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Armada / Retreat of Fleet
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Armada / Retreat of Fleet
THE SPANISH ARMADA The retreat of the Spanish fleet after encountering the Navy, the fireships and the storms
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Media ID 574831
© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10011612
1588 Anglo Armada Encountering Retreat Fireships Fleet
EDITORS COMMENTS
This evocative image captures the moment of defeat for the Spanish Armada in July 1588, as their once-proud fleet begins its retreat home after encountering the formidable forces of the English Navy. The Spanish Armada, a grand invasion fleet sent by King Philip II of Spain with the intention of defeating England and its Protestant ruler, Queen Elizabeth I, had set sail from Spain in late May 1588. The English, forewarned of the approaching invasion, had prepared meticulously for the encounter. Under the command of Lord Howard of Effingham and Lord Charles Howard, the English Navy lay in wait for the Spanish off the coast of Plymouth. The English forces, consisting of some 130 ships, were smaller in number but possessed a significant advantage in terms of maneuverability and firepower. The battle, which took place on July 19, 1588, began with a fierce engagement between the two fleets. The English employed a novel tactic, launching fireships filled with burning tar and pitch against the Spanish. The resulting conflagration caused panic and chaos among the Spanish ranks, and many ships were set ablaze and destroyed. The Spanish, already weakened by storms that had battered their fleet during the crossing of the English Channel, were further devastated by the English attack. With their morale low and their ships damaged and destroyed, the Spanish fleet began its retreat on July 20. The image depicts the remnants of the once-mighty Armada, their sails tattered and their decks littered with debris, as they make their way back to Spain. The defeat of the Spanish Armada was a turning point in the Anglo-Spanish War and a significant victory for England. It bolstered English morale and demonstrated the effectiveness of English naval power. The event would be remembered in English history as a symbol of national pride and resilience.
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