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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===In the sixteenth centuryThe Spanish King Phillip II was an ardent Catholic, Europe was divided into and he had two mutually hostile religious groupsprimary ambitions. The North of Europe was dominated by Protestantism and First, he wanted to return all Protestants to the south was mainly Catholicfaith. England had become a Protestant realm by the mid-sixteenth centurySecond, but this was opposed by many Catholics. Contrary he hoped to popular belief, Catholicism had been popular in England before expand the Reformation and many people still sympathized with what they called the ‘old religion.’<ref> Duffy, E. <i>Stripping growing power of the Altars</i> (Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2000), pSpain. 113</ref> Queen ElizabethThe Spanish King had been married to Mary I of England, I initially pursued and it seemed that England would fall under Spanish influence for a moderate religious policy to minimize religious conflict between Catholic and Protestanttime. However, Elizabeth soon found herself under pressure I's coronation had fundamentally altered this dynamic because she was determined to maintain England's independence from Spain. On the great Catholic power of the timeother hand, Spain. It was wanted to force the English back into the dominant Catholic power fold and end the English pirates' attacks on their ships and colonies in Europe because of its vast territories in Europe and the Americas.

The Spanish King Phillip II was an ardent Catholic and he Elizabeth, I had two ambitionsencouraged English privateers, such as Sir Francis Drake, the first was to return the Protestants mount attacks on Spanish targets. Elizabeth sought to limit Spain's power and secure some of the Catholic faith and to expand riches ‘of the power of Spainamerican 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 Spanish King had been married Oxford Companion to Mary I of 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 deteriorated rapidly, and it seemed that for a time that England would become part of by the Spanish dominions. Howevermid-1580s, the coronation of Elizabeth I had changed all of this and she two countries were in an undeclared war. A war that was determined on a policy to last until the end of independence from SpainElizabeth’s reign. Spain wanted to force was the English back into richest and the Catholic fold most powerful Empire in Europe, and Phillip decided to end invade England. He believed that it would help him secure many of Europe's strategic objectives if he were successful. The Spanish presented the attacks of English pirates on their shipping Armada as a Catholic crusade, and colonies in the AmericasPapacy partially funded it.

Elizabeth== How did England defeat the Spanish Armada? ==[[File: Armada 4.jpg|350px|thumbnail|left| A contemporary painting of the Armada]]The Armada launch had been delayed several times, I had encouraged including once because of a raid by the English privateers, such as Sir Francis Drake to mount attacks on Cadiz. The Spanish targets. Elizabeth sought to limit the power Armada was a fleet of Spain 130 ships, and to secure some it first left the port of Coruna in August 1588, under the riches ‘of Duke of Medina Sidonia, the America colonies for her subjectsmost powerful noble in Spain.’<ref> Holmes, Richard. <i>The Oxford Companion to Military History</i> (Oxford, Oxford University Press. 2001), p. 214215</ref> The fleet was ordered to sail to the English Queen also supported the Dutch Channel and transport a large army in their revolt against Phillip IIFlanders into England. Relations between Spain and England began The invasion aimed to deteriorate depose Elizabeth I and by the mid-1580s the two countries were in an undeclared war, that was to last reimpose Catholicism on the rest of Elizabeth’s reignEnglish people. Spain The fleet was impressive, and the richest Spanish were experienced, sailors and navigators. However, the most powerful Empire in Europe commander Medina-Sidonia was old and Phillip decided that he would invade Englandrelatively inexperienced, believing that if and he was successful it would help him to secure many of his strategic objectives in Europecommitted mistake after mistake throughout the campaign. The Spanish presented the Armada as a Catholic crusade and it was partially funded by the Papacy.

===Despite its numerical advantage, the Spanish fleet did not attack the English fleet based at Portsmouth and instead sailed to Calais. The Spanish Armada=== [[File: Armada 4army under the Duke of Parma was advancing to Calais to be transported to England.jpg|350px|thumbnail|left| A contemporary painting of However, the Armada]]The launch of English navy under Drake and Howard attacked the Armada had been delayed several timeswith fireships, including once because and this was the start of a raid by what became known as the English on CadizBattle of Grave lines. The Spanish Armada was a fleet English tactic of 130 using fire-ships and it first left created panic among the port of Coruna in August 1588Spaniards, under and the command fleet was broken up into small groups of the Duke of Medina Sidoniaships. The battle lasted over a week, the most powerful noble in Spainwith both sides launching attacks.<ref> HolmesHowever, pMedina-Sidonia decided to withdraw. 215</ref> The fleet This decision was ordered to sail to decisive as it meant that the English Channel and transport a large Spanish army in Flanders into England. The aim of could not rendezvous with the invasion was to depose Elizabeth I army. Drake and the other English commanders were happy to reimpose Catholicism on let the English peopleArmada sail away from the invasion force. The A strong wind from the southwest forced the fleet was an impressive one and to sail to the Spanish were experienced, sailors north and navigators. However, into the commander Medina-Sidonia was old and relatively inexperienced and he was to commit mistake after mistakeNorth Sea.

The == How was the Spanish fleet despite its numerical advantage did not attack the English fleet based at Portsmouth Armada destroyed? ==Medina-Sidonia tried to regroup his ships and instead sailed withdraw to CalaisSpain. The Spanish army under the Duke of Parma was advancing to Calais to be transported This ended Spain's attempt to invade England. However, the English navy under Drake and Howard attacked but it did not end the Armada with fireships, and 's problems. At this was the start of what became known as the Battle of Grave lines. The English tactic of using fire-shipspoint, created panic among the Spaniards Armada sought only to survive and the fleet was broken up into small groups of ships. The battle was return to last over a week with both sides launching attacksSpain. HoweverUnfortunately, Medinainclement weather and a strong south-Sidonia decided to withdraw and this was decisive as it western wind meant that the Spanish army was unable to rendezvous with could not return via the invasion armyEnglish Channel. This wind later became known in England as a ‘Protestant Wind.’<ref>McDermott, James. <i>[https://www.amazon. Drake 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 other English commanders were happy to let the Spanish Armada sail away from the invasion force: The Necessary Quarrel]</i>. Then a strong wind from the southwest forced the fleet to sail to the north and into the North Sea(New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2005), P. 215</ref>

Medina-Sidonia could regroup his ships and decided to withdraw to Spain and the attempt to invade England was over. Now the Armada sought only to survive and return to Spain. The inclement weather and a strong south-western meant that the Spanish could not return via the English Channel and this wind became known in England as a ‘Protestant Wind.’<ref>McDermott, James. <i>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 English navy continued to harry the English Spanish fleet. The weather was very unseasonable for that time of years year, and the fleet of Phillip II was battered by strong gales and massive stormsbattered Phillip's fleet. As the Armada made their way around Scotland the suffered many losses, they began to lose ships. 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>[https://www.amazon.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 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 was lost. The While the Spanish Armada's defeat did not end the undeclared Anglo-Spanish War did not end with the defeat of the Armada but was to , which would continue until 1604 and , it made it difficult for Spain to get the upper hand. Eventually, the conflict ended in a stalemate.

===England’s salvation=Could Spain have taken England it had successfully landed its invasion force? ==The Spanish Armada is one of the great ‘ifs’ in history. If the Spanish ships had been able to rendezvous with the Flanders' army of Flanders and transported it across the Channel, then it is quite likely that England would may have been defeated. The Spanish army was considered to be the best in Europe at this time , and it was composed not only of Spanish veterans but also German veterans. The English army 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 forces would most likely have overcome the English been victorious and deposed Elizabeth I. The kingdom of England would have become part of the Spanish Empire. 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 and dependent of the Spanish. 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.<ref> Holmes, pland. 257</ref>

===The kingdom of England would have become part of the Spanish Empire. Phillip II did not plan to rule it directly but planned to place a Catholic on the throne. Philip wanted an ally that would become dependent on Spain. The defeat of the Armada prevented this from happening and Religionsecured the independence of England. England's victory allowed her to become a major world power by the eighteenth century.<ref> Holmes, p. 257</ref>  <dh-ad/> ===[[File: Armada 2.jpg|390px|thumbnail|left|English fireships attacking Spanish vessels at What impact did the Battle defeat of Grevellines]]the Spanish Armada have on Catholics in England? ==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 by the state church , and once again , the Catholic Church 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 The new Catholic monarch probably would have persecuted Protestants in much the same way as Mary I had during her reign. Now while With Catholicism re-established, this could have hobbled Protestantism in England.  By the 1580s, the Church of England was supported by most English people, and they would have been made resisted any attempt to reimpose the state religion this Catholic faith. Still, England would not likely have seen suffered a series of Religious Wars similar to France in the sixteenth century. However, the end 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 in Englandas 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>

By On the 1580s the Church of England was supported by most other hand, English people and they would have resisted any attempt to reimpose the Catholic faith. It seems likely that Catholics faced an increasingly difficult life in England would have suffered a series of Religious Wars similar to France in after the sixteenth centuryArmada's destruction. HoweverCatholics, known as ‘recusants, the failure of the Armada meant that ’ refused to recognize 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 came under official and important for their freedom. Many English people became even more anti-Catholic after unofficial pressure to conform to the Armada. ‘Popery’ as they referred to Catholicism was associated with autocracy, intolerance, state religion and slavery. This anti-Catholicism was an important aspect of English political life for many yearsgive up their faith.<ref>Bridgen, Susan. <i>New Worlds, Lost Worlds: The Rule of the Tudors, 1485–1603</i>. New York, NY: Viking Penguin, 2001), p. 115234</ref> It is arguable that the main losers in the Armada apart from all those who died in the conflict were Even loyal English Catholicsbecame suspect, and as a result, more and Catholics converted to Protestantism.

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</ref>. Even loyal Catholics became suspect and as a result, more and Catholics converted to Protestantism. By the end of the Elizabeth's 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 England's people of England began to see themselves in providential terms and in biblical terms as an ‘elect nation’ 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 Making of English national identity]</i> (Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2003), p. 45</ref>. They believed The English began to believe 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 crucial in later decades and was an important factor in the growth of English power, especially in the seventeenth and eighteenth centurycenturies.

===Did the defeat of the Spanish Armada turn England as into a naval power=? ==

It has often been stated that the Armada's defeat of the Armada ended the Spanish superiority at sea and was the beginning of began England’s rise as a global naval power. This was not the case. The year following the defeat of the Spanish Armada defeat, 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 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. The fact remains that Spain , after the defeat of the Armada , remained the premier maritime power outside China.  However, the Armada defeat of the Armada did lead to long-term changes that were proved to prove be very important in the England's rise of England as a naval power. There was a recognition, after 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 and develop . England focused on developing new technologies and building ‘modern shipyards.’ <ref>Holmes, p. 217</ref> As These changes laid the groundwork for England's naval power.  Additionally, if the Spanish Armada had been a resultsuccess, 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 wake Spanish had placed one of the their candidates on England's throne, this might never have occurred. The Armada's defeat saw England emerge as, the kingdom became 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 powercapability directly led to the British Empire's growth and development.

If == Conclusion ==The defeat of the Spanish Armada had been was a success then it seems likely that the major turning point in English would not have been able to successfully plant colonies in North Americahistory. In It saved the early seventeenth century, throne of Elizabeth I and guaranteed English colonies were found at Plymouth Rock and Jamestownindependence from Spain. If The Spanish saw the Spanish had placed invasion as a crusade and one of their candidates on that would stamp out the throne heresy of Protestantism in England then this may never have occurred. The defeat failure of the Armada saw England emerge as, if not a dominant naval power but an important one, invasion meant that had the means to establish colonies Protestantism became more entrenched and less sympathetic to trading companies such as Catholicism. Indeed, in the aftermath of the East India Company<ref>HolmesArmada, pProtestantism became part of the national identity. 256</ref>. Its naval capability To be English was in the long-term to directly to lead be a Protestant and to the growth and development of the British Empirereject Catholicism.

===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's foundation.{{Mediawiki:British History}}

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