Spanish Armada Video Notes

9. England and Spain's relations were growing more violent and they were getting even closer to all-out conflict.

10. In Flanders, 30,000 Spanish troops were scattered around, protecting fortified towers from Dutch rebels.

11. England sent their troops to help the Dutch rebels attack the Spanish, which was the last straw for Spain. England had been taking their gold, insulting their religion, and stealing their land.

12. The Spanish king's plan was to combine the ships from Flanders and the armada they were building, and send them across the ocean, loaded with troops and firepower.

13. The armada's task was to sail up the English channel to its narrowest point where they would meet up with the ships from Flanders and then sail to England. The king hoped that this force would be unstoppable.

14. The armada had to carry over 20,000 men and their weapons and supplies 1,000 miles, before finally launching an invasion.

15. The person the king picked to lead the fleet was the duke of Medina Sidonia. He was a rich nobleman in Europe but he wasn't an experienced naval commander, he had never even fought at sea.

16. The duke tried everything he could to get out of leading the fleet. He even told the king he got seasick and colds at sea. Even his own mother didn't think he could do it.

17. No matter how hard the duke tried to get out of it, the king didn't listen. To him, what was even more important than experience was social standing, which the duke had a lot of.

18. Anyone who doubted the duke was silenced and soon, all the ports in Spain were buzzing with activity. Everyone was shocked at their new commander's efficient organization.

1. In 1588 the biggest superpower at that time was a vast Spanish invasion fleet and it was heading straight for England.

2. The only thing that was separating the Spanish fleet and England was their royal navy, which had never fought a battle that big before.

19. In a few months the ships were stocked with supplies, weapons and crews. Once on board, they were blessed to ensure that god would be on their side because to them this wasn't just an invasion, but a religious crusade.

20. Queen Elizabeth had found out from her spies that there was an attack incoming and she knew that the only way they could survive was with their naval forces. She had every last ship gathered into one main force at Plymouth.

3. In order to win, the English had to use new tactics and technology to outsmart the Spanish.

4. The English had lots of cannons and their ships had way more mobility than the Spanish.

5. To the Spanish, it was a religious crusade against England which they believed was full of heretics and pirates.

6. In 1588, the Spanish were the biggest superpower in the world and their armada was the greatest concentration of naval power ever. created.

7. The Spanish were Catholics and their King was extremely religious, so they had the armada built to convert England which was ruled by Queen Elizabeth, a heretic.

8. Spain had ruled over all of the new world and England wanted some of the wealth. England sent their sailors to raid enemy Spanish treasuries.