Elizabeth's Pirates

The Armada

Introduction | Spain v England
Myth and fact | Map: The Spanish Armada

Introduction

On 18 May 1588, the Spanish Armada set sail from Lisbon, heading for the Channel where they hoped to link up with a Spanish army and then invade England. Delays and storms meant that they weren't sighted off Plymouth until 19 July. But that vision of massed sails on the horizon was the signal to the English forces that danger was on its way, and ships were quickly got ready and crews rounded up.

The English fleet followed the Armada – in a seemingly unbreakable crescent formation – along the south coast and into the Channel. On the night of 7 August, as the Spanish anchored off Gravelines (in what is now Belgium) in the vain hope of hearing from their army on shore, the English saw their chance – they sent in blazing fireships among the enemy's vessels. The Spanish, in panic, cut their cables, destroying their protective formation.

There was some fighting, and then the Spanish retreated north. Bad weather wrecked many of their ships as they were blown around the Scottish coast and down towards Northern Ireland. The English – almost out of ammunition – shadowed them until it was clear they could not return. Then they headed home to a hero's welcome.

This part of the Elizabeth's Pirates website gives you details of the opposing sides, sifts fact from fancy and lets you trace the route of the Armada from that first sighting off Plymouth until the Spanish cause was lost.

The rogue state

The pirates

The Armada

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