England In 1580

The 1580’s resounded with rumors of a war between England and Spain. Under Queen Elizabeth I, England had managed to postpone it for several years, but as things came to a head in the Netherlands in 1588, war brewed. Spain’s King Phillip II had long desired England, even proposing to Elizabeth in an attempt to gain the English throne. As a very strong Catholic, King Phillip, as well as the rest of Spain, viewed Protestant England as a rebellious country, denying their faith. Backed by the Papacy, he decided to stage an invasion of England, and return a Catholic leader to its throne. England’s recent involvement in the Dutch rebellion gave him a perfect excuse for doing so. The coming war would display Spain’s power but mismanagement, exhibit England’s planning and technical advantage, and usher England into a new role as a world superpower.

At first glance, Spain had all the advantages. Its naval fleet, the Armada, consisted of over 130 vessels, which included many of Spain’s enormous galleons. Spain’s army consisted of 20,000 troops, in addition to the 8,000 sailors sailing the Armada. The inexperienced

Though severely outnumbered, England’s army might have later defeated the Spaniards, as they were fighting for their homeland. Even if Spain had won, the extent of their changes would most likely have only consisted of enthroning a Catholic and changing the national religion. England still would have become a superpower, though probably not as quickly. Some scholars believe that the Armada was only a pretext for a final termination to the Dutch rebellion in the Netherlands, and that it did not pose a threat to England at all.. But the truth remains that the English navy did defeat the Armada, and England did remain protestant. England’s victory exhibited both Spain’s power and weaknesses, England’s preparedness, and set the stage for England’s role as a world