Siege Preparations
Prepares Spanish operations to recover Ypres.
Role range: 1568-1648 – 1578-1592
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
Alexander Farnese Biography and Timeline
Follow Alexander Farnese through 14 dated historical records for Spain.
Alexander Farnese, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
14Distinct records
1 of 1Page
1583–1588Years on this page
1583
1584
Capture of Ypres
Captures Ypres for Spain during the Dutch Revolt.
Role range: 1568-1648 – 1578-1592
Capture of Bruges
Farnese restores Bruges to Spanish authority.
Role range: 1568-1648 – 1578-1592
1588
Battle of Flanders Coast
The Spanish are unable to reach the coast of Flanders to meet up with the army of the Duke of Parma, Medina Sidonia decides to return to Spain. The English and Spanish fleets again engage off the coast of Flanders, the English again are more successful
Role range: 1585-1604 – 1556-1598
Spanish Armada, 1st
Parma is trapped in Dunkirk by a shallow harbour. Informed by from Parma that the "Great Enterprise" is hopeless
Role range: 1585-1604
Spanish Armada, 1st
The Spanish are unable to reach the coast of Flanders to meet up with the army of the Duke of Parma, Medina Sidonia decides to return to Spain. The English and Spanish fleets again engage off the coast of Flanders, the English again are more successful
Role range: 1585-1604 – 1556-1598
Spanish Armada, 1st
At the outset Sidonia has 128 warships and 2 converted merchant ships under his command, the plan is to sail through the English Channel and.
Role range: 1585-1604 – 1556-1598
Spanish Armada, 1st
The Armada is attacked by 200 English ships, assisted by the Dutch navy, in the North Sea at Gravelines, a fire-ship attack drives the Armada ships from their anchorage, and.
Role range: 1585-1604 – 1556-1598
Spanish Armada, 1st
The Armada is blown north up the east coast of England and attempts a return to Spain by sailing around Scotland and out into the Atlantic, past Ireland but very severe weather destroys a portion of the fleet, and more than 24 vessels are wrecked.
Role range: 1585-1604 – 1556-1598
Spanish Armada, 1st
The Armada is sent to suppress English support for the United Provinces, part of the Spanish Netherlands, and to cut off attacks against Spanish possessions in the New World and the Atlantic treasure fleets.
Role range: 1585-1604 – 1556-1598
Spanish Armada, 1st
The expedition is supported by Pope Sixtus V, with the promise of a subsidy should it make land.
Role range: 1585-1604 – 1556-1598
Spanish Armada, 1st
The fleet was to be commanded by the highly experienced Elvaro de , but he died in May 1588, a few months before the sailing date, and Medina Sidonia is appointed in his place.
Role range: 1585-1604 – 1556-1598
Spanish Armada, 1st
anchor off the coast of Flanders unite with the Duke of Parmas army & invade south east England.
Role range: 1585-1604 – 1556-1598
Spanish Armada, 1st
in the ensuing Battle the Spanish abandon their rendezvous with Parma.
Role range: 1585-1604 – 1556-1598
Records, sources and methodology
These dates and descriptions come from the historical_events database. Exact duplicate records have been collapsed. Names are grouped by the country, Name 2 and Name 1 fields; records with missing Name 2 cannot be reliably assigned to an individual biography. Check the underlying sources before formal citation.