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===Background===In the sixteenth century, Europe was divided into two mutually hostile religious groups. The North defeat and destruction of Europe was dominated the Spanish Armada in 1588 is seen by Protestantism and many as the south was mainly Catholichigh point of Elizabeth I’s of England’s reign. England had become a Protestant realm by If the mid-sixteenth century, but this was opposed by many Catholics. Contrary to popular belief, Catholicism Armada had been popular in England before successful, it could have changed the Reformation course of English and many people still sympathized with what they called the ‘old religionworld history.’<ref> Duffy, E. Stripping The defeat of the Altars (Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2000), pArmada had profound consequences for England. 113</ref> Queen Elizabeth, I initially pursued a moderate religious policy to minimize religious conflict between Catholic and Protestant. However, Elizabeth soon found herself under pressure from the great Catholic power The first consequence of the time, Spain. It English victory was the dominant Catholic power in Europe because of that it secured its vast territories in Europe and the Americasindependence.
The Spanish King Phillip II was an ardent Catholic and he had two ambitionsWith defeat of the Armada, the first England become a serious European naval power. Britain's navy was to return the Protestants to foundation of the Catholic faith and to expand the power of Spainfuture British Empire. The Spanish King had been married to Mary I of England and it seemed that for As a time that England would become part result of the Spanish dominions. Howeverfailed invasion, the coronation of Elizabeth I had changed all of this and she was determined on a policy of independence from by Catholic Spain. Spain wanted to force the English back into the Catholic fold , England became more self-consciously Protestant and to end the attacks of English pirates on their shipping Catholicism became increasingly unpopular and colonies in the Americas. Elizabeth, I had encouraged was viewed as anti-English privateers, such as Sir Francis Drake to mount attacks on Spanish targets. Elizabeth sought to limit the power of Spain and to secure some of the riches ‘of the America colonies for her subjects.’<ref> Holmes, Richard. <i>The Oxford Companion to Military History</i> (Oxford, Oxford University Press. 2001), p. 214</ref> The English Queen also supported saw the Dutch in their revolt against Phillip II. Relations between Spain and England began to deteriorate and by defeat of the mid-1580s the two countries were in Armada as an undeclared war, that was to last the rest act of Elizabeth’s reigndivine providence. Spain was the richest and the most powerful Empire in Europe and Phillip decided It confirmed to them that he would invade England, believing that if he was successful it would help him to secure many of his strategic objectives in Europe. The Spanish presented the Armada as a Catholic crusade and it was partially funded by the Papacykingdom destined for greatness.
Medina-Sidonia could regroup his ships and decided Elizabeth, I had encouraged English privateers, such as Sir Francis Drake to withdraw to Spain and the attempt to invade England was overmount attacks on Spanish targets. Now the Armada Elizabeth sought only to survive limit the power of Spain and return to Spain. The inclement weather and a strong south-western meant that secure some of the Spanish could not return via riches ‘of the English Channel and this wind became known in England as a ‘Protestant WindAmerica colonies for her subjects.’<ref>McDermottHolmes, JamesRichard. England and the Spanish Armada<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 Necessary Quarrel. New HavenOxford Companion to Military History]</i> (Oxford, CT: Yale Oxford University Press, 2005. 2001), Pp. 215214</ref> The Spanish Command, which could not communicate with Madrid decided to round English Queen also supported the British IslesDutch in their revolt against Phillip II. The Armada sailed around Scotland but all Relations between Spain and England deteriorated rapidly and by the while was harried by mid-1580s the English fleettwo countries were in an undeclared war. The weather A war that was very unseasonable for that time of years and to last until the fleet end of Phillip II Elizabeth’s reign. Spain 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 richest and the survivors were hunted down most powerful Empire in Europe and killed by natives loyal to the English crown.<ref>T. P. Kilfeather. <i>Ireland: Graveyard of the Spanish Armada</i> (Anvil Books, 1967), pPhillip decided that he would invade England. 167</ref> By the time He believed that the remnants of the Spanish invasion fleet made if he was successful it would help him to Spain over two-thirds secure many of the original Armada had been losthis strategic objectives in Europe. The undeclared Anglo-Spanish War did not end with the defeat of presented the Armada but as a Catholic crusade and it was to continue until 1604 and ended in a stalematepartially funded by the Papacy.
===The Armada Spanish fleet despite its numerical advantage did not attack the English fleet based at Portsmouth and Religion===[[File: Armada 2instead sailed to Calais.jpg|200px|thumb|left|English fireships attacking The Spanish vessels at army under the Battle Duke of Grevellines]]Phillip II wanted Parma was advancing to Calais to be transported to return England to Catholicism. If However, the English navy under Drake and Howard attacked the Armada had been successful then it seems likely that a Catholic king or queen would have been placed on with fireships, and this was the throne. They would have had start of what became known as the power to overturn the Protestant establishment in the countryBattle of Grave lines. No longer would the Church The English tactic of England be using fire-ships, created panic among the state church Spaniards and once again the Catholic Church would have been the only recognized religion in the realmfleet was broken up into small groups of ships. Phillip II believed that it was right for The battle lasted over a monarch week with both sides launching attacks. However, Medina-Sidonia decided to ensure religious conformity in their kingdomwithdraw. It seems most likely This decision was decisive as it meant that the new Catholic monarch would have persecuted Protestants in much Spanish army was unable to rendezvous with the same way as Mary I had during her reigninvasion army. Now while Catholicism would have been made Drake and the other English commanders were happy to let the Armada sail away from the state religion this would not have seen invasion force. Then a strong wind from the southwest forced the fleet to sail to the north and into the end of Protestantism in EnglandNorth Sea.
By the 1580s the Church of England was supported by most English people Medina-Sidonia tried to regroup his ships and they would have resisted any withdraw to Spain. This ended Spain's attempt to reimpose the Catholic faith. It seems likely that invade England would have suffered a series of Religious Wars similar to France in was over, but it did not end the sixteenth centuryArmada's problems. HoweverAt this point, the failure of the Armada sought only to survive and return to Spain. Unfortunately, inclement weather and a strong south-western wind meant that the Church of England was now more secure than ever before. Increasingly, Spanish could not return via the English people began to see themselves as a Protestant peopleChannel. They saw Protestantism as an integral part of Englishness and important for their freedom. Many English people This wind later became even more anti-Catholic after the Armada. ‘Popery’ known in England 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 yearsa ‘Protestant Wind.’<ref>BridgenMcDermott, SusanJames. <i>New Worlds, Lost Worlds[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 Rule of the Tudors, 1485–1603Necessary Quarrel]</i>. (New YorkHaven, NYCT: Viking PenguinYale University Press, 20012005), pP. 115215</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 Spanish Command, which could not communicate with Madrid decided to round the British Isles. The Armada, Catholics known as ‘recusants’ because sailed around Scotland but the English navy continued to harry the Spanish fleet. The weather was very unseasonable for that time of year and the Phillip's fleet was battered by strong gales and massive storms. As the Armada made their way around Scotland they refused began to recognize lose ships. Many more ships were wrecked on the Church west coast of England came under official Ireland and the survivors were hunted down and unofficial pressure to conform killed by natives loyal to the state religionEnglish crown.<ref> Bridgen, pT. P. Kilfeather. 234<i>[https://ref>www. Even loyal Catholics became suspect and as a result, more and Catholics converted to Protestantismamazon. By the end 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 reign of Elizabeth, England was a Protestant nation, with only a small and oppressed Catholic minority. The Spanish 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/i> Krishan Kumar. The making of English national identity (CambridgeAnvil Books, Cambridge University Press, 20031967), p. 45167</ref>. They believed By the time that they were chosen by God the remnants of the Spanish invasion fleet made it to carry out his will and this gave them a newSpain over two-found confidence. This sense thirds of mission the original Armada was one that was very important in later decades and was an important factor in lost. While the growth defeat of English powerthe Spanish Aramade did not end the undeclared Anglo-Spanish War which would continue until 1604, it made if difficult for Spain to to get the upper hand. Eventually, especially the conflict ended in the seventeenth and eighteenth centurya stalemate.
If the Spanish Armada had been a success then it seems likely that the English 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 have occurred. The defeat of the Armada saw England emerge as, if not a dominant naval power but an important one, that had the means to establish colonies and to trading companies such as the East India Company<ref>Holmes, p. 256<dh-ad/ref>. Its naval capability was in the long-term to directly to lead to the growth and development of the British Empire.
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[[File: Armada 32.jpg|200px390px|thumbthumbnail|left|King Phillip II of Spain-mortal enemy of Elizabeth I]]The defeat and destruction of the English fireships attacking 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 vessels at the independence of that kingdom. The defeat Battle of the Armada led to England becoming a naval power and this was to prove important in the foundation of the future British Empire. As a result of the failed invasion, by Catholic Spain, England became more self-consciously Protestant and, Catholicism became very unpopular and seen as anti-English. The defeat of the Armada was an act of divine providence and it confirmed the opinion of many that England was a kingdom destined for greatness and this was to play a very important role in English national identity for many centuries. [[File: Armada 4.jpg|200px|thumb|left| A contemporary painting of the ArmadaGrevellines]]
===The Spanish Armada=Background====The launch [[File: Armada 3.jpg|150px|thumbnail|left|King Phillip II of Spain-mortal enemy of Elizabeth I]]In the Armada had been delayed several timessixteenth century, including once because of a raid by the English on CadizEurope was divided into two mutually hostile religious groups. The Spanish Armada Northern Europe was a fleet of 130 ships dominated by Protestants regimes and it first left the port of Coruna south was mainly Catholic. England had become an increasing Protestant state by the mid-sixteenth century. Contrary to popular belief, Catholicism had been popular in August 1588, under England before the command of Reformation and many people still sympathized with what they called the Duke of Medina Sidonia‘old religion.’<ref> Duffy, the most powerful noble in SpainE.<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> Holmes(Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2000), p. 215113</ref> The fleet was ordered to sail to Queen Elizabeth the English Channel and transport First initially pursued a large army in Flanders into England. The aim of the invasion was to depose Elizabeth I and moderate religious policy to reimpose Catholicism on the English people. The fleet was an impressive one and the Spanish were experienced, sailors minimize religious conflict between Catholic and navigatorsProtestant. However, Elizabeth soon found herself under pressure from Spain - the preeminent Catholic power in the commander Medina-Sidonia was old world at that time. Spain's influence reach stretched across Europe and relatively inexperienced and he was to commit mistake after mistakeinto the Americas.
The Spanish fleet despite its numerical advantage did not attack the English fleet based at Portsmouth King Phillip II was an ardent Catholic and instead sailed to Calaishe had two primary ambitions. The Spanish army under the Duke of Parma was advancing First, he wanted to Calais return all Protestants back to be transported to Englandthe Catholic faith. HoweverSecond, he hoped to to expand the English navy under Drake and Howard attacked the Armada with fireships, and this was the start growing power of what became known as the Battle of Grave linesSpain. The English tactic Spanish King had been married to Mary I of using fire-ships, created panic among the Spaniards England and the fleet was broken up into small groups of ships. The battle was to last over it seemed that for a week with both sides launching attackstime that England would fall under Spanish influence. However, Medina-Sidonia decided to withdraw and the coronation of Elizabeth I had fundamentally altered this dynamic because she was decisive as it meant that the Spanish army was unable determined to rendezvous with the invasion armymaintain England's independence from Spain. Drake and Spain, on the other English commanders were happy hand, wanted to let the Armada sail away from the invasion force. Then a strong wind from the southwest forced English back into the fleet to sail to Catholic fold and end the north attacks of English pirates on their ships and into colonies in the North SeaAmericas.
===England’s salvation=The Spanish Armada====The Spanish [[File: Armada is one 4.jpg|350px|thumbnail|left| A contemporary painting of the great ‘ifs’ in history. If Armada]]The launch of the Spanish ships Armada had been able to rendezvous with the army delayed several times, including once because of Flanders and transported it across a raid by the Channel, then it is quite likely that England would have been defeatedEnglish on Cadiz. The Spanish army Armada was considered to be a fleet of 130 ships and it first left the best port of Coruna in Europe at this time and it was composed not only August 1588, under the command of the Duke of Spanish veterans but also German veteransMedina Sidonia, the most powerful noble in Spain.<ref> Holmes, p. 215</ref> The English army fleet was mainly composed of local militias and was poorly led and trained. In a set piece battle, on land, it seems likely that the Spanish would have overcome ordered to sail to the English Channel and deposed Elizabeth Itransport a large army in Flanders into England. The kingdom of England would have become part aim of the Spanish Empire. Phillip II did not plan invasion was to rule it directly but planned depose Elizabeth I and to place a Catholic reimpose Catholicism on the throne English people. The fleet was an impressive and they would have been the ally Spanish were experienced, sailors and dependent of the Spanishnavigators. The defeat of However, the Armada prevented this from happening commander Medina-Sidonia was old and it secured the independence of England relatively inexperienced and allowed her to become a world power by he committed mistake after mistake throughout the eighteenth century.<ref> Holmes, pcampaign. 257</ref>
===England as a naval power=England’s salvation====[[File: The Spanish Armada Oneis one of the great ‘ifs’ in history.jpg|200px|thumb|left|Sir Francis Drake]]It has often If the Spanish ships had been stated that able to rendezvous with the defeat army of Flanders and transport it across the Armada ended Channel, then England may have been defeated. The Spanish army was considered to be the Spanish superiority best in Europe at sea this time and it was the beginning composed not only of England’s rise as a global naval powerSpanish but German veterans. This The English army was not mainly composed of local militias and was poorly led and trained. In a set piece battle, on land, the caseSpanish forces would most likely have been victorious and deposed Elizabeth I. The year following the defeat kingdom of England would have become part of the Spanish Armada the English monarch launched the ‘English ArmadaEmpire.’<ref>Bridgen, p. 135</ref> This was Phillip II did not plan to rule it directly but planned to place a naval attack Catholic 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 Philip wanted an ally that would become dependent on Spain after the defeat of the Armada remained the premier maritime power outside China. However, the The defeat of the Armada did lead to long-term changes that were to prove very important in prevented this from happening and secured the rise independence of England as . England's victory allowed her to become a naval major world power. There was a recognition, after by 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 shipyardseighteenth century.’ <ref>Holmes, p. 217257</ref> As a result, in the wake of the Armada, the kingdom became an important naval power.
====The Armada and Religion====Phillip II wanted to return England to Catholicism. If the Armada had been successful then it seems likely that a Catholic king or queen would have been placed on the throne. They would have had the power to overturn the Protestant establishment in the country. No longer would the Church of England be the state church and once again the Catholic Church would have been the only recognized religion. Phillip II believed that it was right for a monarch to ensure religious conformity in their kingdom. The new Catholic monarch probably would have persecuted Protestants in much the same way as Mary I had during her reign. With Catholicism reestablished this could have hobbled Protestantism in England. 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 it is likely that England would have suffered a series of Religious Wars similar to France in the sixteenth century. However, the failure of the Armada meant that the Church of England was now more secure than ever before. Increasingly, the English people began to see themselves as 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 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 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 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 the reign of Elizabeth, 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. The people of England began to see themselves in providential terms and in 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 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|250px|thumbnail|left|Sir Francis Drake]]It has often been stated that the defeat of the Armada ended the Spanish superiority at sea and begun 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 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 defeat of the Armada did lead to long-term changes that proved to be 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. England focused on developing new technologies and building ‘modern shipyards.’ <ref>Holmes, p. 217</ref> These changes laid the groundwork for England naval power. Additionally, if the Spanish Armada had been a success it is highly unlikely that England would have been able to 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 the throne of England then this may never have occurred. The defeat of the Armada 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 lead to the growth and development of the British Empire. ====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 that were to lay the foundation for the British Empire.
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