Background Speech 2: Queen Elizabeth's Armada Speech to the Troops at Tilbury, August 9, 1588.

Background in a nutshell:

  • Date: 1588
  • Place: Tilbury fort on the coast of England
  • Speaker: Elizabeth I, age 55
  • Audience: 4,000 English troops

The full background story:

After her First Speech to Parliament, Elizabeth was true to her word, she never married.  30 years into her reign, she was leading England through a "Golden Age" of safety and prosperity. 

In 1585, England went to war with Spain for a variety of reasons:

  • English pirates regularly attacked Spanish ships crossing from the Americas to Europe and stole Spanish gold and goods
  • England supported the Netherlands' rebellion against Spain 
  • Many of the Catholic kings in Europe did not like England's Protestant Queen, Elizabeth  
  • Mary I's husband, Phillip II of Spain, thought he was entitled to rule England

In July 1588, Spain sent 130 ships and 30,000 men to invade England (which was a lot!)  

To defend the kingdom, Elizabeth sent a small fleet of ships to intercept the Spanish forces.  On land, 4,000 English troops at Tilbury prepared to defend the coast from the invaders.  

The image above shows the Spanish Armada  sailing toward England.  Elizabeth went to her troops at Tilbury and delivered a speech.