Episode 24: The Spanish Armada

While history is full of famous battles and campaigns, only a few naval actions have managed to remain widely known long after they took place. The Spanish Armada of 1588 ranks near the top of that select group of events. In England it's cast as a critical moment in the development of the Royal Navy, the institution that more than any other would be responsible for asserting the might of the British Empire across the globe in the subsequent centuries. Elsewhere the defeat of Spain's "Invincible Armada" is remembered as a prime example of military failure. In reality, the events of 1588 were arguably less decisive and certainly far more complicated than what is commonly remembered. On this episode of "No One is Competent" we'll be covering the history of the Spanish Armada and its fateful voyage.