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[[File: Armada 32.jpg|150px390px|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=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 divided into two mutually hostile religious groups. The North of Protestants' regimes dominated northern Europe was dominated by Protestantism , and the south was mainly Catholic. England had become a an increasing Protestant realm by state in the mid-sixteenth century, but this 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 the ‘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 the Altars ]</i> (Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2000), p. 113</ref> Queen Elizabeth, I the First initially pursued a moderate religious policy to minimize religious conflict between Catholic and Protestant. However, Elizabeth soon found herself under pressure from Spain - the great preeminent Catholic power of in the time, world. Spain. It was the dominant Catholic power in Europe because of its vast territories in 's influence reaches stretched across Europe and into the Americas.

The Spanish King Phillip II was an ardent Catholic , and he had two primary ambitions. First, the first was he wanted to return the all Protestants to the Catholic faith and . Second, he hoped to expand the growing power of Spain. The Spanish King had been married to Mary I of England , and it seemed that England would fall under Spanish influence for a time that England would become part of the Spanish dominions. However, the coronation of Elizabeth I 's coronation had changed all of fundamentally altered this and dynamic because she was determined on a policy of to maintain England's independence from Spain. On the other hand, Spain wanted to force the English back into the Catholic fold and to end the attacks of English pirates ' attacks on their shipping ships and colonies in the Americas.

Elizabeth, I had encouraged English privateers, such as Sir Francis Drake , to mount attacks on Spanish targets. Elizabeth sought to limit the Spain's power of Spain and to secure some of the riches ‘of the America american colonies for her subjects.’<ref> Holmes, Richard. <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> (Oxford, Oxford University Press. 2001), p. 214</ref> The English Queen also supported the Dutch in their revolt against Phillip II. Relations between Spain and England began to deteriorate deteriorated rapidly, and by the mid-1580s , the two countries were in an undeclared war, . A war that was to last until the rest end of Elizabeth’s reign. Spain was the richest and the most powerful Empire in Europe , and Phillip decided that he would to invade England, believing . He believed that if he was successful it would help him to secure many of his Europe's strategic objectives in Europeif he were successful. The Spanish presented the Armada as a Catholic crusade , and it was the Papacy partially funded by the Papacyit.

===The How did England defeat the Spanish Armada=? == [[File: Armada 4.jpg|350px|thumbnail|left| A contemporary painting of the Armada]]The Armada launch of the Armada had been delayed several times, including once because of a raid by the English on Cadiz. The Spanish Armada was a fleet of 130 ships , and it first left the port of Coruna in August 1588, under the command of the Duke of Medina Sidonia, the most powerful noble in Spain.<ref> Holmes, p. 215</ref> The fleet was ordered to sail to the English Channel and transport a large army in Flanders into England. The aim of the invasion was aimed to depose Elizabeth I and to reimpose Catholicism on the English people. The fleet was an impressive one , and the Spanish were experienced, sailors and navigators. However, the commander Medina-Sidonia was old and relatively inexperienced , and he was to commit committed mistake after mistakethroughout the campaign.

The Spanish fleet despite Despite its numerical advantage , the Spanish fleet did not attack the English fleet based at Portsmouth and instead sailed to Calais. The Spanish army under the Duke of Parma was advancing to Calais to be transported to England. However, the English navy under Drake and Howard attacked the Armada with fireships, and this was the start of what became known as the Battle of Grave lines. The English tactic of using fire-ships, created panic among the Spaniards , and the fleet was broken up into small groups of ships. The battle was to last lasted over a week , with both sides launching attacks. However, Medina-Sidonia decided to withdraw and this . This decision was decisive as it meant that the Spanish army was unable to could not rendezvous with the invasion army. Drake and the other English commanders were happy to let the Armada sail away from the invasion force. Then a A strong wind from the southwest forced the fleet to sail to the north and into the North Sea.

== How was the Spanish Armada destroyed? ==Medina-Sidonia could tried to regroup his ships and decided to withdraw to Spain and the . This ended Spain's attempt to invade England was over, but it did not end the Armada's problems. Now At this point, the Armada sought only to survive and return to Spain. The Unfortunately, inclement weather and a strong south-western wind meant that the Spanish could not return via the English Channel and this . This wind later became known in England as a ‘Protestant Wind.’<ref>McDermott, James. <i>[https://www.amazon.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 the Spanish Armada: The Necessary Quarrel]</i>. (New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2005), P. 215</ref> The Spanish Command, which could not communicate with Madrid decided to round the British Isles. The Armada sailed around Scotland but all the while was harried by the English fleet. The weather was very unseasonable for that time of years and the fleet of Phillip II was battered by gales and storms. As the Armada made their way around Scotland the suffered many losses. Many more ships were wrecked on the west coast of Ireland and the survivors were hunted down and killed by natives loyal to the English crown.<ref>T. P. Kilfeather. <i>Ireland: Graveyard of the Spanish Armada</i> (Anvil Books, 1967), p. 167</ref> By the time that the remnants of the Spanish invasion fleet made it to Spain over two-thirds of the original Armada had been lost. The undeclared Anglo-Spanish War did not end with the defeat of the Armada but was to continue until 1604 and ended in a stalemate.

===England’s salvation===The Spanish Armada is one of the great ‘ifs’ in history. If the Spanish ships had been able Command, which could not communicate with Madrid, decided to rendezvous with the army of Flanders and transported it across round the Channel, then it is quite likely that England would have been defeatedBritish Isles. The Spanish army was considered Armada sailed around Scotland, but the English navy continued to be harry the best in Europe at this time and it was composed not only of Spanish veterans but also German veteransfleet. The English army weather was mainly composed very unseasonable for that time of local militias year, and was poorly led strong gales and trainedmassive storms battered Phillip's fleet. In a set piece battleAs the Armada made their way around Scotland, they began to lose ships. Many more ships were wrecked on landthe west coast of Ireland, it seems likely that and the Spanish would have overcome survivors were hunted down and killed by natives loyal to the English and deposed Elizabeth Icrown.<ref>T. P. Kilfeather. <i>[https://www.amazon. The kingdom of England would have become part 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 the Spanish EmpireArmada]</i> (Anvil Books, 1967), p. Phillip II did not plan to rule it directly but planned to place a Catholic on 167</ref> By the throne and they would have been time that the ally and dependent remnants of the Spanishinvasion fleet made it to Spain, over two-thirds of the original Armada was lost. The While the Spanish Armada's defeat of did not end the Armada prevented this from happening and undeclared Anglo-Spanish War, which would continue until 1604, it made it secured the independence of England and allowed her difficult for Spain to become a world power by get the eighteenth centuryupper hand.<ref> HolmesEventually, pthe conflict ended in a stalemate. 257</ref>

===The Armada and Religion=Could Spain have taken England it had successfully landed its invasion force? ==[[File: The Spanish Armada 2.jpg|200px|thumbnail|left|English fireships attacking Spanish vessels at is one of the Battle of Grevellines]]Phillip II wanted to return England to Catholicismgreat ‘ifs’ in history. If the Armada Spanish ships had been successful then able to rendezvous with Flanders' army and transported it seems likely that a Catholic king or queen would across the Channel, England may have been placed on the thronedefeated. They would have had the power to overturn The Spanish army was considered the Protestant establishment best in the countryEurope at this time, and it was composed not only of Spanish but also German veterans. No longer would the Church The English army was mainly composed of England be the state church local militias and was poorly led and once again trained. In a set-piece battle, the Catholic Church Spanish forces would have been the only recognized religion in the realm. Phillip II believed that it was right for a monarch to ensure religious conformity in their kingdom. It seems most likely that the new Catholic monarch would have persecuted Protestants in much the same way as Mary been victorious and deposed Elizabeth I had during her reign. Now while Catholicism would have been made the state religion this would not have seen the end of Protestantism in Englandon land.

By the 1580s the Church The kingdom of England was supported by most English people and they would have resisted any attempt become part of the Spanish Empire. Phillip II did not plan to rule it directly but planned to reimpose place a Catholic on the Catholic faiththrone. It seems likely Philip wanted an ally that England would have suffered a series of Religious Wars similar to France in the sixteenth centurybecome dependent on Spain. However, the failure The defeat of the Armada meant that prevented this from happening and secured the Church independence of England was now more secure than ever before. Increasingly, the English people began England's victory allowed her to see themselves as become a 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 major world power by the Armada. ‘Popery’ as they referred to Catholicism was associated with autocracy, intolerance, and slavery. This anti-Catholicism was an important aspect of English political life for many yearseighteenth century.<ref>Bridgen, Susan. <i>New Worlds, Lost Worlds: The Rule of the Tudors, 1485–1603</i>. New York, NY: Viking Penguin, 2001)Holmes, p. 115257</ref> It is arguable that the main losers in the Armada apart from all those who died in the conflict were English Catholics.

After the Armada, Catholics known as ‘recusants’ because they refused to recognize the Church of England came under official and unofficial pressure to conform to the state religion<ref> Bridgen, p. 234<dh-ad/ref>. Even loyal Catholics became suspect and as a result, more and Catholics converted to Protestantism. By the end 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 this process. Phillip II had attempted to overturn the religious settlement in England but his attempted invasion only strengthened it. The people of England began to see themselves in providential terms and in biblical terms as an ‘elect nation’ <ref> Krishan Kumar. The making of English national identity (Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2003), p. 45</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 What impact did the defeat of the Spanish Armada ended the Spanish superiority at sea and was the beginning of England’s rise as a global naval powerhave on Catholics in England? ==Phillip II wanted to return England to Catholicism. This was not If the case. The year following the defeat of the Spanish Armada the English monarch launched the ‘English Armada.’<ref>Bridgenhad been successful, p. 135</ref> This was then it seems likely that a naval attack Catholic king or queen would have been placed 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 privateersthrone. The fact remains that Spain after They would have had the defeat of power to overturn the Armada remained Protestant establishment in the premier maritime power outside Chinacountry. However, No longer would the defeat Church of England by the Armada did lead to long-term changes that were to prove very important in the rise of England as a naval power. There was a recognitionstate church, 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</ref> As a resultonce again, in the wake of the Armada, Catholic Church would have been the kingdom became an important naval poweronly recognized religion.

If the Spanish Armada had been Phillip II believed that it was right for a success then it seems likely that the English would not have been able monarch to successfully plant colonies ensure religious conformity 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 have occurredkingdom. The defeat of new Catholic monarch probably would have persecuted Protestants in much the Armada saw England emerge same way as, if not a dominant naval power but an important one, that Mary I had the means to establish colonies and to trading companies such as the East India Company<ref>Holmesduring her reign. With Catholicism re-established, p. 256</ref>. Its naval capability was this could have hobbled Protestantism in the long-term to directly to lead to the growth and development of the British EmpireEngland.

===Conclusion===The defeat of By the Armada was a major turning point in English history. It saved 1580s, the throne Church of Elizabeth I and guaranteed England was supported by most English independence from Spain. The Spanish saw the invasion as a crusade people, and one that they would stamp out have resisted any attempt to reimpose the heresy Catholic faith. Still, England would likely have suffered a series of Protestantism Religious Wars similar to France in Englandthe sixteenth century. The However, the Armada's failure of the invasion meant that Protestantism became the Church of England was now more entrenched and less sympathetic to Catholicismsecure than ever before. IndeedIncreasingly, in the aftermath of the Armada, English people began to see themselves as Protestant people. They saw Protestantism became as an integral part of Englishness and important for their freedom. Many English people became even more anti-Catholic after the national identityArmada. To be English ‘Popery’ as they referred to as Catholicism, was to be a Protestant associated with autocracy, intolerance, and to reject Catholicismslavery. The attempted Spanish invasion led to the adoption of an This anti-Catholic discourse, known as Popery and this Catholicism was an important factor in aspect of English political life for over two centuriesmany 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 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 Rule of the early seventeenth century that were to lay the foundation for the British EmpireTudors, 1485–1603]</i>.{{MediawikiNew York, NY:British History}}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====