|left|sailed around Scotland, but the English fireships attacking navy continued to harry the Spanish vessels at the Battle fleet. The weather was very unseasonable for that time of Grevellines]]year, and strong gales and massive storms battered Phillip II wanted to return England to Catholicism's fleet. If As the Armada had been successful then it seems likely that a Catholic king or queen would have been placed made their way around Scotland, they began to lose ships. Many more ships were wrecked on the throne. They would have had west coast of Ireland, and the power survivors were hunted down and killed by natives loyal to overturn the Protestant establishment in the countryEnglish crown.<ref>T. P. Kilfeather. <i>[https://www.amazon. No longer would the Church com/gp/product/B0013K2KD6/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0013K2KD6&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=a486270d446af7bb1840eb37dd11d649 Ireland: Graveyard of England be the state church and once again Spanish Armada]</i> (Anvil Books, 1967), p. 167</ref> By the Catholic Church would have been time that the only recognized religion in remnants of the realm. Phillip II believed that Spanish invasion fleet made it to Spain, over two-thirds of the original Armada was right for a monarch to ensure religious conformity in their kingdomlost. It seems most likely that While the new Catholic monarch would have persecuted Protestants in much Spanish Armada's defeat did not end the same way as Mary I had during her reign. Now while Catholicism undeclared Anglo-Spanish War, which would have been continue until 1604, it made it difficult for Spain to get the state religion this would not have seen upper hand. Eventually, the end of Protestantism conflict ended in Englanda stalemate.
By the 1580s the Church of England was supported by most English people and they would == Could Spain have resisted any attempt to reimpose the Catholic faith. It seems likely that taken England would have suffered a series it had successfully landed its invasion force? ==The Spanish Armada is one of Religious Wars similar to France the great ‘ifs’ in the sixteenth century. However, the failure of the Armada meant that the Church of England was now more secure than ever beforehistory. Increasingly, If the English people began Spanish ships had been able to see themselves as a Protestant people. They saw Protestantism as an integral part of Englishness rendezvous with Flanders' army and important for their freedom. Many English people became even more anti-Catholic after transported it across the ArmadaChannel, England may have been defeated. ‘Popery’ as they referred to Catholicism The Spanish army was associated with autocracy, intoleranceconsidered the best in Europe at this time, and slavery. This anti-Catholicism it was an important aspect composed not only of English political life for many years.<ref>Bridgen, SusanSpanish but also German veterans. <i>New Worlds, Lost Worlds: The Rule English army was mainly composed of the Tudors, 1485–1603</i>local militias and was poorly led and trained. New York, NY: Viking PenguinIn a set-piece battle, 2001), p. 115</ref> It is arguable that the main losers in the Armada apart from all those who died in the conflict were English CatholicsSpanish forces would most likely have been victorious and deposed Elizabeth I on land.
After the Armada, Catholics known as ‘recusants’ because they refused to recognize the Church The kingdom of England came under official and unofficial pressure would have become part of the Spanish Empire. Phillip II did not plan to conform rule it directly but planned to place a Catholic on the state religion<ref> Bridgen, pthrone. 234</ref>Philip wanted an ally that would become dependent on Spain. Even loyal Catholics became suspect and as a result, more and Catholics converted to Protestantism. By the end The defeat of the reign of Elizabeth, England was a Protestant nation, with only a small and oppressed Catholic minority. The Armada had played an important role in prevented this process. Phillip II had attempted to overturn from happening and secured the religious settlement in independence of England but his attempted invasion only strengthened it. The people of England began 's victory allowed her to see themselves in providential terms and in biblical terms as an ‘elect nation’ become a major world power by the eighteenth century.<ref> Krishan Kumar. The making of English national identity (Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2003)Holmes, p. 45257</ref>. They believed that they were chosen by God to carry out his will and this gave them a new-found confidence. This sense of mission was one that was very important in later decades and was an important factor in the growth of English power, especially in the seventeenth and eighteenth century.
===England as a naval power===[[File: Armada One.jpg|200px|thumbnail|left|Sir Francis Drake]]It has often been stated that the defeat of the Armada ended the Spanish superiority at sea and was the beginning of England’s rise as a global naval power. This was not the case. The year following the defeat of the Spanish Armada the English monarch launched the ‘English Armada.’<ref>Bridgen, p. 135</ref> This was a naval attack on Spain but it was heavily defeated with great English losses. Madrid changed its strategy and a series of fortifications were built in the Americas that gave greater protection against English and other privateers. The fact remains that Spain after the defeat of the Armada remained the premier maritime power outside China. However, the defeat of the Armada did lead to longdh-term changes that were to prove very important in the rise of England as a naval power. There was a recognition, after the attempted Spanish invasion that the English needed a strong navy and successive English administrations pursued policies that helped to expand the navy and develop new technologies and ‘modern shipyards.’ <ref>Holmes, p. 217<ad/ref> As a result, in the wake of the Armada, the kingdom became an important naval power.
== What impact did the defeat of the Spanish Armada have on Catholics in England? ==Phillip II wanted to return England to Catholicism. If the Spanish Armada had been a success successful, then it seems likely that the English a Catholic king or queen would not have been able to successfully plant colonies in North America. In the early seventeenth century, English colonies were found at Plymouth Rock and Jamestown. If the Spanish had placed one of their candidates on the throne of England then this may never . They would have occurred. The defeat of had the Armada saw England emerge as, if not a dominant naval power but an important one, that had to overturn the means to establish colonies and to trading companies such as Protestant establishment in the East India Company<ref>Holmes, pcountry. 256</ref>. Its naval capability was in No longer would the long-term to directly to lead to Church of England by the growth state church, and development of once again, the Catholic Church would have been the British Empireonly recognized religion.
===Conclusion===The defeat of the Armada Phillip II believed that it was right for a major turning point monarch to ensure religious conformity in English history. It saved the throne of Elizabeth I and guaranteed English independence from Spaintheir kingdom. The Spanish saw the invasion as a crusade and one that new Catholic monarch probably would stamp out the heresy of Protestantism have persecuted Protestants in England. The failure of much the invasion meant that Protestantism became more entrenched and less sympathetic to Catholicismsame way as Mary I had during her reign. Indeed, in the aftermath of the Armada, Protestantism became part of the national identity. To be English was to be a Protestant and to reject With Catholicism. The attempted Spanish invasion led to the adoption of an antire-Catholic discourseestablished, known as Popery and this was an important factor could have hobbled Protestantism in English political life for over two centuries. The Armada did not end Spanish maritime supremacy but it did lead to England becoming a formidable naval power. This allowed it to found colonies and trading companies in the early seventeenth century that were to lay the foundation for the British Empire.{{Mediawiki:British History}}
By the 1580s, the Church of England was supported by most English people, and they would have resisted any attempt to reimpose the Catholic faith. Still, England would likely have suffered a series of Religious Wars similar to France in the sixteenth century. However, the Armada's failure meant that the Church of England was now more secure than ever before. Increasingly, the English people began to see themselves as Protestant people. They saw Protestantism as an integral part of Englishness and important for their freedom. Many English people became even more anti-Catholic after the Armada. ‘Popery’ as they referred to as Catholicism, was associated with autocracy, intolerance, and slavery. This anti-Catholicism was an important aspect of English political life for many years.<ref>Bridgen, Susan. <i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0142001252/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0142001252&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=128a402be47987e0bd3742b14adafb3d New Worlds, Lost Worlds: The Rule of the Tudors, 1485–1603]</i>. New York, NY: Viking Penguin, 2001), p. 115</ref>  On the other hand, English Catholics faced an increasingly difficult life in England after the Armada's destruction. Catholics, known as ‘recusants,’ refused to recognize the Church of England. They came under official and unofficial pressure to conform to the state religion and give up their faith.<ref> Bridgen, p. 234</ref> Even loyal English Catholics became suspect, and as a result, more and Catholics converted to Protestantism.  By the end of Elizabeth's reign, England was a Protestant nation, with only a small oppressed Catholic minority. The Armada had played an important role in this process. Phillip II had attempted to overturn the religious settlement in England, but his attempted invasion only strengthened it. England's people began to see themselves in providential terms and biblical terms as an ‘elect nation.’ <ref>Krishan Kumar. <i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0521777364/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0521777364&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=40a0da3a27c0edae7a7be1c813dd2ca4 The Making of English national identity]</i> (Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2003), p. 45</ref> The English began to believe that they were chosen by God to carry out his will. This sense of mission was crucial in later decades and was an important factor in the growth of English power, especially in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. == Did the defeat of the Spanish Armada turn England into a naval power? ==[[File: Armada One.jpg|250px|thumbnail|left|Sir Francis Drake]]It has often been stated that the Armada's defeat ended the Spanish superiority at sea and began England’s rise as a global naval power. This was not the case. The year following the Spanish Armada defeat, the English monarch launched the ‘English Armada.’<ref>Bridgen, p. 135</ref>  This was a naval attack on Spain was heavily defeated with substantial English losses. Madrid changed its strategy, and a series of fortifications were built in the Americas that gave greater protection against English and other privateers. Spain, after the defeat of the Armada, remained the premier maritime power outside China.  However, the Armada defeat did lead to long-term changes that proved to be very important in England's rise as a naval power. After the attempted Spanish invasion, there was a recognition that the English needed a strong navy, and successive English administrations pursued policies that helped to expand the navy. England focused on developing new technologies and building ‘modern shipyards.’ <ref>Holmes, p. 217</ref> These changes laid the groundwork for England's naval power.  Additionally, if the Spanish Armada had been a success, it is improbable that England would have successfully plant colonies in North America. In the early seventeenth century, English colonies were founded at Plymouth Rock and Jamestown. If the Spanish had placed one of their candidates on England's throne, this might never have occurred. The Armada's defeat saw England emerge as, if not a dominant naval power but an important one, and the principal colonizer of North America. Additionally, English trading companies such as the East India Company expanded across the globe.<ref>Holmes, p. 256</ref> England's naval capability directly led to the British Empire's growth and development. == Conclusion ==The defeat of the Armada was a major turning point in English history. It saved the throne of Elizabeth I and guaranteed English independence from Spain. The Spanish saw the invasion as a crusade and one that would stamp out the heresy of Protestantism in England. The failure of the invasion meant that Protestantism became more entrenched and less sympathetic to Catholicism. Indeed, in the aftermath of the Armada, Protestantism became part of the national identity. To be English was to be a Protestant and to reject Catholicism.  The attempted Spanish invasion led to the adoption of an anti-Catholic discourse, known as Popery, and this was an important factor in English political life for over two centuries. The Armada did not end Spanish maritime supremacy, but it did lead to England becoming a formidable naval power. This allowed it to found colonies and trading companies in the early seventeenth century to lay the British Empire's foundation. ====References====
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