Anglo Spanish Wars

1587 to 1660

England — versus — Spain

Introduction : 

The battle of Cadiz

There were a number of reasons for a strong antagonism between Spain and England during the late 16th century. First, England had broken with the church in Rome, and discriminated against Roman Catholics in its realm, while the Hapsburg empire, centered in Spain, was considered a loyal defender of the faith. Second, Spain had exclusive claim to the new world, which caused much jealousy in England, and many of the most notorious privateers and pirates, who preyed on Spanish galleons, were protected by England. Third, England had supported the ongoing protestant rebellion in the Netherlands against Spain. Although diplomatic relationships were maintained for many years between the two countries, since neither wanted war, eventually the tensions descended into open conflict.

Even after a peace treaty was made between Spain and England in 1604 relations between the two countries continued to be strained. Spain and England were on opposing sides of almost every European conflict over the next two centuries, and they also opposed each other over territory and trading rights in the new world. Hostility towards Spain was largely associated with British anti-Catholicism both in Europe and in the Americas, and incidents such as the Spanish inquisition and corruption of the Spanish aristocracy were often exaggerated within British culture to emphasize the dangers of popery.

First Anglo Spanish War : 1587 to 1604

Fighting the great Armada

The first Anglo Spanish war is most famous for the Spanish Armada, a failed attempt on the part of Spain to invade England. There were several other battles both before and after the Armada, most notably, Sir Francis Drake's famous raid of Cadiz, and Sir Grenville's last stand on the Revenge, and the successful raid on Cadiz in 1596. The Spanish also attempted a few other unsuccessful raids against England, and provided some support to the rebels in Ireland who provoked the Nine Years War in 1595. After the death of Philip II however, a peace was made in 1604.

Second Anglo Spanish War : 1654 to 1660

The Second Anglo Spanish war broke out during the reign of Oliver Cromwell and was principally a trading dispute. The most significant battle of this war was the taking of Jamaica from Spain by Britain. This was during the height of the days of Buccaneers and pirates, and Jamaica became a well known pirate base for raiding the Spanish fleets. The English also joined forces with the French to fight the Spanish in Europe, most particularly at the battle of the Dunes.

	Image Links
The Invincible Armada  in Queen Elizabeth	The Great Armada  in Stories From English History: II	Drake at the taking of Sagres Castle  in Story of Sir Francis Drake
Drake at Bowls on Plymouth Hoe  in Story of Sir Francis Drake	Fighting the Great Armada  in Story of Sir Francis Drake	Battle Map: English Channel in Boys' Book of Sea Fights
Drake at Cadiz  in Famous Men of Modern Times	Drake's ships returning from Cadiz  in Famous Men of Modern Times	Spanish ships under fire  in Famous Men of Modern Times
At Close Quarters  in Famous Men of Modern Times	Raleigh gave the word to his men  in Story of Sir Walter Raleigh	The Spanish Fleet sailing up the channel in the form of a half moon,  in Tudors and Stuarts
The defeat of the Spanish Armada  in Tudors and Stuarts	The English attack on Cadiz in 1596  in Tudors and Stuarts	The Spanish Armada attacked by the English fleet. in In the Days of Queen Elizabeth
Spanish Armada Attacked by the English Fleet  in European Hero Stories	Destruction of the Spanish Armada  in European Hero Stories	The Spanish Armada: The crisis had come . . . all day the battle raged.  in Boy's Book of Battles