Defeated invincible. Battle of Gravelines: England vs. the Invincible Armada The Invincible Armada 1588

The "Pirates of Elizabeth" distinguished themselves in them, the most famous of whom was Francis Drake. The battles lasted 2 weeks. The Armada failed to regroup and went north, abandoning the invasion, with the English fleet following at some distance along the east coast of England. The return to Spain was difficult: the Armada sailed across the North Atlantic, along the west coast of Ireland. As a result of strong storms, many ships were washed up on the northern and western coasts of this island. During the expedition, more than 60 ships were lost (and only 7 of them were combat losses).

The purpose of the Armada campaign

For decades, English filibusters robbed and sank Spanish ships. Additionally, Queen Elizabeth I of England supported the Dutch rebellion against Spanish rule. The Spanish monarch Philip II considered it his duty to help English Catholics in their fight against Protestants. Therefore, almost 180 priests and confessors were gathered on the decks of the Invincible Armada. Even during recruitment, every soldier and sailor had to confess to a priest and receive communion. The religious sentiments of the Spanish king and his subjects are reflected in the words of the outstanding Jesuit Pedro de Ribadeneira:

“We will be led by the Lord God himself, whose cause and holy faith we defend, and with such a Captain we have nothing to fear.”

The British, for their part, also hoped for a decisive victory, which would open the way for England to freely use the sea, break Spain's monopoly on trade with the New World, and also contribute to the spread of Protestant thought in Europe.

Trek plan

The Spanish king ordered the Armada to approach the English Channel and unite with the Duke of Parma and his 30,000-strong army located in the Dutch province of Flanders, which was controlled by Spain at the time. This combined force was to cross the English Channel, land in Essex, and then march on London. Philip II hoped that English Catholics would leave their Protestant queen and come over to his side. The Spaniards' plan, however, was not fully thought out and did not take into account two important circumstances: the power of the English fleet and shallow waters, which did not allow the ships to approach the shore and take on board the troops of the Duke of Parma.

The Armada was to be led by Alvaro de Bazan, Marquis of Santa Cruz, rightfully considered the best admiral in Spain. He was the author of the idea and its first organizer. According to contemporaries, if he had actually led the fleet, the outcome of the campaign could have been different. However, in February 1588, the 62-year-old Don Alvaro died and Philip appointed Alonso Perez de Guzman, Duke of Medina Sidonia, in his place. Although the Duke was not experienced in navigation, he was a skillful organizer who was able to quickly find an approach to experienced captains. Together, they created a powerful fleet, supplied it with provisions and equipped it with everything necessary. They carefully developed a system of signals, commands and order of battle that united the multinational army.

Organization

The fleet included about 130 ships, 2,430 guns, 30,500 people, including 18,973 soldiers, 8,050 sailors, 2,088 slave rowers, 1,389 officers, nobles, priests and doctors. The main forces of the fleet were divided into 6 squadrons: Portugal (Alonso Perez de Guzman, Duke of Medina Sidonia), Castile (Diego Flores de Valdes), Vizcaya (Juan Martinez de Recaldo), Guipuzcoa (Miguel de Oquendo), "Andalusia" (Pedro de Valdez), "Levant" (Martin de Bertendon). The armada also included: 4 Neapolitan galleys - 635 people, 50 guns (Hugo de Moncada), 4 Portuguese galleys - 320 people, 20 guns, many light ships for reconnaissance and messenger service (Antonio de Mendoza) and supply ships (Juan Gomez de Medina).

Food supplies included millions of biscuits, 600,000 pounds of salted fish and corned beef, 400,000 pounds of rice, 300,000 pounds of cheese, 40,000 gallons of olive oil, 14,000 barrels of wine, 6,000 bags of beans. Ammunition: 500,000 charges of gunpowder, 124,000 cannonballs.

Start of the hike

Portrait of Alonso Perez de Guzman, 7th Duke of Medina Sidonia by an unknown artist (16th century)

On May 29, 1588, the Armada left Lisbon harbor. But the storm drove her to the port of La Coruña, located in northwestern Spain. There the Spaniards had to repair ships and replenish provisions. Concerned about the lack of food and illness among the sailors, the Duke of Medina Sidonia frankly wrote to the king that he doubted the success of the entire enterprise. But Philip insisted that his admiral adhere to the plan. And so, only two months after leaving Lisbon harbor, the huge and clumsy fleet finally reached the English Channel.

Battles in the English Channel

The battle of the Invincible Armada with the English fleet. Painting by an unknown artist of the English school (16th century)

When the Spanish fleet approached the southwestern coast of the English county of Plymouth, English warships were already waiting for it. The parties had the same number of ships, differing in design. The Spanish fleet consisted of high-sided ships, with many short-range cannons. With massive towers at the bow and stern, they resembled floating fortresses, well adapted to boarding combat. The British ships were lower, but more maneuverable. In addition, they were equipped with a larger number of long-range cannons. The British hoped that they would not get close to the enemy and would destroy him from a distance.

On July 30, the Armada was in sight of the English coast, and observation posts alerted the English command. The first collision occurred on the afternoon of 31 July on the Plymouth meridian. The Lord Admiral sent his personal pinnace to the center of the Spanish fleet to challenge the Spanish flagship. The “flagship” turned out to be La Rata Santa Maria Encoronada, galleon of Alonso de Levia. However, the first shot was fired, and Medina Sidonia San Martin raised the admiral's standard to avoid further mistakes.

Given the greater maneuverability and artillery power of the English fleet, the Spanish admiral, for better protection, positioned his fleet in a crescent, placing the strongest warships with long-range artillery at the edges. In addition, closer to the enemy, he placed a “vanguard” (actually a rearguard) of the best ships under the command of Recalde, who was assigned the role of a “fire brigade.” No matter from which side the enemy approached, this detachment could turn around and repel the attack. The rest of the fleet was required to maintain formation and not lose mutual support.

Taking advantage of their advantage in maneuver, the British took the Armada into the wind from the very beginning. From this vantage point they could attack or evade at will. With the prevailing westerly winds this meant that they pursued the Armada as it moved across the Channel, harassing it with attacks. However, it was not possible for a long time to break the Spanish defensive order.

Throughout the English Channel, the two fleets exchanged fire and fought several small battles. Plymouth was followed by skirmishes at Start Point (1 August), Portland Bill (2 August) and the Isle of Wight (3–4 August). The defensive position taken by the Spaniards justified itself: the British did not manage to sink a single Spanish ship with the help of long-range weapons. However, severely damaged Nuestra Señora del Rosario fell out of action and was captured by Drake on August 1st. Likewise, the Spaniards left immobilized San Salvador, and by the evening of August 2 he was captured by Hawkins' squadron. The English captains decided to disrupt the enemy's battle formation at all costs and approach him within firing distance. They succeeded only on August 7 at Calais.

Medina Sidonia did not evade the orders of the command and sent the Armada towards the Duke of Parma and his troops. While awaiting a response from the Duke of Parma, Medina Sidonia ordered the fleet to anchor off Calais, off the coast of France. Taking advantage of the vulnerable position of the Spanish ships at anchor, the British sent eight fireships to the Armada at night - set fire to ships with flammable materials and explosives. Most of the Spanish captains cut anchors and frantically tried to get away from danger. Then a powerful wind and strong current carried them north. They could no longer return to the place of rendezvous with the Duke of Parma.

The next day at dawn the decisive battle took place. The British fired at the Spanish ships at close range. At least three were destroyed and many ships were damaged. Since the Spaniards lacked ammunition, they found themselves helpless in the face of the enemy.

Due to a strong storm, the British suspended their attack. The next morning, the Armada, its ammunition dwindling, again formed a crescent formation and prepared for battle. Before the British had time to open fire, strong winds and sea currents carried the Spanish ships to the sandy shores of the Dutch province of Zealand. It seemed that disaster was inevitable. However, the wind changed direction and drove the Armada north, away from the dangerous shores. The return route to Calais was blocked by the English fleet, and the winds continued to carry the beaten Spanish ships north. The Duke of Medina Sidonia had no choice but to stop the campaign in order to save more ships and people. He decided to return to Spain in a roundabout way, going around Scotland and Ireland.

Storms and wrecks

The Armada's homecoming was also not easy. Food was running out, barrels were leaking, and there was not enough water. During the battles with the British, many ships were seriously damaged and barely stayed afloat. Off the northwestern coast of Ireland, the fleet was caught in a severe two-week storm, during which many ships went missing or crashed against rocks.

As a result, on September 23, the first ships of the Armada, after much ordeal, reached Santander in northern Spain. Only about 60 (out of 130) ships returned home; losses in people were estimated from 1/3 to 3/4 of the crew size. Thousands of people drowned. Many died from wounds and illnesses on the way home. Even for those who were able to return to their native land, the trials were not over. The book "The Defeat of the Invincible Armada" says that, already anchored in the Spanish port, "the crews of several ships were literally starving to death due to the fact that they had no food at all." The same book says that in the Spanish port of Loredo, one ship ran aground “because the surviving sailors did not have the strength to lower the sails and drop anchor.”

Meaning

Spain suffered heavy losses. However, this did not lead to the immediate collapse of Spanish naval power: in general, the 90s of the 16th century were marked by Spain’s successful defense of seemingly shaky positions. The British attempt to organize a “symmetrical response” by sending their own “Armada” to the shores of Spain ended in a crushing defeat (1589), and two years later the Spanish fleet inflicted several defeats on the English in the Atlantic Ocean, although they did not compensate for the death of the Invincible Armada. The Spanish learned from the failure of the Armada by abandoning heavy, clumsy ships in favor of lighter ships equipped with long-range guns.

However, the failure of the Armada buried hopes for the restoration of Catholicism in England and the latter's involvement in one form or another into the orbit of the foreign policy of the Spanish Empire, which also meant a deterioration in the position of the Spaniards in the Netherlands. For England, the defeat of the Armada was the first step towards the future status of “mistress of the seas.” In the eyes of Protestants, this event, which put a limit to the expansion of the Catholic Habsburg Empire, was a manifestation of the will of God (

For decades, English privateers sank and robbed Spanish ships. This brought enormous losses to the country. Thus, in 1582, Spain suffered losses amounting to more than 1,900,000 ducats. Another reason why the decision to create a flotilla was made was the support of the Dutch uprising by Elizabeth the First, Queen of England. Philip II, the monarch of Spain, considered it his duty to help the English Catholics who fought against the Protestants. In this regard, almost 180 clergy were present on the ships of the flotilla. Moreover, during recruitment, every sailor and soldier had to confess and take communion. For their part, the rebel British hoped for victory. They hoped that they would be able to destroy the Spanish monopoly trade with the New World, as well as spread Protestant ideas in Europe. Thus, both sides had their own interest in this event.

The King of Spain ordered the flotilla to approach the English Channel. There she was supposed to unite with the 30,000-strong army of the Duke of Parma. The troops were stationed in Flanders. With their combined forces they were to march across the English Channel to Essex. After this, a march to London was planned. The Spanish king hoped that the Catholics would leave Elizabeth and join him. However, this plan was not fully thought through. In particular, it did not take into account the shallow waters, which prevented the ships from approaching the shore to take on board the Duke's army. In addition, the Spaniards did not take into account the power of the English fleet. And, of course, Philip could not even imagine that the defeat of the Invincible Armada would happen.


Alvaro de Bazan was appointed head of the Armada. He was rightfully considered the best Spanish admiral. It was he who was the initiator and organizer of the flotilla. As contemporaries later said, if he had led the ships, it is unlikely that the defeat of the Invincible Armada would have happened. The year 1588, however, was the last in his life for the admiral. He died at the age of 63, before the flotilla went to sea. Alonso Perez de Guzman was appointed instead. He was not an experienced navigator, but had excellent organizational skills. They allowed him to quickly find a common language with experienced captains. Thanks to their joint efforts, a powerful fleet was created, which was supplied with provisions and equipped with everything necessary. In addition, the command staff developed a system of signals, orders and order of battle, uniform for the entire multinational army.

The Armada consisted of about 130 ships, 30.5 thousand people, 2,430 guns. The main forces were divided into six squadrons:

1) "Castile".

2) "Portugal".

3) "Bizkaia".

4) "Gipuzkoa".

5) "Andalusia".

6) "Levant".


The Armada also included four Neapolitan galleasses and the same number of Portuguese galleys. In addition, the flotilla included a large number of reconnaissance ships, for messenger service and with supplies. Food supplies included millions of biscuits, 400,000 pounds of rice, 600,000 pounds of corned beef and salted fish, 40,000 gallons of butter, 14,000 barrels of wine, 6,000 bags of beans, 300,000 pounds of cheese. Of the ammunition on the ships, there were 124 thousand cannonballs and 500 thousand powder charges.

The flotilla left Lisbon harbor on May 29, 1588. However, on the way she was overtaken by a storm, which drove the ships to La Coruña, a port in northwestern Spain. There the sailors had to repair ships and replenish food supplies. The flotilla commander was concerned about the shortage of provisions and the illnesses of his sailors. In this regard, he frankly wrote to Philip that he doubted the success of the campaign. However, the monarch insisted that the admiral follow the set course and not deviate from the plan. Two months after staying in Lisbon harbor, the flotilla reached the English Channel.

photo: Spanish King Philip II, 1580

The admiral of the flotilla strictly followed Philip's orders and sent the ships to the shore to receive the troops. While awaiting a response from the Duke, the commander of the Armada ordered to anchor off Calais. This position was very vulnerable, which was to the advantage of the British. That same night they sent 8 ships with explosives and flammable materials on fire to the Spanish ships. Most of the captains began to cut the ropes and feverishly tried to escape. Subsequently, strong winds and powerful currents carried the Spaniards to the north. They were unable to return back to the Duke of Parma. The next day the decisive battle took place.


The flotilla was defeated by Anglo-Dutch maneuverable light ships. They were commanded by Charles Howard. Several military clashes took place in the English Channel, which ended with the Battle of Gravelines. So, in what year was the defeat of the Invincible Armada? The flotilla did not last long. She was defeated in the same year in which the campaign began - in 1588. The battles at sea lasted two weeks. The Spanish flotilla failed to regroup. Collisions with enemy ships took place in extremely difficult conditions. The constantly changing wind created great difficulties. The main skirmishes took place at Portland Bill, Start Point, and the Isle of Wight. During the battles, the Spaniards lost about 7 ships. The final defeat of the Invincible Armada took place at Calais. Refusing further invasion, the admiral led the ships north, across the Atlantic, along the west coast of Ireland. At the same time, enemy ships followed her at a short distance, moving along the eastern coast of England.


It was very difficult. After the battles, many ships were badly damaged and barely stayed afloat. Off the northwest coast of Ireland, the flotilla was caught in a two-week storm. Many ships crashed into rocks or went missing during it. In the end, on September 23, the first ships, after long wanderings, reached the north of Spain. Only 60 ships managed to return home. Human losses were estimated from 1/3 to 3/4 of the number of crews. A huge number of people died from wounds and diseases, many drowned. Even those who managed to return home practically died of hunger, since all food supplies were depleted. One of the ships ran aground in Laredo because the sailors did not even have the strength to lower the sails and anchor.

The defeat of the Invincible Armada brought great losses to Spain. The date when this event occurred will forever remain in the history of the country as one of the most tragic. However, the defeat did not lead to an immediate collapse of Spanish power at sea. The 90s of the 16th century were generally characterized by fairly successful campaigns. Thus, the British attempt to invade Spanish waters with their Armada ended in a crushing defeat. The battle took place in 1589. Two years later, Spanish ships defeated the British in the Atlantic Ocean in several battles. All these victories, however, could not compensate for the losses that the defeat of the Invincible Armada brought to the country. Spain learned an extremely important lesson from this unsuccessful campaign. Subsequently, the country abandoned the clumsy and heavy ships in favor of lighter ships equipped with long-range weapons.


The defeat of the Invincible Armada (1588) buried all hope of restoring Catholicism in England. The involvement of this country to one degree or another in the foreign policy activities of Spain was also out of the question. This, in fact, meant that Philip’s position in the Netherlands would sharply deteriorate. As for England, for it the defeat of the Spanish flotilla was the first step towards gaining supremacy at sea. For Protestants, this event marked the end of the expansion of the Habsburg Empire and the widespread spread of Catholicism. In their eyes, this was a manifestation of God's will. Many people living in Protestant Europe at that time believed that only Heavenly intervention helped to cope with the flotilla, which, as one of his contemporaries said, was difficult for the wind to carry, and the ocean groaned under its weight.

THE DEATH OF THE “INVICTABLE ARMADA”

The huge Spanish fleet, intended for a large landing in England, was half destroyed by English ships and a storm. The British era began at sea.

Among historians there are lovers of “alternative” history. “What would happen if…” they say. What would have happened if there had not been a volcanic explosion on the island of Santorini that destroyed the Cretan civilization? What if the scientists of the Third Reich, working on the creation of an atomic bomb, had not taken the wrong path? Or here’s another thing - if the storm had not scattered the huge Spanish fleet, already ready to fall on England! What would the English anthem sound like, “Rule Britain the Seas”?

But it wasn't just the storm. England was truly ready to rule.

16th century – maritime age. Europeans went far beyond the borders of their continent, reached America, circumnavigated Africa, and began dividing the world. The leading role in colonization at this time belonged to Spain. The relentless conquistadors destroyed entire states, and Spanish ships dominated the oceans. For a long time, their main rival at sea was Portugal, but in 1581 it submitted to its northern neighbor. Gold, spices, and fabrics arrived in an endless stream to the Iberian Peninsula. But perhaps it was this flow that slowed down the development of the country. The largest power in the world remained exclusively agrarian, the old feudal order continued to operate in the country, and the leading ideology was zealous, intolerant Catholicism. The power of Spain was based on war, the brutal exploitation of subordinate countries - and, in addition to the colonies, the Spanish king also owned other possessions, for example the Netherlands.

In the second half of the 16th century. England is also increasingly asserting its territorial claims. Unlike Spain, England quickly moved along the path of technical, political and social progress. Merchants and factory owners increased their influence, and cities grew. The English Church did not submit to Rome; the English monarch himself became its head.

The interests of the two powers in the 80s. XVI century collided in several places. First, the Spanish king, the dark despot Philip II, laid claim to the English throne. Queen Elizabeth's predecessor Mary I was Philip's wife. Secondly, the Spanish king wanted Britain to return to the fold of Catholicism. He was pushed to this by both Pope Gregory XIII (d. 1585) and his successor Sixtus V. And English Catholic emigrants had already repeatedly called on Philip to extend the Counter-Reformation to England. The Spanish king was infuriated by the fact that Elizabeth I pursued a tough policy towards English Catholics and was the spiritual head of Protestants throughout Europe. Thirdly, the king was outraged by the help that Elizabeth provided to Philip's rebellious subjects in the Netherlands. (The events of that time in the Netherlands are familiar to anyone who has read The Legend of Ullenspiegel.) Finally, fourthly, the British constantly harassed the Spanish ships. With the permission and support of London, numerous pirate ships went to sea, plundering Spanish transports, capturing warships, and raiding the coast in the New World. One of the outstanding privateers favored by the English crown was Francis Drake. His trip around the world (by the way, the second in history after Magellan) pursued not least predatory goals. The Spaniards used the name of the pirate to frighten their children; in their literature he was allegorically depicted as a dragon.

Thus, the inhabitant of Escurial had every reason to carry out a large-scale operation to eliminate the Elizabethan regime. The king was prompted to take decisive action by the raids on Spanish ships and settlements in the Caribbean carried out by Drake in 1585–1586. Finally, in February 1587, Mary Stuart, the Scottish queen who also claimed the English throne, was executed for participating in a conspiracy against Elizabeth (her Protestant son James VI had ruled in Scotland since 1567), and Philip wanted to avenge her death. Preparations began for a grandiose military expedition to Britain.

To protect the planned campaign from interference from France, Philip tried to distract the then reigning Henry III of Valois by supporting the Guises, his rivals in the struggle for power. When financing the expedition, Philip relied on loans from Italian and German bankers, regular revenues from the royal treasury, as well as wealth collected in the American colonies. He collected from all fleets (Mediterranean and Atlantic, Portuguese, as well as the allies) more than 130 large and medium-sized ships (with a total displacement of more than 59,000 tons with 2,630 guns on board) and 30 auxiliaries. The squadron was called the "Invincible Armada" by the Spaniards. The ships carried 8,000 sailors and 19,000 soldiers, who were to be joined by the 30,000-strong army fighting in the Netherlands under the command of Alexander Farnese, Duke of Parma. The organization of the squadron was initially carried out by one of the heroes of Lepanto, the experienced admiral Don Alvaro de Basan, Marquis of Santa Cruz, but he did not live to see its departure. Alonso Perez de Guzman, Duke of Medina Sidonia, a reasonable man, but little familiar with maritime affairs, was appointed to replace Santa Cruz. (Realizing his incompetence, he even tried to recuse himself, but to no avail.)

The English and Dutch had been aware of Philip's plans since 1586. To prevent the land army of Parma from joining the Spanish naval forces, the commander-in-chief of the English fleet, Lord Howard, Baron of Effingham, sent small squadrons under the command of Winter and Seymour to patrol the coast along with the Dutch .

In 1587, the Anglo-Spanish War began. It lasted ten years.

In April of the first year of the war, Francis Drake made a raid on the Spanish port of Cadiz, amazing in its audacity, in the harbor of which he destroyed over 20 ships, as well as port equipment (in particular, fresh water tanks). Only 4 (!) Drake’s ships took part in the raid: “Bonaventure”, “Golden Lion”, “Fear Nothing” and “Rainbow”. The Spaniards were forced to postpone the departure of the squadron. On the way back, Drake did not fail to attack ships stationed off the coast of Portugal, from where he brought to England a captured ship loaded with spices from India (it must be said that one such ship at that time could cover the costs of a circumnavigation). Drake's raid delayed the departure of the Spanish fleet.

In the same year, in order to prepare a base on the Dutch coast, Farnese's troops besieged and on August 5 captured the port of Sluys, defended by an English garrison. Small flat-bottomed ships were built in Flanders, which were supposed to transfer troops to the Armada ships. A canal was dug from Sas van Ghent to Bruges and the Yperle fairway from Bruges to Nieuport was deepened so that ships approaching the shore would not come under fire from the Dutch fleet or the cannons of the Vlissingen fortress. Troops were transferred from Spain, Italy, Germany and Burgundy and volunteers flocked in to take part in the expedition against England.

Farnese saw that the harbors of Dunkirk, Newport and Sluys at the disposal of the Spaniards were too shallow for the Armada ships to enter. He proposed to capture the deeper-water port of Vlissingen before sending the fleet to the coast of England. However, Philip was in a hurry to establish himself in the British Isles as quickly as possible.

The Armada left Lisbon on May 9, 1588. In addition to soldiers, sailors and oarsmen, there were 300 priests on board the ships, ready to revive Catholic power in the British Isles. The storm drove the six squadrons that made up the Armada to La Coruña, from where, after repairs, the ships went to sea again only on July 22.

After much debate, the English commander Howard agreed to Drake's plan to remove 54 of the best English ships from Plymouth harbor and try to destroy the Spanish fleet before it went to sea. However, a change in the wind prevented this operation, and on July 29, 1588, the Armada appeared near the Isles of Scilly off the western tip of the Cornwall peninsula.

The first collision occurred in sight of Plymouth on July 31st. The Spaniards lost three ships here, and the British suffered almost no damage. On August 2, clashes continued to the east, in Lyme Bay near Portland Bill. This time there were no ship losses, but both fleets used up a lot of ammunition. If the British could replenish their ammunition, the Spaniards, who were far from their native shores, did not have such an opportunity.

The English ships were superior to enemy ships in maneuverability; they were commanded by experienced admirals Drake, Howard, Hawkins, and Frobisher. Dutch ships, captained by experienced sailors, also came to the aid of the British. The absence of a mass of soldiers on the English ships made them vulnerable during a boarding battle, but it gave them an advantage in ease of maneuver.

In the battles, the English fleet also used the advantage of its artillery, not allowing the Spaniards closer than the distance of a cannon shot and thereby preventing them from boarding. The Spanish had mostly high-sided ships, which caused the Spanish shells to miss their targets, while the low ships of the British hit the Spanish ships in the most important parts of the hull - near the waterline. For every shot from the Armada ship, the British responded with three. The Spaniards suffered losses in ships and personnel.

But the Armada continued sailing northeast, deep into the English Channel. The Spanish fleet was located in a crescent: at the edges were the strongest warships, under their cover in the center slow merchant and cargo ships were grouped. The English fleet again approached the Spanish in the dead of night from 7 to 8 August, when the Armada anchored opposite Calais in the Strait of Dover. Lord Howard sent eight burning fireships straight into the center of the Spanish fleet. It was possible to try to use boats to move the fireships to the side, but the flagship signal was raised to “immediately set sail.” Many of the Spanish ships had only time to cut off the anchor ropes, after which they rushed away in panic and confusion. One large Spanish galleas ran aground and many ships suffered significant damage.

Without giving the enemy the opportunity to regroup, the British attacked the Spaniards again the next morning. During the eight-hour battle, the Spanish ships were carried away on the banks northeast of Calais, opposite Gravelines; it seemed that the Armada was about to inevitably run aground, delivering an easy victory to the British, but the northwest wind gave way to the southwest and carried the Spanish ships into the waters of the North Sea. The Spanish fleet moved north; the British pursued him to the Firth of Forth on the east coast of Scotland, where a storm separated the opponents on 12 August.

The Spaniards had to abandon the idea of ​​​​joining up with the forces of the Duke of Parma, and they undertook a voyage around the British Isles - they rounded the Shetland Islands from the north, walked along the west coast of Ireland, where they hoped to receive help from their co-religionists, and then returned to Spain.

On the way back, a storm near the Orkney Islands scattered the already battered fleet in all directions. Many ships sank, crashed against rocks, and thousands of corpses were thrown ashore. Only 86 ships and less than half of the sailors and soldiers returned to the Spanish port of Santander on the Bay of Biscay. Thus ended the campaign of the “Invincible Armada” ingloriously. The Spaniards still believe that the Armada was not defeated - it was prevented by the elements. However, the storm struck the most significant blow when the Spanish fleet was already returning home. He returned with a light slurp.

From the book 100 Great Military Secrets author Kurushin Mikhail Yurievich

From the book Disasters Underwater author Mormul Nikolay Grigorievich

The death of the S-80 In January 1961, in the evening, my friend, senior lieutenant Anatoly Evdokimov, came to see me. We studied together in Leningrad, we met as cadets at a dance. They found their future wives at the Pedagogical Institute. Herzen and, finding themselves both in the northern

From the book Equipment and Weapons 1998 02 author Magazine "Equipment and Weapons"

Victory over “Invincible” Spain today is famous for the expansive nature of its inhabitants, the sunny beaches of the Riviera, light golden wines, the exoticism of bullfighting and carnivals... Today it is difficult to imagine that four centuries ago the world perceived this beautiful

From the book Armored cruiser “Admiral Nakhimov” author Arbuzov Vladimir Vasilievich

From the book Aircraft Carriers, volume 1 [with illustrations] by Polmar Norman

The death of "Hiyo" Then the American planes attacked the 2nd division of aircraft carriers ("Hiyo", "Zuniyo", "Ryuho"), which was covered by 1 battleship, 1 heavy cruiser and 8 destroyers. Several torpedo bombers rushed towards the Hiyo. Pilot of one of the Avengers, Lieutenant George B. Brown, before takeoff

From the book Su-25 "Rook" author Ivanov S.V.

In Invincible and Legendary About 700 Su-25 attack aircraft entered service with the Air Force and Naval Aviation of the Soviet Union. The quantitative assessment of the Soviet "Rooks" was underestimated by Western experts by more than two times - for a long time it was believed that they were in service

From the book Armored cruiser "Bayan" (1897-1904) author Melnikov Rafail Mikhailovich

From the book Interrupted Flight of the Edelweiss [Luftwaffe in the attack on the Caucasus, 1942] author Degtev Dmitry Mikhailovich

The death of the “aircraft carriers” The fate of two Caspian ships, which also became victims of the Luftwaffe, is very curious. In 1934, at the shipyard No. 112 "Krasnoe Sormovo" in Gorky, three similar dry cargo ships with a carrying capacity of 1650 tons were laid down, intended for

From the book 100 Great Military Secrets [with illustrations] author Kurushin Mikhail Yurievich

Who is to blame for the death of the Armada? In the second half of the 16th century, the fanatical Catholic King of Spain, Philip II, was considered the most powerful man on earth. The master of the Iberian Peninsula dominated the Netherlands, part of Italy and all of America. Son of Charles V and Isabella

From the book Tragedies of the Sevastopol Fortress author Shirokorad Alexander Borisovich

Chapter 2. FIASCO OF THE INVINCIBLE ARMADA In 1834, Nicholas I approved a plan for the construction of new and reconstruction of old coastal batteries in Sevastopol. Work began on August 1 of the same year. For the construction of fortifications, it was decided to use non-Inkerman stone, like this

From the book Stalin and the Bomb: The Soviet Union and Atomic Energy. 1939-1956 by David Holloway

1588 On Tamm’s attitude, see: E.L. Feinberg. Epoch and personality // Memories of I.E. Tamme. WITH.

From the book Battlecruisers of England. Part IV. 1915-1945 author Muzhenikov Valery Borisovich

Death From March 21 to March 23, 1941, in the southern waters of Iceland, Hood, the battleships Queen Elizabeth and Nelson searched for the German battleships Scharphorst and Gneiseiau, which had left their bases with the goal of breaking into the Atlantic. The search ended in vain, since the German

From the book Great Battles. 100 battles that changed the course of history author Domanin Alexander Anatolievich

Battle of Gravelines (death of the “Invincible Armada”) 1588 At the end of the 16th century, relations between England and Spain sharply worsened. There were many reasons for this: England’s support for the Dutch rebels, the pirate exploits of Francis Drake, and the hatred of the Spanish Catholic king

From the book All the turning-point battles of the sailing fleet. From the Great Armada to Trafalgar author Makhov Sergey Petrovich

From the book At the Origins of the Russian Black Sea Fleet. Azov flotilla of Catherine II in the struggle for Crimea and in the creation of the Black Sea Fleet (1768 - 1783) author Lebedev Alexey Anatolievich

1588 Medvedeva I.N. Tavrida. L., 1956. P. 114,

From the book Divide and Conquer. Nazi occupation policy author Sinitsyn Fedor Leonidovich

1588 Bocharnikov I.V. Decree. Op. P. 102.

The Spaniards were not very lucky in maritime historiography. Until recently, almost the entire history of the 16th century relied only on English sources, which led to the emergence of a wild number of completely unthinkable myths. Ask almost anyone - he will answer that the British defeated the Invincible Armada at Gravelines, and that from that moment the decline of Spain's naval power began.

Background

Anglo-Spanish contradictions have been growing for a long time, since the 1560s. The two naval superpowers had many reasons to dislike each other, but the final straw was the official signing by the Queen of England of an agreement on military assistance to the Netherlands, which rebelled against the rule of the Habsburgs.

In the end, Philip II decided to send a large fleet to the shores of England, land his troops there and carry out a palace coup - or force Elizabeth to act under the dictation of the Spanish king. A lightning-fast operation was planned, because at that time Spain was already involved in several protracted wars, and the king did not want to get involved in another one.

As a result, after much ups and downs, the Spaniards equipped a large fleet - 21 galleons, 2 galisabari, 39 nao, 30 urcas, 22 patashas, ​​2 pinas, 4 galleasses, 4 galleys, 8 zabars - a total of 132 ships (of which 67 with a displacement of more than 500 tons) with a total tonnage of 59,394 tons with 2,493 guns of all calibers. With 30,565 sailors and soldiers on board, as well as supplies for so many people, some of the ships were terribly overloaded. The Duke of Medina Sidonia was appointed commander of the fleet.

The task set for the Armada by Philip II was simple: without being distracted by protracted battles, reach Dunkirk and transport to Albion an experienced 27,000-strong army of its allies - the Flemish Army under the command of the nephew of the Spanish king Alessandro Farnese. The Spaniards planned to land the “landing force” in the area of ​​the British ports of Dover and Margate.

March of the Invincible Armada

On May 28, 1588, the Armada left Lisbon. Headwinds and storms delayed the Sidonian fleet on its way, but on July 30, the Spaniards finally entered the English Channel, today more commonly referred to as the English Channel.

Armada at sea

Who was preparing for their meeting?

By May 1588, the English fleet consisted of 34 royal galleons and 163 chartered privateers - a total of 197 ships. Of this number, 30 ships had a displacement from 200 to 1000 tons. 19 royal ships had at least 30 cannons. 12 ships from this number were privateers under the command of corsairs - Francis Drake, Martin Frobisher, John Hawkins, Lord Charles Howard of Effingham. The latter was appointed commander-in-chief of the fleet.

The total tonnage of the English ships was only 29,744 tons (that is, the average ship had a displacement of 150 tons, which corresponded to the Spanish patas), the total number of crews was 15,551 people. According to the doctrine of John Hawkins, appointed treasurer and surveyor of the Royal Navy in 1573, the Spaniards were expected to be defeated in an artillery battle. It was for this purpose that ships of a new type were built and their crews were trained.

On August 5, the Spaniards arrived at the Calais roadstead and contacted Alessandro Farnese, whom they were sent to transport. However, the Flemings could not go to sea - Dunkirk and Antwerp were blocked by the Dutch fleet of Justin of Nassau.

Attacking the Dutch fleet, with the British in the rear, and outnumbering the Spaniards, was like murder - even if Medina-Sidonia had managed to break through the barriers of the “sea geezes” to the roadstead of Dunkirk, it would have been impossible to get back. If we add here the problems with ammunition on the Armada ships, it is clear that already at this stage the plan for landing in England collapsed.


Armada off the coast of England

News about the unpreparedness of Farnese's army for landing had the effect of a bomb exploding. Even then, the Spaniards were considering the option of turning back and returning to their home ports. So far, the wind has favored this plan - a steady southeast. But still we decided to wait. On August 6, Howard tried to attack the Spaniards, joining forces with Seymour. The shooting continued all day, but there were no casualties. Both sides began to run out of gunpowder, the British retreated to their shores to replenish supplies.

Breath of the Lord

The next day, the British, on the advice of Drake, decided to attack with fireships. For this purpose, the following sailing and rowing vessels were allocated: the barque "Talbot", the pinnace "Hope", the howe "Thomas", the barque "Bond", small ships "Bir Yange", "Elizabeth", "Angel" and "Curse Ship". On the night of August 7–8, the fire-ships, set on fire, were sent towards the Spaniards with a fair wind.

It is worth saying that a little earlier the inventor of the “infernal machines” Gianibelli fled to England, who in March 1585, during the siege of Antwerp, lowered fire ships onto the Spaniards, which were loaded with gunpowder and a lot of flammable materials - sulfur, coal, tar, fagots. Grenades filled with lead shot, pieces of iron, nails, and glass shards were placed inside the fireship hull. In addition, six iron blowers emerged from the base of the vessel, which during the explosion emitted long streams of fire (a prototype of flamethrowers). Then the explosion of such a fire-ship killed more than 800 Spaniards. Naturally, the Spaniards knew that Gianibelli was in England at that moment, moreover, he was appointed to Howard as a naval assistant.

And when burning ships attacked the Armada, the Spaniards were sure that Gianibelli’s “infernal machines” were coming towards them, and not the usual boats with flammable substances. This caused panic at the Calais roadstead. The galleon captains hastily cut the anchors, the galleas San Lorenzo ran aground and was boarded the next day (with British losses amounting to 200 people), the fleet of the Spanish dons scattered across the sea. On August 8, the British approached and showered cannonballs on the scattered Spanish ships, and at Medina-Sidonia only 40 ships were at hand - the rest were carried away to the west.


Fireboat attack on the Calais roadstead

Thus began the Battle of Gravelines. From the book of the English historian William Thomas Welsh:

“The fierce battle lasted from 9.00 to 18.00. Medina Sidonia at that moment had only 40 ships, with which he opposed the entire English fleet. The Spaniards fought with desperate determination. Never before or after - even at Lepanto - did Spanish sailors and naval soldiers give such an example of fearlessness as on this day, August 8th. And this–after nine days of continuous fighting, after a terrible night full of emotional excitement and fear caused by the attack of the fireships and the loss of anchors"

The British managed to cut off 6 Spanish galleons (San Martin, San Marcos, San Juan de Sicily, Trinidad Valencera, San Felipe and San Mateo) from the main forces and fall on them. According to reports from the Spaniards, they were attacked by as many as 150 ships (it’s hard to believe, but the British probably outnumbered the enemy many times over), but the squadrons of Recalde and Oquendo broke through in time and helped fight back. The 665-ton, 24-gun chartered ship Maria Juan was heavily damaged by gunfire. On August 10, it sank from damage received at Gravelines, and its crew was removed.

Drake's Squadron (50 pennants) within three hours shot at the galleon “San Martin” (1000 combat tons, 48 ​​guns) from a lethal distance of 30–50 yards. Its masts were badly damaged, but the galleon was able to repair itself at night and join the main forces. Next came Hawkins and Frobisher with their divisions, and 17 English ships two hours they shot the galleon "San Felippe" (840 tons, 40 guns). On the galleon "San Mateo" (750 tons, 34 guns) three times eight English ships boarded, and all three times were repulsed.


Battle of Gravelines

The unfortunate San Felippe (840 tons, 40 guns) and San Mateo (750 tons, 34 guns) received severe damage after a six-hour battle and fell behind. Both of them ran aground, and the crews were killed by the Dutch - both on the San Felipe after the capitulation of the galleon's crew, and on the San Mateo as a result of a fierce boarding battle.

From the Dutch description of the last battle of San Mateo:

“As soon as our boats approached the doomed Spanish ship to within 15 yards, a wall of arquebusiers appeared at the sides of the Spaniard, which fired a aimed salvo at us. Many of my comrades were wounded and killed, some flew off the boats into the sea. The Spanish musketeers fired harassing fire from the masts; even their cuirasses could not save them from the bullets of their heavy guns. Several lieutenants leading the boarding parties were killed by these musketeers. We still managed to get on board, and a fight began, cruel and merciless. Neither we nor our enemies knew mercy. Blood flowed like a river"

The damaged nao "Trinidad Valencera" headed for Bruges, but near Blankenberge it was intercepted by the English captain Robert Cross on the "Hope" and surrendered after half an hour of shelling. Mention should also be made of the Portuguese "Urka" "San Pedro Menor", which before the battle went over to the side of the British with its entire crew.

On the same day, a message arrived from Farnese that the troops could be ready for loading no sooner than in two weeks. At the next military council, a heated discussion unfolded about subsequent actions. Admirals Recalde, Leyva and Oquendo said that the attack at Gravelines did not lead to a British victory. They suggested that the Armada should drift at the entrance to Pas-de-Calais, waiting for the usual north-west in those parts and Farnese's readiness to break through to Dunkirk, load troops and land them in England. But although the opinion of these admirals was very significant, Medina-Sidonia decided to still hold a vote. The majority were in favor of returning back to the English Channel and steering the ships home.

However, these plans were not destined to come true. The wind changed to the southwest, so the Armada command decided to go around the British Isles and return to Spain. The Queen of England, having learned about the decision of the Iberians, said very precisely: “The Lord blew, and they were scattered!”


March of the Armada

The further fate of the Armada is widely known. Until August 11, the British, not believing their luck, carefully followed the Spaniards, but did not attack them. On August 12, the Spaniards passed the Firth of Forth, and by the 20th they were near the Orkney Islands. Already at this moment there were about 3,000 sick and frostbitten people on the squadron. On September 3, part of the squadron passed the strait between the Hebrides and Scotland. By this time, the ships were scattered across the sea. On September 10, Spanish ships reached Ireland. Hopes for the help of brothers in faith were not justified - the Irish robbed and killed the survivors. Many sailors died of hunger. 20 Spanish ships crashed on the inhospitable rocks of this island. On September 21, the remnants of the Biscay Armada of Recalde entered the raid of the Spanish Santander. From September 22 to 30, stragglers arrived. Some of the ships reached La Coruña, San Sebastian and Ferrol. In total, the Happiest Armada lost 63 ships, of which only 7 were combat losses. The cost estimate of losses is 1 million 400 escudos. In addition, the Armada was missing 10,000 sailors.

Lessons from Graveline

But let's still talk about the results of the battle of Gravelines. So, the Spaniards had 125 ships (out of 132 units, 3 ships were lost at Plymouth, and 4 galleys could not cope with the rough seas and went to France).

As a result of the battle of Gravelin, in which the enemy operated 195 ships (155 English and 40 Dutch), the Spaniards lost 5 ships (galleas "San Lorenzo", galleons "San Felipe" and "San Mateo", "Urku" San Pedro Menor" and nao "Trinidat Valencera"), of which only three were direct losses from damage in battle, and even then they were not sunk, but boarded. That is, 3 out of 125 ships.

Can this really be considered a decisive victory? This looks much more like a failure of Hawkins’ concept of the general role of artillery in naval combat. This does not look so fantastic if we remember that large-caliber guns then had a short firing range, and a salvo from light guns could not penetrate the side of an enemy ship. For example, guns larger than 26 pounds were very rarely found on Spanish and Dutch ships. This fully fit into the concept of the auxiliary role of artillery: the task of guns was to fire quickly, and large calibers required significant reloading time.

Thus, first conclusion, made from battles in the English Channel, was the following - the main technique of naval combat was and remains boarding.

At the same time, battles with the Invincible Armada showed that fast, light, maneuverable ships can easily avoid boarding heavier, but clumsy enemy galleons, and can also easily maintain a distance at which the galleon’s guns would be ineffective. Hence followed second conclusion– the squadron must have a fairly large number of small ships, which will either drive such ships away from the main forces, or attack the enemy. It is clear that one on one a small ship with a small crew has almost no chance when boarding an enemy ship. From here the naval commanders made another conclusion - when boarding large ships with small ones, it is necessary to create local superiority in forces, that is, one large ship should attack three to five small ships.

This is how it appeared swarm tactics. To attack the enemy, the ships lined up in accordance with this tactic - that is, concentrating at the flagships of the divisions. Each division consisted of three to five ships. The fleet itself was divided into vanguard, rearguard and center, and the vanguard and rearguard were often used not as the front and rear lines of ships, but as on land - along the flanks, “right-hand regiment”, “left-hand regiment”. Leadership of the battle was present only at the initial stage, then each ship chose its own target. If the enemy had ships of large displacement, then they were attacked by one or two divisions. The task of the “swarm” ships was to quickly approach and board. Just like earlier Zaporozhye Cossacks or later the “sea servants” of Peter the Great’s rowing fleet, many small ships surrounded the enemy’s “leviathans” from all sides, the prize crews landed on the enemy decks and went to board.


But what if the enemy has greater forces than the attacker? Or if the enemy’s formation precludes a swarm attack? For destruction fireships were used to destroy the enemy formation and inflict significant losses- ships loaded with flammable or explosive substances used to set fire to and destroy enemy ships. Such a ship could be controlled by a crew who left the ship in the middle of the journey, or floated downstream or downwind towards the enemy fleet. Torches floating on wooden ships usually completely disrupted the formation and control of the enemy fleet, as demonstrated by the attack at Gravelines of the Invincible Armada, where the Spaniards lost all anchors and, in fact, could no longer take on board Farnese's land units.

The Dutch fleet quickly drew exactly these conclusions for itself - lighter ships were loaded with light artillery and equipped with increased crews. As for the Spaniards, they decided that their galleons with a large number of naval soldiers presented a rather tough nut to crack for any attacker. For the hidalgo, the galleon was an ocean ship, with all its advantages and disadvantages. And the main role in the construction of galleons was played by their universalism, and not by their focus on specific combat missions. Today he could carry cargo to the West Indies, tomorrow he could sail for goods to Manila, the day after tomorrow guns were installed on the galleon, and the ship took part in a military expedition to the English Channel, and a few days later the ship, having returned the guns to the Cadiz Arsenal, was again heading for silver to the West Indies. Yes, it was a heavy and clumsy ship, but the galleons were not tasked with attacking anyone’s maritime trade. Rather, they had to fear that they would be attacked, so they did not really need speed.

In general, there is a paradox - the real conclusions from the Battle of Gravelines are not that artillery became the decisive force in a naval battle, but in the conservation of boarding tactics and fire ships until the mid-1650s.

However, strategically, Gravelines did turn out to be a defeat for the Spaniards, and plans for a lightning war on the Island of Philip II after Gravelines were buried and forgotten. A long and difficult war began - now also with England.

Literature:

  1. Colin Martin, Geoffrey Parker "The Spanish Armada" » , Penguin Books, 1999
  2. Parker, Geoffrey "The Grand Strategy of Philip II" - New Haven and London, 1998.
  3. William T. Walsh "Philip II" - London, "Sheed and Ward", 1937.
  4. Neil Hanson "The Confident Hope of a Miracle - The True History of the Spanish Armada" - London, 2003.
  5. Fernández Duro, Cesáreo “Armada Española desde la Unión de los Reinos de Castilla y Aragón” – Museo Naval de Madrid, Instituto de Historia y Cultura Naval, Madrid, 1972.
  6. Lewis, M. “Armada guns” – Austalia, 1961.
  7. Ed. Laughton, J. K. "State papers relating to the defeat of the Spanish Armada, anno 1588", - London, Navy Records Society, 1894.
  8. Corbett, Julian S. Drake and the Tudor Navy: With a History of the Rise of England as a Maritime Power, 1898.

In the summer of 1588, Spain built a huge fleet, called it the Invincible Armada, and sent it to the shores of England. The British let the armada sink, Spanish hegemony in the world came to an end, and Britain began to be called the “mistress of the seas”...
This is how this event is presented in historical literature. In fact, the defeat of the Invincible Armada is a historical myth.

16th century: England versus Spain

The defeat of the Invincible Armada is a historical myth

Spain at that time, led by King Philip II, was a huge power that included southern Italy, the Netherlands, parts of France, Portugal and vast territories in Africa, India, the Philippines, South and Central America. They said that “the sun never sets in the domain of the Spanish king.” The population of Spain was more than eight million people. Its army was considered the best in the world, its fleet invincible. Ships loaded with gold came from Peru and Mexico, and caravans with spices came from India. And so England decided to take a piece of this “pie”.

In 1498, Columbus already regarded England as a maritime power and proposed to King Henry VII to organize a western expedition in search of India. The king refused, and soon he had to regret his decision. Following Columbus, the British sent their expedition, which discovered Newfoundland, but the furs and timber of North America did not inspire the British. Everyone was hungry for gold.

Robbery as a means of replenishing the treasury

Queen Elizabeth of Britain

Elizabeth I, who ascended the English throne in 1558, was left with an empty treasury and debts. And then she gave tacit permission to plunder Spanish ships and settlements in the West Indies. Joint-stock companies were organized throughout England. The shareholders equipped the ship, hired a team of thugs, and the ship set off. And all this time, Elizabeth I was engaged, in modern slang, in protecting herself, answering all the letters of her “beloved brother Philip”: “The culprits will be found and punished!” - but didn’t find anyone and didn’t punish them.

In 1577, the queen decided to put the robbery of Spain on a state basis, equipping an expedition and sending it to “discover new lands.” The expedition was led by Francis Drake, who had the reputation of a highwayman. Drake visited the Spanish ports in Peru and brought back 500,000 pounds worth of booty, which was one and a half times the country's annual income. Philip II demanded the pirate's extradition - and Elizabeth I knighted Drake.

Philip's income fell, and Elizabeth's grew. In 1582 alone, Spain was robbed by English privateers for 1,900,000 ducats!

In addition, Elizabeth I supported the Dutch rebellion against Spanish rule, sending a military contingent of 5,000 infantry and 1,000 cavalry there in 1585.

Philip perceived Britain's intervention in his affairs as a rebellion of vassals: after a four-year marriage with Queen Mary I of England (Elizabeth's elder sister), Philip could formally lay claim to the throne of Foggy Albion. Advisors whispered to the king that the Catholics oppressed in Protestant England would be happy to see a faithful servant of the Catholic Church on the throne.

At the head of the armada

The idea of ​​organizing a military expedition to conquer England was proposed to Philip in 1583 by the military admiral Marquis of Santa Cruz. The monarch liked the idea, and he appointed the marquis responsible for preparing the operation.

All this time, the British interfered with the preparations of the expedition: they intercepted and sank ships with cargo, and organized acts of sabotage.

In 1587, Drake raided the port of Cadiz, where he plundered and burned provisions for the navy under construction. For five years Santa Cruz worked to fulfill the king's will. In February 1588, the marquis died and the armada was left without a commander.

The king appointed in the place of the deceased Marquis the Duke of Medina Sidonia, his cousin, a man who was not at all a military man.

The Duke begged the King to cancel the appointments, but he was unshakable. The battle fleet was led by a man whose military “successes” Cervantes practiced his wit over.

Casus belli

The official reason for sending the squadron was the news received by the Spaniards about the execution of the Scottish Queen Mary Stuart in England. To be fair, Mary was not an innocent victim. She repeatedly found herself at the center of conspiracies to overthrow and assassinate Elizabeth I. In January 1587, another conspiracy was uncovered. Mary appeared in court, letters incriminating her were presented, and Elizabeth “with tears in her eyes” signed the death warrant.

The execution of the “righteous Catholic woman” caused a storm of indignation in Spain. Philip decided that it was time to take decisive action. We urgently remembered the Catholics oppressed in England who needed to be saved. On May 29, 1588, the sailors and officers of the squadron were absolved of their sins, and the Invincible Armada left Lisbon to the sound of bells.

It was truly an armada: more than 130 ships, half of them military, 2,430 guns, about 19,000 soldiers, almost 1,400 officers, sailors, priests, doctors - a total of 30,500 people. In addition, the Spaniards expected to reunite with the army of the Duke of Parma that fought in Flanders - another 30,000 people. The sailors were going to land in Essex and, relying on the support of local Catholics, move on London. The threat of invasion was more than real.

In England, having learned about the departure of the armada, they urgently began to form a militia and build new ships. A fleet of 100 ships was ready by summer. On July 29, the British saw the armada from the coast of Cornwall.

Naval battles

Mary Stuart goes to the scaffold. Her execution served as the formal pretext for the invasion

On July 31, near Plymouth, the Spaniards suffered their first losses: the Rosario collided with the Santa Catalina and was left without a mast; a fire broke out on the San Salvador. Medina Sidonia ordered the abandoned ships, which had become a burden, to be abandoned. On August 1, the British captured them and celebrated their first victory. The next four days were spent in skirmishes, during which neither side lost a single ship. On August 8, the two fleets met near Gravelines.

The British started the battle. Having deployed into battle formation, they opened artillery fire. The Spaniards responded sluggishly. Medina Sidonia had clear instructions from the king to avoid battle: the goal of the campaign was a landing, and not the destruction of the English fleet. The battle lasted more than nine hours. The British sunk two ships, four damaged Spanish ships ran aground, were abandoned by their crews and subsequently captured by the British and Dutch. And although the British did not lose a single ship, the general opinion about the battle was expressed by one of the officers of the Royal Navy: “They spent so much gunpowder, and it was all in vain.”

And then a strong wind rose and began to drive the armada away from the shore. Since there was no news from the Duke of Parma, Medina Sidonia decided to retreat and move north, intending to go around Scotland. When the armada left, the army of the Duke of Parma came ashore. She was literally a few days late.

The way home

"The battle of the Invincible Armada with the English fleet." Unknown British artist (16th century)

The return of the Spanish fleet was terrible. The ships required repairs, there was not enough water and food, and the sailors did not have maps of these areas. Off the northwestern coast of Ireland, the armada was caught in a severe two-week storm. This is where its defeat took place. 60 of the 130 ships and about 10,000 people returned to Spain. It was truly a defeat, only the British had nothing to do with it.

In 1588, the British honestly admitted: “The Lord saved England” - and did not attribute too much to themselves. Having caught their breath and appreciating the gift, they began to urgently prepare a return visit and by 1589 they equipped their armada of 150 ships. The end of the English armada was the same as that of the Spanish one, only this time there was no divine intervention. The Spaniards, having learned the lesson of an unsuccessful campaign, began to build small maneuverable ships instead of huge, clumsy ships and equipped them with long-range artillery. The renewed Spanish fleet repelled the British attack. And two years later, the Spaniards inflicted several serious defeats on the British. Indeed, Britain became the “mistress of the seas” only 150 years later.

Are historical myths necessary?

Every nation has its own historical myths. The French celebrate Bastille Day every year, although its storming is the same fairy tale as the storming of the Winter Palace by the Bolsheviks in 1917. The British equate the Battle of El Alamein with the Battle of Stalingrad, although in scale it is like equating an elephant with a rabbit. Suitable examples are simply needed to instill citizenship and patriotism. If there are none, they are invented.

But the Spanish landing in England did take place! In 1595, 400 former participants in the tragic campaign landed in Cornwall. The local militia fled. The foreigners were met by 12 soldiers led by a commander, they entered into battle and all died. The Spaniards celebrated a Catholic mass on the battlefield and promised that next time a temple would be founded on this site.

Related publications