Armada

ar-ma'da, a general Spanish term meaning a large naval force. The fleet known as the Spanish Armada was fitted out by Philip II, king of Spain, in 1588. Philip aimed at one despotic world-empire. Under Queen Elizabeth, little England (with only 4,000,000 of people at that time) entered into a daring rivalry with this dangerous might. English money and thousands of English volunteers, like Sir Philip Sidney, helped to keep alive the gallant rebellion of the Dutch against Spain; while adventurers, like Drake and Raleigh and Grenville, ravished Spanish treasure on the seas and on the coasts of America, even challenging the Spanish monopoly of the Pacific. All this was before war had been declared. Finally Philip determined to concentrate his tremendous resources for the conquest of the hornet's nest, to put an end to these annoyances. For years preparations went on on a vast scale in many ports. The Spanish power included not only Spain and Portugal, but also Burgundy, the Netherlands, most of Italy, practically all America, North and South, and the rich "Spice Islands" of the East Indies. The German states, under the lead of Austria, were held in close alliance. Pope Sixtus V gave England to the Spanish crown.

In 1588 the "Invincible Armada" was dispatched to subdue the country and take possession. Misfortune seemed to overtake it from the start. The fleet was scarce out of port when it was scattered by a storm and was obliged to put back to refit. When, finally, it advanced up the English Channel in the shape of a half moon, the fleets seemed unequal. The English ships were for the most part merchant vessels transformed into a navy. The Spanish men-of-war were huge of bulk and towered above the English ships. The English fleet, however, was the more wieldy, and the English were better marks-men. The British seamen went into the fight right gallantly. Lord Howard, the British naval commander, out-generaled, out-shot, out-sailed, and out-fought the enemy, taking their treasure ship, sinking others, and completing the demoralization of the Spanish by sending fireships among them as they lay becalmed. The grappling, boarding, and slaughter on bloody decks is described in the annals of naval warfare as appalling. The Spaniards fought bravely, for the best blood of Spain was there, striking a blow for honor, for the glory of native land, and for the mother church; but the invader is ever at a disadvantage, and they were outmatched by the British seamen. The English fought for home and fireside and won the day. At length the Spanish commander resolved to withdraw. He attempted to take his fleet home by way of the North Sea and around the north and west of the British Isles, but was caught in a terrific hurricane. He lost many of his ships and men on the rocky coasts of Norway, Scotland, and Ireland, and many ships foundered at sea. Of 131 ships, 19,000 marines, and 8,000 sailors that went forth from Spain only 50 ships and a scant half of the men ever returned. The flower and chivalry of Spain were represented in the expedition, for it was expected to rival that of William the Norman, who wrested England from Harold in 1066. The adventurous youth of Spain, of the same sort of blood that ran in the veins of De Soto, Pizarro, Cortez, and Narvaeth, desired to be on hand to divide up the country. Lamentations for dead sons were heard all over the land. Spain never recovered from the blow, or attempted seriously to contest further the supremacy of the sea.

The number of men and ships engaged in this sea fight may seem small compared with modern naval engagements, but the conflict was one of the truly decisive battles of the world. The English victory saved free institutions and Protestantism in Europe. It paved the way for English colonization in North America. Had the battle gone otherwise, the Spanish type of civilization, which, as we see, got a foothold in Mexico and the southwest, might have prevailed in North America.

An account of the battle may be found in Charles Kingsley's Westward Ho.