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The Welcome to History of Europe Key Battles, the Spanish Armadas's Part 4 of 5

The Spanish Armada remains today one of the most iconic events in both English and Spanish history.

In the summer of 1588, one of the largest fleet of warships of pre-modern times sailed into the English Channel, sent by King Philip II of Spain.

The plan was to link up with a massive Spanish army stationed in the Netherlands,

to invade England and then to depose the Queen of England, Elizabeth I.

The early English historians of the Amada, because most of them were Protestants, depicted a tiny England,

bravely resisting the overwhelming might of the Spanish superpower.

Often quoted is an observer who likened England and its unmarried queen,

to, quote, a bowing thrown between two dogs, unquote,

to portray the kingdom's vulnerability in the contest between

Western Europe's two superpowers of the day, Spain and France.

On their side, the English had the rightness of their cause and the splendid bravery and skill

of their sailors, a heady mixture of their cause and the splendid bravery and skill of their sailors, a

heady mixture of patriotism and religion. Later historians gave a more accurate picture

of the events, estimating that the fleets were roughly equal in size, with a greater mobility

and firepower advantage to the English.

There was truth in that Spain was at that time at the height of its power.

Portugal and his empire were securely in Philip's hands.

The Ottoman foot had stopped growing, and mounting returns from the Indies permitted to study increase of armed forces in the Netherlands,

which was rapidly being taken back under Spanish control

by the Duke of Palmer and his army there.

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