Why in 1588 were there 30,000 soldiers in Calais?

The Spanish Armada failed because the Duke of Parma was late on his meeting with the Spanish Fleet?

The Spanish King had a clever plan.  He built an armada of ships that were enough to bring 30,000 soldiers across the channel. His plan was to sail the fleet up the English Channel to Calais, there they would pick up the 30,000 soldiers.  They would then be transported across the Channel at its shortest point and deposited in England. As it was a relatively short journey, they wouldn’t be too exhausted and would be ready to march on London.

It was a simple plan that we all know failed. Our musical The Spanish Armada – The Invasion of England tells the story click here … https://www.history-portal.com/index.php/product/the-spanish-armada/

I was curious to find out why on earth there were 30,000 Spanish soldiers and the Duke of Parma in Belgium anyway?  What were they doing there?

The Spanish Netherlands

Well, first of all in those days they didn’t call it Belgium, it was the Spanish Netherlands. It got this name because it was controlled by the Spanish Crown. It was made up of, what we now call, Belgium, Luxembourg, Holland, and bits of northern France and western Germany. The Duke of Parma was the head of The Army of Flanders, his job was to defend the Spanish Netherlands.

This was the result of the power that the Habsburg family had across Europe at that time. Along with the relationship between the Austrian and Spanish Habsburg families, who interbred and were therefore closely related.

The Austrian Habsburgs were the Kings of the Holy Roman Empire and ruled from Vienna in Austria. The Spanish Habsburg was the King of Spain, and the two Kings shared their territories, in a way. They tended to support each other, because it was “The Family”.

Now, because it was the Holy Roman Empire, they were Catholic and they owed their allegiance to the Pope in Rome.  However, this was a time when Europe was going through a religious transformation.  This was very true in the Dutch areas of the Spanish Netherlands, as they were becoming protestant.   To make things worse, some years before, England had rejected Catholicism and started the Church of England. As shown in our musical Henry VIII – The Break with Rome and to hear two songs from the show click here .. https://www.history-portal.com/index.php/product/henry-viii/

The result was there was discontent, and several of the Provinces started to rebel against Spanish rule. This explains why the duke  had such a large army at his command. Especially as on 23 January 1579 the Provinces signed the Union of Utrecht, in effect, they declared independence. Then in 1581 they went further and formed the independent Dutch Republic.  The southern provinces didn’t join the others and stayed loyal to Spanish rule.

In a way he failed, but these 30,000 Spanish soldiers were here to make certain that he didn’t lose any more of the Spanish Netherlands.  While from the British point of view having 30,000 soldiers just across the English Channel, was rather too close for comfort.

So, it makes sense that the King of Spain wanted to use them, even though in the end he didn’t as when the ships got to Calais, no one was there to be collected!

Isn’t History fun?

10 questions to discuss:

1. 1. 1. Beyond the Duke of Parma’s delay, what other factors contributed to the failure of the Spanish Armada? Consider weather, tactics, naval technology, and leadership decisions.
      2. How accurate is the portrayal of the religious motivations behind the conflict? Were there also political and economic factors at play?
      3. The blog simplifies the Dutch Revolt. What were the various factions and motivations within the Netherlands during this period?
      4. How did the Spanish Habsburg family’s influence and intermarriage impact the geopolitical landscape of Europe and contribute to the conflict?
      5. What were the consequences of the Spanish Armada’s failure for England, Spain, and the Netherlands?
      6. The blog presents the Spanish perspective by focusing on the Duke of Parma. How did the English view the threat of the Armada, and what measures did they take to defend themselves?
      7. Beyond military aspects, how did the Armada impact trade, travel, and everyday life in England and across Europe?
      8. The blog uses modern names like “Belgium” and “Holland.” How did these geographical and political entities differ in the 16th century?
      9. How has the historical understanding and interpretation of the Spanish Armada evolved over time? What are some ongoing debates and controversies surrounding this event?
      10. What lessons can we learn from the Spanish Armada about international relations, conflict resolution, and the complex interplay of religion, politics, and technological advancements?

These questions are to encourage critical thinking beyond the blog’s narrative and explore the broader historical context, motivations, consequences, and lasting impact of the Spanish Armada. They aim to  promote consideration of diverse perspectives, the evolution of historical understanding, and the relevance of past events to the present and future.

For more on the Spanish occupation of the Netherlands:

©Tony Dalton