The Spanish Armada was one part of a planned invasion of England by King Philip II of Spain.
Launched in August 1588, ‘la felicissima armada’, or ‘the most fortunate fleet’, was made up of roughly 150 ships and 18,000 men. At the time, it was the largest fleet ever seen in Europe and Philip II of Spain considered it invincible.
Of the 150 ships that set out, only 65 returned to Lisbon.