The unknown Battle of Gravelines

Have you ever heard of the Battle of Gravelines, to explain, it was a battle between the English an the Spanish ,which was part of the Spanish Armada, in fact it led to our victory.

It took place on July 29^th 1558 when the Spanish were routed at the Battle of Gravelines, it led to our defeat of the Spanish Armada. We don’t talk of Gravelines at the moment, but it was and still is a coastal town on the north French coast just next to Dunkirk.

Why was the Spanish Fleet there?

The Spanish fleet had been sent up the English Channel to dock at Calais. The plan was that the fleet was then to collect an army of 30,000 soldiers assembled by the Duke of Palma. The Armada would then ferry these troops across the Channel. To the Spanish King it was simple and because of the size of the Armada the English fleet would soon be crushed, it was Simple!

Unfortunately, the Duke of Palma wasn’t there!  This meant that the fleet had to anchor outside Calais, as it the armada too big to get into the port, and wait for the Duke to arrive. They were then sitting ducks all grouped together just outside the coastal town of Gravelines

The opportunity was grasped

The English quickly realised that as the fleet was so big and tightly packed together there was an opportunity to attack, so they did on July 29^th in what is described as the Battle of  Gravelines.

The weather was bad, the Spanish ships were too close together, therefore couldn’t manoeuvre quickly, while the smaller lighter, more manoeuvrable, English ships were finding it easy to fire on them. 

The Weather now played it’s part!

Yes, the weather intervened, suddenly, it changed direction, this gave the Spanish a chance to limp away into the North Sea.

England was saved, was it by Sir Francis Drake or the weather?

Look at our musical The Spanish Armada – The Invasion of England where there is a song That No Good Duke of Palma sung by Duke of Media and his crew while waiting for the  Duke of Palma.

Go to https://www.history-portal.com/index.php/product/the-spanish-armada/

Isn’t history interesting?

10 questions to discuss:

1. 1. 1. Compare and contrast the naval strategies of the English and Spanish fleets at Gravelines.
      2. Explain the role of leadership and individual figures like Sir Francis Drake in the course of the battle.
      3. Analyze the impact of external factors like weather and geography on the outcome of the battle.
      4. Evaluate the historical significance of the Battle of Gravelines, considering its contribution to defeating the Spanish Armada.
      5. Explore the debate surrounding the relative importance of human agency and chance in determining the battle’s outcome.
      6. Compare the Battle of Gravelines to other major naval battles in history, drawing similarities and differences.
      7. Discuss the long-term consequences of the Spanish defeat at Gravelines, not just for England but for European politics.
      8. Imagine you are a sailor on board one of the ships during the battle. Describe your experiences and emotions.
      9. Examine the cultural and symbolic representations of the Battle of Gravelines throughout history.
      10. Reflect on the ongoing relevance of studying historical battles, such as Gravelines, in understanding warfare and international relations.

These questions go beyond summarizing the information and encourage critical thinking, historical analysis, and individual reflection. They aim to prompt you to consider factors like strategy, leadership, chance, and long-term consequences, while drawing comparisons to other historical events and examining diverse perspectives.

For more information of this battle click on:

http://www.prkorea.com/yisunsin/battle2_print.htm

© Tony Dalton