KING PHILIP II

King Philip II was the king of Spain. He planned a campaign called the Armada campaign. Armada is the Spanish word for fleet. The plot was to take over England by having a great sea battle between Spain and England. King Philip II wanted to take over England because of religious reasons; he wanted to bring the country under the Catholic rule of Spain. He also wanted to take over England because of competition of trades expansion in the "New World." 

This events happened in the year 1588. Many Spanish people and King Philip II thought this plan was invincible. His main aim was to cause fear among the English, his enemies. The plan for conquering had begun. This plan consisted of the coordination of a fleet to sail from Spain and an army from the Netherlands to create a simultaneous invasion of England. His force of 130 ships and more than 30,000 men was to be led by Alonso Peréz Guzmán, duke of Medina- Sidonia. England was aware of the Spanish plans, attacking it at Cádiz, Spain in 1587, succeeding in delaying it for a year. By July of 1588, the armada was spotted off the coast of England on July 29. Lord Charles Howard intercepted it with a larger English fleet near Plymouth, and for the next week made small attacks on the Spanish in battles off of Plymouth, Portland Bill, and the Isle of Wight. Unable to break the Spanish Armada, they waited for their chance at a big blow. The opportunity finally arrived when the armada anchored near Calais, France, hoping to join troops scheduled to sail from the Netherlands. Ingeniously, Howard ordered ships set on fire to be sent against the armada, producing a panic that broke the Spanish formation. In the ensuing battle of Gravelines, on August 8, the Spanish were defeated by England and the armada sailed home with remaining ships that were heavily damaged to Spain; 67 of the original 130 ships reached Spain, most in poor condition. In conclusion, King Philip's plan had failed.

Queen Elizabeth I of England held the defeat of the armada as one of her greatest achievements, assisting the decline of the Spanish Empire.