Category: Anglo-Spanish War (1585-1604)

Categories: Wars 1500-1799 | British Military History | Anglo-Spanish Wars | Kingdom of Naples

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Main Category for the Anglo-Spanish War (1585-1604)

Anglo-Spanish War (1585–1604)

The Anglo–Spanish War (1585–1604) was an intermittent conflict between the kingdoms of Spain and England that was never formally declared. The war was punctuated by widely separated battles, and began with England's military expedition in 1585 to the Netherlands under the command of the Earl of Leicester in support of the resistance of the States General to Habsburg rule.

The English enjoyed victories at Cádiz in 1587, and over the Spanish Armada in 1588, but lost the initiative upon failure of the Drake Norris Expedition in 1589. Two further Spanish armadas were sent but were frustrated in their objectives owing to adverse weather.

In the decade following the defeat of the Armada, Spain strengthened its navy and was able to safeguard its trade routes of precious metals from the Americas. However, the Spanish private merchant marine was damaged by English privateering. The war became deadlocked around the turn of the 17th century during campaigns in Brittany and Ireland. The war was brought to an end with the Treaty of London, negotiated in 1604 between representatives of Philip III and the new king of England, James I. England and Spain agreed to cease their military interventions in the Spanish Netherlands and Ireland, respectively, and the English ended high seas privateering. Both parties had achieved some of their aims and both had in turn depleted their treasuries in ways that challenged their respective countries in the early decades of the new century, which would witness several resumptions of conflict between them. (1)

Anglo-Spanish War

Date: 1585–1604

Location: Atlantic Ocean, English Channel, Low Countries, Spain, Spanish Main, Portugal, Cornwall, Ireland, Americas

Result: Status quo ante, Treaty of London

Belligerents

Spain	Kingdom of England
Kingdom of Naples	United Provinces
	Portuguese loyal to Prior of Crato

Commanders and leaders

Philip II	Elizabeth I
Philip III	Francis Drake
Marquis of Santa Cruz	John Hawkins
Duke of Parma	Earl of Leicester
Duke of Medina Sidonia	Earl of Nottingham
	Prior of Crato