Armada

Armada (literally an armed force), the name given to the Spanish fleet sent in 1588 by Philip II. to achieve the conquest of England. It was termed by the Spaniards the "Invincible" Armada, and consisted of 130 war-vessels, with 30 smaller ships, containing nearly 20,000 marines, besides sailors and slaves. It was under the command of the Duke of Medina-Sidonia. who was to act in concert with the land force of the Prince of Parma in Flanders. The Armada was attacked by the English as it sailed up the Channel, and suffered such severe loss that it was decided to abandon the enterprise; the fleet was, however, almost entirely destroyed by storms off the Orkneys and the north coasts of Scotland and Ireland.