2nd Spanish Armada
The 2nd Spanish Armada also known as the Spanish Armada of 1596 was a naval operation that took place during the Anglo–Spanish War. Another invasion of England or Ireland was attempted in the autumn of 1596 by King Philip II of Spain. In an attempt at revenge for the English sack of Cadiz in 1596, Philip immediately ordered a counter strike in the hope of assisting the Irish rebels in rebellion against the English crown. The strategy was to open a new front in the war, forcing English troops away from France and the Netherlands, where they were also fighting.
| 2nd Spanish Armada | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Anglo-Spanish War | |||||||
Philip II of Spain in his old age, ordered the Armada of 1596 in revenge for the English attack on Cadiz | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
| Spain | England | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
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Philip II Martín de Padilla Diego Brochero Sancho Martínez de Leyva Carlos de Arellano |
Elizabeth I Robert Devereux Charles Howard Walter Raleigh | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
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Fleet 24 galleons 53 armed merchant ships Total 126 - 140 ships 19,500 men (approx.) |
Various shore defences 13 galleons 74 armed merchant vessels 12,000 men | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
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1 Flyboat captured Storms/Disease: 5 galleons sunk 38 other ships sunk or scuttled 5,000 dead | Unknown | ||||||
The Armada under the command of the Adelantado, Martín de Padilla was gathered at Lisbon, Vigo and Seville and set off in October. Before it had left Spanish waters, storms struck the fleet off Cape Finisterre. The storms shattered the Armada causing much damage and forcing the ships to return to their home ports. Nearly 5,000 men died either from the storm or disease and 38 ships were lost, which was enough for a long-term postponement of the Irish enterprise. The material and financial losses added to the bankruptcy of the Spanish kingdom, during the autumn of 1596.