The Spanish Armada
The Spanish Armada set sail from Spain in 1588. King Phillip II wished to invade England for both political and religious reasons. Spain put a tremendous amount of money into the Armada and planned for years, but in the end the fleet was defeated. The defeat of the Spanish Armada was caused by a series of unexpected events, and led to Spain’s downfall as a world power, and England’s subsequent rise in power.
King Phillip II had many political and religious reasons to invade England. Because Phillip had been named as Mary’s successor before her death, he thought he had a right to the English throne. Another reason for the Armada was the race between Spain and England in trade and supremacy in the seas. Spain was one of the most powerful nations in Europe, but English naval power was becoming a threat to Spain’s domination of the seas. This was particularly true with respect to the New World. Spain’s discovery of the New World had opened up a huge source of trade for Spain and England wanted to share it. Spanish treasure ships coming from the New World were attacked by British ships and robbed on their way back to Spain. The English also raided Spanish towns in the New World. After the English had raided towns and robbed Spanish ships, Queen Elizabeth refused to return what they had stolen. Finally, the English had also helped Spain’s enemies, such as the Dutch. Phillip believed that only a conquest of England could halt English aid to the rebels and stop English depredations in the New World.
There were also religious reasons to assemble the Armada. In fact, religion was one of the main reasons for the Armada. Phillip was very religious and it angered him that Henry VIII had rejected the power of the Pope and started the Church of England. Under Elizabeth, England was Protestant. England was also uncomfortable for Catholics. Catholics were fined for not attending services in the Church of England and imprisoned for hearing or saying mass. Since 1581, over a
King Phillip II had many political and religious reasons to invade England. Because Phillip had been named as Mary’s successor before her death, he thought he had a right to the English throne. Another reason for the Armada was the race between Spain and England in trade and supremacy in the seas. Spain was one of the most powerful nations in Europe, but English naval power was becoming a threat to Spain’s domination of the seas. This was particularly true with respect to the New World. Spain’s discovery of the New World had opened up a huge source of trade for Spain and England wanted to share it. Spanish treasure ships coming from the New World were attacked by British ships and robbed on their way back to Spain. The English also raided Spanish towns in the New World. After the English had raided towns and robbed Spanish ships, Queen Elizabeth refused to return what they had stolen. Finally, the English had also helped Spain’s enemies, such as the Dutch. Phillip believed that only a conquest of England could halt English aid to the rebels and stop English depredations in the New World.
There were also religious reasons to assemble the Armada. In fact, religion was one of the main reasons for the Armada. Phillip was very religious and it angered him that Henry VIII had rejected the power of the Pope and started the Church of England. Under Elizabeth, England was Protestant. England was also uncomfortable for Catholics. Catholics were fined for not attending services in the Church of England and imprisoned for hearing or saying mass. Since 1581, over a