Elizabeth I, who showed incomparable courage and rallied her people to arms, would forever be hailed as one of England's greatest leaders. The 'Defeat of the Armada' was one of the momentous events of British history. However, a combination of brave and clever English ressitance, gross Spanish incompetence and terrible weather resulted in the complete failure of the mission and the loss of most of the Spanish fleet. It sailed from Lisbon to attack England, and many in London feared that their nation would be easily destroyed by the Spanish juggernaut. Engraged by England's piracy and heresy, in 1588, Phillip II assembled what was by far the largest naval fleet to date. The Anglo-Spanish War (1585-1604), pitted Phillip II's empire, the vanguard of Catholicism, flush with the riches of New World gold and silver, against Elizabeth I's Protestant England and its brazen pirate-adventurers who had sought to take Spain's riches. To add artistic elan to the view, the ships take on an exaggerated size, compared to the coastline in the backround, which extends from Cape St. This rare and attractive map shows the Spanish and English fleets arrayed off the coast of Portugal, during the opening stages of an epic contest.
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