Only England stood in the way of Philip of Spain and his domination of Europe and the New World.
The Spanish Armada was termed “invincible” for a reason: It was the most powerful military force in the world. Philip had 149 ships of the line. Britain had 80 ships total, of which 50 were volunteer vessels and not much bigger than yachts. Even of the Queen’s 30 warships, only four were equal in tonnage to the smallest Spanish galleons.

With these overwhelming odds, the British fleet desperately engaged the Spaniards in an attempt to prevent a landing on the English coast. During the first major engagement at Calais, with the tide and wind with them, the British fleet performed amazingly. Three Spanish galleons sunk and three others helplessly grounded on the French coast. But the victory came at a cost: The bulk of the Spanish fleet remained intact and the British were out of ammunition. The British fleet had to return home for reinforcements; the Channel was clear for the Spanish attack.

But the Channel crossing and attack did not come. Just six measly kilometers separated Britain from the Spanish invasion, but a work of Spanish destruction came from a force far greater than Britain’s navy could provide.

Severe wind and storm suddenly materialized to save Britain, scattering and wrecking the Spanish ships. By the time the retreating Spaniards made it back to Spain, only 50 ships carrying a few thousand sick and disease-stricken men remained. The Spanish threat to Britain was over, and so was Spain’s time as a global power.