KS3 Special! In 1588, King Philip II of Spain launched an naval armada against England, hoping to invade and return it to the Catholic fold. The armada included approximately 130 galleons, hoping to collect more Spanish troops from Flanders under the control of the Duke of Parma. Unfortunately for Philip, the expected troops from the Netherlands never arrived; they were bogged down fighting Dutch Protestant rebels. The Battle of Gravelines spelt the end for the Armada; the Spanish crescent formation was shattered and their chances of launching a successful invasion were well and truly over. However, what was the main cause of the failure of the Spanish Armada?

In this KS3 special, Patrick (@historychappy) argues that it was the failings of the Spanish that was ultimately responsible, while Elliott (@thelibrarian6) argues that the strengths of the English should be considered the main factor.

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