Invisible armada facts for kids
Invisible Armada is the name given to a big panic in England in 1599. People thought a huge Spanish fleet, like the famous Spanish Armada of 1588, was coming to attack them. This scare was even bigger than the real one in 1588!
A famous writer named Francis Bacon later wrote that people made jokes about it. They said that in 1588, Spain sent an "Invincible Armada" (meaning it couldn't be beaten), but in 1599, they sent an "Invisible Armada" because it was never seen.
Why People Were Scared
Spain's navy got strong again very quickly after their defeat in 1588. They had already sent two more fleets against England in 1596 and 1597. But both times, big storms scattered these fleets before they could reach England.
In 1598, Spain and France made peace in something called the Peace of Vervins. This meant Spain could now focus all its efforts on fighting England and the Dutch. By the summer of 1599, news started to reach England that a new Spanish fleet was gathering in southern Spain.
England's Reaction and What Really Happened
Many of England's experienced soldiers were away fighting in Ireland and the Netherlands at this time. So, over the summer, a huge effort was made to gather both trained and untrained men. About 25,000 men were brought together near London to defend the capital. There was even a plan to block the River Thames to stop any Spanish ships from coming up.
The panic and the gathering of troops finally started to calm down in September.
It turned out that the Spanish fleet was real, but it was not heading for England! Its true target was the Dutch navy. Strong winds blew the Spanish ships off course, and they ended up far away in the Azores islands.
See also
- A Larum for London
- Anglo-Spanish War (1585–1604)
- Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex
- Simon Forman
