English Expeditionary Fleet (Drake-Norris Expedition, 1589)

Timeline

1. 1589Plymouth · EnglandAbout 180 ships and some 23,000 soldiers and sailors departed from Plymouth, with Drake as naval commander-in-chief and Norris as army commander-in-chief, aiming to destroy Spain's remaining fleet, assist Don Antonio's restoration in Portugal, and seize the Azores.
2. c. 1589Coruña · GaliciaEnglish forces landed and captured the lower town of Coruña, burning large quantities of Spanish supplies, but failed to destroy the Spanish warships anchored in the harbor; casualties mounted during the siege of the upper town, disease began to spread, and they were forced to abandon the siege and withdraw.
3. c. 1589Lisbon · PortugalNorris landed his army at Peniche and advanced deep into the Lisbon suburbs, but the Portuguese populace did not rise in support of Don Antonio as expected; lacking heavy siege guns, the English could not breach Lisbon's defenses and were forced to retreat, suffering heavy land losses.
4. c. 1589Coast of southwestern England · EnglandThe plan to intercept treasure fleets in the Azores was abandoned due to storms and widespread disease; the fleet gradually returned to England. The expedition lost some 11,000–15,000 men (mostly to disease) and over 40 ships, costing more than £100,000, ending in total failure; Drake consequently lost Elizabeth I's trust for a time.