2nd Spanish Armada | |||||||
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Part of the Anglo-Spanish War | |||||||
![]() Philip II of Spain in his old age, ordered the Armada of 1596 in revenge for the English attack on Cadiz | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
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Commanders and leaders | |||||||
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Strength | |||||||
Fleet 24 galleons 53 armed merchant ships[4] Total 126[5] - 140 ships 19,500 men (approx.)[6] |
Various shore defences 13 galleons 74 armed merchant vessels 12,000 men[7] | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
1 Flyboat captured[8] Storms/Disease: 5 galleons sunk[9] 38 other ships sunk or scuttled[6] 5,000 dead[10][11] | Unknown |
The 2nd Spanish Armada also known as the Spanish Armada of 1596[12][13] was a naval operation that took place during the Anglo–Spanish War. Another invasion of England or Ireland was attempted in the autumn of 1596 by King Philip II of Spain.[9][14] In an attempt at revenge for the English sack of Cadiz in 1596, Philip immediately ordered a counter strike in the hope of assisting the Irish rebels in rebellion against the English crown.[6] The strategy was to open a new front in the war, forcing English troops away from France and the Netherlands, where they were also fighting.[7][15]
The Armada under the command of the Adelantado, Martín de Padilla was gathered at Lisbon, Vigo and Seville and set off in October.[16] Before it had left Spanish waters, storms struck the fleet off Cape Finisterre.[17] The storms shattered the Armada causing much damage and forcing the ships to return to their home ports.[18] Nearly 5,000 men died either from the storm or disease and 38 ships were lost, which was enough for a long-term postponement of the Irish enterprise.[18] The material and financial losses added to the bankruptcy of the Spanish kingdom, during the autumn of 1596.[1][7]