Anglo-Spanish War (1585–1604)

Timeline

1. 1585Nonsuch (Netherlands) · NetherlandsElizabeth I signed the Treaty of Nonsuch with representatives of the Dutch Revolt, promising to provide the Netherlands with about 6,000 infantry and 1,000 cavalry, with Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, leading troops to their aid. King Philip II of Spain treated this as a formal declaration of war, and Anglo-Spanish relations entered full confrontation.
2. 1585–1586Caribbean and Spanish American colonies · CaribbeanFrancis Drake led a fleet against Spanish colonial posts in the Caribbean, including Santo Domingo (capital of today's Dominican Republic) and Cartagena (in today's Colombia), severely damaging Spain's American trade system, accumulating war funds for England and demonstrating naval power.
3. 1587Port of Cádiz (Spain) · SpainDrake led his fleet into the Spanish port of Cádiz, destroying large numbers of Spanish reserve ships and military supplies, an event known as 'singeing the King of Spain's beard', delaying Armada preparations and pushing back Spain's invasion of England plan by about a year.
4. 1588English Channel and North Atlantic · English ChannelPhilip II dispatched about 130 warships as the 'Armada' to invade England, planning to link up with the Duke of Parma's army for a landing. The English navy under Drake and Lord Howard used fire ships, combined with Atlantic storms, to devastate the fleet; Spain lost about 60 ships and over 20,000 men, the invasion plan utterly failed, becoming the decisive turning point of the war.
5. 1604London · EnglandAfter England's King James I acceded and sought peace, England and Spain signed the Treaty of London, mutually recognizing territorial and trade rights, formally ending the nearly twenty-year Anglo-Spanish War. The Dutch war of independence continued, but England withdrew from direct military intervention.