The Forgotten English Armada

From the creator

Use code thehistoryguy at https://incogni.com/thehistoryguy to get an exclusive 60% off. You’ve probably heard of the Spanish Armada, in 1588 is a famous failure - a defeat so complete that it established the English as a naval power, while it underscored Spain’s decline. But much less remembered was that the English launched its own massive naval expedition—the English Armada of 1589—aimed at destroying the remaining Spanish fleet, seizing Lisbon, and capturing vital trade routes in the Azores. Despite being the largest naval undertaking in English history at the time, the expedition ended in a catastrophic and costly failure, marked by disease, supply shortages, and tactical blunders. In this episode, The History Guy explores the origins, the dramatic events of the campaign, and why this major historical event has become so thoroughly forgotten compared to its Spanish counterpart. Check out our new shop for fun The History Guy merchandise: https://thehistoryguy-shop.fourthwall.com/products/thg-history This is original content based on research by The History Guy. Images in the Public Domain are carefully selected and provide illustration. As very few images of the actual event are available in the Public Domain, images of similar objects and events are used for illustration. Note: Just because you can think up a reason to criticize doesn't mean that you are obligated to do so. Pedantic is not a compliment folks. You can purchase the bow tie worn in this episode at

Published 2026-05-08 · Watch on YouTube ↗
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