28 May 1588Blessing of Armada BannerPhilip II
Pope Sixtus V allowed Philip II of Spain to collect crusade taxes and granted his men indulgences. The blessing of the Armada's banner takes place on 28th May
Historical records for Spain in 1588, rendered directly from the World History Database and ordered by month, day and event.
Pope Sixtus V allowed Philip II of Spain to collect crusade taxes and granted his men indulgences. The blessing of the Armada's banner takes place on 28th May
Pope Sixtus V allowed Philip II of Spain to collect crusade taxes and granted his men indulgences. The blessing of the Armada's banner takes place on 28th May
It included twenty eight purpose-built warships, of which twenty were galleons, four galleys and four (Neapolitan) galleasses.
The Armada set sail from Lisbon and headed for the English Channel.
The fleet was composed of 130 ships, 8,000 sailors and 18,000 soldiers, and bore 1,500 brass guns and 1,000 iron guns.
The full body of the fleet took two days to leave port.
The remainder of the heavy vessels were mostly armed carracks and hulks together with thirty-four light ships.
The Armada, with around 130 ships, 8,000 sailors and 18,000 soldiers, 1,500 brass guns and 1,000 iron guns, sets sail from Lisbon in Portugal, heading for the English Channel. An army of 30,000 men atands in the Spanish Netherlands waiting for the fleet to arrive, the plan is to land the original force in Plymouth and transfer the land army to somewhere near London, mustering 55,000 men
The Armada, with around 130 ships, 8,000 sailors and 18,000 soldiers, 1,500 brass guns and 1,000 iron guns, sets sail from Lisbon in Portugal, heading for the English Channel. An army of 30,000 men atands in the Spanish Netherlands waiting for the fleet to arrive, the plan is to land the original force in Plymouth and transfer the land army to somewhere near London, mustering 55,000 men
It takes until May 30 for all of the Armada to leave port and, on the same day, Elizabeth's ambassador in The Netherlands, Dr Valentine Dale, meets Parmas representatives to begin peace negotiations
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
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
Peace negotiations are abandoned
The Armada was delayed by bad weather, forcing the four galleys and one of the galleons to leave the fleet, and was not sighted in England until 19 July, when it appeared off The Lizard in Cornwall.
The Spanish convened a council of war, where it was proposed to ride into the harbour on the tide and incapacitate the defending ships at anchor and from there to attack England; but Medina Sidonia declined to act because this had been explicitly forbidden by Philip, and decided to sail
The news was conveyed to London by a system of beacons that had been constructed all the way along the south coast. On that evening, the English fleet was trapped in Plymouth Harbour by the incoming tide.
on to the east and towards the Isle of Wight
The Armada was delayed by bad weather, forcing the four galleys and one of the galleons to leave the fleet, and was not sighted in England until 19 July, when it appeared off The Lizard in Cornwall.
The Spanish convened a council of war, where it was proposed to ride into the harbour on the tide and incapacitate the defending ships at anchor and from there to attack England; but Medina Sidonia declined to act because this had been explicitly forbidden by Philip, and decided to sail
The news was conveyed to London by a system of beacons that had been constructed all the way along the south coast. On that evening, the English fleet was trapped in Plymouth Harbour by the incoming tide.
on to the east and towards the Isle of Wight
The Armada was delayed by bad weather, forcing the four galleys and one of the galleons to leave the fleet, and was not sighted in England until 19 July, when it appeared off The Lizard in Cornwall.
The Spanish convened a council of war, where it was proposed to ride into the harbour on the tide and incapacitate the defending ships at anchor and from there to attack England; but Medina Sidonia declined to act because this had been explicitly forbidden by Philip, and decided to sail
The news was conveyed to London by a system of beacons that had been constructed all the way along the south coast. On that evening, the English fleet was trapped in Plymouth Harbour by the incoming tide.
on to the east and towards the Isle of Wight
The Armada was delayed by bad weather, forcing the four galleys and one of the galleons to leave the fleet, and was not sighted in England until 19 July, when it appeared off The Lizard in Cornwall.
The Spanish convened a council of war, where it was proposed to ride into the harbour on the tide and incapacitate the defending ships at anchor and from there to attack England; but Medina Sidonia declined to act because this had been explicitly forbidden by Philip, and decided to sail
The news was conveyed to London by a system of beacons that had been constructed all the way along the south coast. On that evening, the English fleet was trapped in Plymouth Harbour by the incoming tide.
on to the east and towards the Isle of Wight
The Armada Fleets sets sail from Corunna
The Spanish fleet sails past the Firth of Forth, and the English cease their pursuit, much of the Spanish fleet is destroyed as it sails around Scotland and Ireland
The English set alight eight fireships, sacrificing regular warships by filling them with pitch, brimstone, some gunpowder and tar, and cast them downwind among the closely anchored vessels of the Armada.
The Spanish feared that these uncommonly large fireships were "hellburners", specialised fireships filled with large gunpowder charges, which had been used to deadly effect at the Siege of Antwerp.
Two were intercepted and towed away, but the remainder bore down on the fleet. Medina Sidonia's flagship and the principal warships held their positions, but the rest of the fleet cut their anchor cables and scattered in confusion
Medina Sidonia cannot establish the protected anchorage needed to embark Parma's army from Flanders.
First sights the English Fleet off Dodman Point
Perez de Guzman is chased by 2 English ships to the Firth of Forth
A change in wind direction enables Sidona to flee north west
The Spanish Armada is defeated by an English naval force under command of Lord Charles Howard and Sir Francis Drake off the coast of Gravelines, now in France. Escapes the English by rounding the Orkneys then returning to Spain
The Spanish Armada is defeated by an English naval force under command of Lord Charles Howard and Sir Francis Drake off the coast of Gravelines, now in France
The Armada is forced to return to Spain via the North Sea & the Atlantic. 29-30 July, cannot break the blockade where the Armada must refit & obtain ammunition
The blockade prevents the Armada from using the Flemish coast for the refit and ammunition it needs before returning toward Spain
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 in the ensuing Battle the Spanish abandon their rendezvous with Parma. Anchors off Calais Roads ready to rendezvous with Parma, as instructed
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
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
Parma is trapped in Dunkirk by a shallow harbour. Informed by from Parma that the "Great Enterprise" is hopeless
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
The English and Spanish fleets again engage off the coast of Flanders, the English again are more successful
Parma is trapped in Dunkirk by a shallow harbour. Informed by from Parma that the "Great Enterprise" is hopeless
After fighting off Flanders, the Armada is forced northward and abandons the planned junction with Parma.
Howard calls a halt to the chase in the latitude of the Firth of Forth off Scotland but ut by that point, the Spanish are suffering from thirst and exhaustion, the only option left to Sidonia is to chart a course home to Spain, along the Atlantic
Although their shot lockers were almost empty, the English pursued in an attempt to prevent the enemy from returning to escort Parma.
By that point, the Spanish were suffering from thirst and exhaustion, and the only option left to Medina Sidonia was to chart a course home to Spain, by a very hazardous route
On 2 August Old Style (12 August New Style) Howard called a halt to the pursuit in the latitude of the Firth of Forth off Scotland.
On the day after the Battle of Gravelines, the wind had backed southerly, enabling Medina Sidonia to move his fleet northward away from the French coast.
It was reported that, when Philip II learned of the result of the expedition, he declared, "I sent the Armada against men, not God's winds and waves."
Many more died in Spain, or on hospital ships in Spanish harbours, from diseases contracted during the voyage.
Many survivors were near death from disease because the ships were cramped and had exhausted their food and water.
Only 67 ships and fewer than 10,000 men survived.
Appointed Leader of the Armada,
Appointed Commander of the Armada
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 anchor off the coast of Flanders unite with the Duke of Parma's army & invade south east England
The Spanish fail to join up due to the Dutch "sea beggars". Spanish ships outnumber English 2:1
Appointed Naval Commissary of Seville
The San Salvador suddenly explodes while proceeding up the Channel. Sunk with 15,000 ducats & 418 sailors & soldiers. Falls to Drake's galleons while being chased up the Channel
San Salvador was crippled by an accidental magazine explosion during the Armada's Channel passage and subsequently fell into English hands.
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.
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.
The expedition is supported by Pope Sixtus V, with the promise of a subsidy should it make land.
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.
This record states: 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.
This record states: 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.
This record states: anchor off the coast of Flanders unite with the Duke of Parmas army & invade south east England.
This record states: in the ensuing Battle the Spanish abandon their rendezvous with Parma.
Hopes to march through Kent to London & wait for a Catholic rising
Plans to join Parma at the "Cape of Margate" & carry his army from Flanders to England
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.
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.
The expedition is supported by Pope Sixtus V, with the promise of a subsidy should it make land.
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.
This record states: 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.
This record states: 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.
This record states: anchor off the coast of Flanders unite with the Duke of Parmas army & invade south east England.
This record states: in the ensuing Battle the Spanish abandon their rendezvous with Parma.
Medina Sidonia initially commanded 128 warships and two converted merchant ships.
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.
The fleet was to sail through the English Channel, anchor off Flanders, join the Duke of Parma's army, and invade southeastern England.
On the day after Gravelines, the wind had backed, southerly, enabling Medina Sidonia to move the Armada northward (away from the French coast), the English pursue the Spanish fleet, to prevent it returning to escort Parma.
This record states: 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.
This record states: very severe weather destroys a portion of the fleet, and more than 24 vessels are wrecked.
This page is generated from stored World History Database records matching the exact country and year shown above. Exact duplicate display records are collapsed. Records without a month are listed after the monthly sections. Source provenance varies by record; formal academic citation should be checked against the relevant primary source, archive or specialist historical reference.