Spanish Armada#Battle of Gravelines

The Battle of Gravelines was held on 29 Julijul. / August 8 1588greg. in the English Channel between the Spanish Armada and the English fleet instead. It was the decisive battle of the Spanish Armada invasion attempt in England.

Prehistory

In The Hague, about 30,000 Spanish soldiers were waiting under the Duke of Parma, to be set for the invasion of England by the Armada. With the English fleet under persecution, the Spanish commander of Medina Sidonia decided to let go anchor off Calais, some ships to set a messenger ashore; which should induce the Duke to prepare his troops for embarkation. In the following thereupon attack the English fleet with fire-ships of the Spanish Armada a Spanish ship were set on fire and one sunk. The remaining 137 Spanish ships were initially scattered. The messenger, however, has been launched and completed its mission.

The Battle

Two days after this incident, the Battle of Gravelines was held. The British to sink another three Spanish ships before the outgoing British ammunition ended the battle succeeded.

" You have to make sure ," King Philip had his commander Medina Sidonia inculcated, " that your squadron does not opt out of the battle formation and that no captains, driven by greed, pursuing the fleeing enemy and make pinches. "

The Duke held adamantly to this command; the fleeing British ships were not pursued and reached in safety the River Thames. About 2,000 Spaniards and several hundred Englishmen lost their lives in this struggle. On the whole, the battle was a draw, but the English had ultimately failed to achieve its target of halting the Armada. The invasion could no longer be stopped now on their own.

The sailing to The Hague Spaniards were caught in a storm and decided to sail around England and Scotland to escape the storm. In this way, they lost 64 more ships in more storms. About 3,000 Spaniards were stranded on the Scottish and especially on the Irish coast. Many were killed by the British, some were able to immerse themselves in Irish villages. In July and August 1588 Spain lost a total of 69 vessels and at least 12,000 men. Philip II commented as follows: "I have my Armada sent out to battle against the English, not against nature. "

However, the British suffered heavy casualties themselves; in the English fleet sailors died 6000-8000; chiefly from diseases like dysentery ( dysentery ) and typhus.

• Naval battle (16th century)
• 1588
• Channel