The Spanish Armada 1588: The Epic Naval Campaign That Shaped England's Future
The fleet that was supposed to conquer England instead changed the course of history.
In 1588, the most powerful empire in Europe launched an invasion that seemed impossible to stop. King Philip II of Spain assembled over 130 ships, thousands of sailors and seasoned soldiers with one goal: overthrow Queen Elizabeth I and return England to Catholic rule.
Standing in his way was a smaller English navy led by some of history's greatest seamen, including Francis Drake, John Hawkins and Lord Howard of Effingham.
What followed was one of the most dramatic naval campaigns ever fought.
From the first sightings of the Armada off the Cornish coast to the running battles through the English Channel, the daring fireship attack at Calais, the decisive Battle of Gravelines and the terrifying storm battered retreat around Scotland and Ireland, this book tells the complete story of the campaign that transformed Europe.
Discover:
- Why England and Spain became bitter enemies
- How the greatest fleet of the sixteenth century was assembled
- The commanders who shaped the campaign
- The tactics that revolutionised naval warfare
- The truth behind famous myths such as Drake's game of bowls and the "Protestant Wind"
- What life was really like aboard the Armada's ships
- How weather, leadership and technology combined to decide the outcome
- Why the Spanish Armada remains one of history's most important military campaigns
Written in the accessible Half Hour History style, this fast paced introduction brings one of history's greatest naval dramas vividly to life. Whether you are new to the subject or already fascinated by the Tudor age, The Spanish Armada offers a compelling account of the campaign that secured England's future and reshaped the balance of power in Europe forever.
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