Learning Objectives

• Be able to identify reasons why William won the Battle of Hastings (Level 4)

• Know the reasons why King Philip II of Spain wanted to invade England (Level 4/5/6)

Have a discussion with the people on your table about what you can remember from last year. You should then each write down two pieces of information – try to make sure that everybody on your table writes something different!

Various countries have tried to invade Britain over

the centuries – But since 1066 no one has

succeeded. Over the coming weeks we are going to look at how

Britain has successfully defended itself against

invasion.

To understand why the other invasions failed, we first need to look at what made William’s invasion a

success!

TaskIn silence, read through the information on The Battle of Hastings. As you are reading, ask yourself:

‘Why did William win the battle?’

You should then make a decision as to the most important reason why William won. You should write your name on a post it note and place it on one of the five headings around the room.

(Planning, Weapons, Fighting Forces, Leadership, Luck)

You may be asked to explain your decision. Make sure that you have an answer prepared explaining why you made that choice!

The SaxonsThe Saxons had around 8, 000 men. This consisted of:

Housecarls – The most feared Saxon Warrior.

Fyrd – Part time fighting force

Peasants – Poorly armed and poorly trained. Armed with pitchforks, scythes and axes.

The NormansThe Normans had around 10,000 men. This consisted of:

Archers – Could fire 5 or 6 arrows a minute and could kill from 200 to 300 yards. Knights – well trained and well armed soldiers.

Cavalry – Knights on horseback.

Foot soldiers – well trained fighters.

The Saxon tactic of forming a shield wall at the top of Senlac Hill was very useful. Throughout much of the battle the Saxons stood firm against the Norman attacks.

However, the tactics of the Normans tricked the Saxons. William told his soldiers to retreat from the Saxon shield wall. This made many Saxons believe the Normans were running scared. Many chased and followed. This broke part of the shield wall.

William ordered his soldiers to do this again. Like the first time the Saxons followed. The Norman knights turned and killed many of the Saxons. This seriously weakened the Saxon Army.

During an important part of the battle Harold got hit in the eye with an arrow.

William had been waiting for a good wind to take him across the English Channel. Fortunately, whilst the Saxons were fighting Harald Hardrada’s men the wind changed in the right direction.

William had took his time getting ready for the battle. All of his men were well trained, well equipped and ready to fight. In comparison. Harold’s men were exhausted from the 200 miles walk from Stamford Bridge.

William was an excellent soldier. With his sword he split many shields helmets and swords.

We are now going to use our analysis skills to look at an

invasion that occurred during the reign of Elizabeth I.

But, do you know when Elizabeth I reigned?

Do you know when these British monarchs ruled England?

1000 AD

1100 1200 1300 1400 1500 1600 1700 1800 1900 2000 AD

Queen Elizabeth I

Queen Elizabeth

I1558-1603

Queen Elizabeth II

Queen Elizabeth II

1952-Present

Edward the Confessor

Edward the Confessor1042-1066

Henry VIII

Henry VIII1509-1547

As you can see, Elizabeth I came to the thrown eleven years after the death of her father, Henry VIII. As

her family were known as the Tudors, this period was known as the

Tudor Period.

The invasion we are going to look at, the Spanish Armada, took place near the end of Elizabeth’s reign in 1588.

Throughout this unit you will be collecting

evidence and analysing events to

answer the question:

*Armada = A Fleet of War Ships

Task

In 1588, King Philip II of Spain ordered an invasion of England,

which was ruled by Queen Elizabeth I. It is your task this lesson to find out why Philip wanted to invade England.

Task

There are a number of different reasons why Phillip wanted to invade England.

In order to understand all of the reasons, we must first gain an understanding of how religion affected the relationship between England and Spain.

Everybody should read the information sheet titled:

Religion

You should then answer the questions on the table you have been provided with. Do not go on to the other topics until you have been instructed to.

You should now read the other three information sheets and then answer the questions on the sheet provided.

Level 5/6: Ensure that your answers are as detailed as possible!

This will help you next lesson!

Plenary

In the back of your books, you should write the following:

• One thing you already knew before the start of the lesson.

• Two things that you have learnt this lesson.

• And one question that you would like to ask about the Spanish Armada.

Religion

One of the reasons why King Philip of Spain wanted to invade England was due to the differing religious beliefs the two countries held. Spain is a catholic country. Even in the 16th century (1500’s), Spain had had a long history of following the Catholic faith.

England too had a long history of being a Catholic country. However, over 50 years prior to the Armada invasion, in 1534, Henry VIII (Elizabeth I’s father), had broken away from the Catholic faith after the Pope, the head of the Catholic Church, had refused to grant him a divorce from his wife Catherine of Aragon. Henry established the ‘Church of England’, placed himself as the Supreme Head and divorced Catherine of Aragon. People who began to follow this new faith, were to become known as Protestants. Protestants and Catholics differed in the beliefs they held and the way they practiced their religion. In the following years after Henry’s death, England saw much conflict between these two religions. Both Protestants and Catholics believed that they held the ‘true religion’ and that their religion should be the religion of England.

Both Elizabeth I and King Philip of Spain came to the thrown in their countries during the 1550’s. King Philip of Spain was a strict and devout catholic. Elizabeth I was a Protestant. She had just replaced the Catholic Queen Mary, who for a brief time had been married to King Philip. In the later years of Elizabeth’s reign, Elizabeth had become increasingly more aggressive to the Catholics living in England as she thought they threatened her rule as Queen.

King Philip believed that he had a duty to protect the Catholic faith and ensure that it flourished throughout the world. By invading England, Philip believed that he would be able to remove the Protestant Queen Elizabeth and then be able to re-introduce Catholicism as the main religion of England once again.

Revolt!

At the time of Elizabeth, Spain controlled what was called the Spanish Netherlands. This consisted of modern day Holland and Belgium. In particular, Holland wanted its independence (to be set free of Spanish rule). They did not like being made to be Catholic; in fact, Protestant ideas had taken root in Holland and many of those in Holland were secret Protestants. If they had publicly stated their Protestant beliefs, their lives would have been in danger. Spain used a religious secret police called the Inquisition to hunt out Protestants. However, during Elizabeth's reign, the English had been helping the Dutch Protestants in Holland. She had sent troops to help the Dutch rebels fight the Spanish. This greatly angered the King of Spain - Philip II - who wanted to stop this. By invading England and defeating them, Philip could control the English Channel and his ships could have an easy passage from Spain to the Spanish Netherlands. Spanish troops stationed there could be easily supplied.

Sir Francis Drake

English ‘Sea-Dogs‘ had been causing a great deal of damage to Spain's trade in silver. Men such as Francis Drake attacked Spanish shipping off of the West Indies and Spain lost a vast sum of money when the ships carrying silver sunk or had their cargo captured by Drake. To the English, Drake was a hero but to the Spanish he was nothing more than a pirate who, in their view, was allowed to do what he did with the full knowledge of the queen. This the Spanish could not accept.

In 1581, Drake was knighted by Queen Elizabeth, to become Sir Francis Drake. This was a very public reward for his actions.

Execution of Mary, Queen of Scots

In 1587, Mary, Queen of Scots, was executed in England on the orders of Elizabeth. Elizabeth

believed that Mary had been involved in a plot to kill her and place herself as Queen of England. Mary was a Catholic and Philip II believed that he had a duty to ensure no more Catholics were arrested in

England and that no more should be executed. Mary, had also made it clear that if she became queen of England, Philip should inherit the throne after her

death.

Religion Revolt!

Execution of Mary, Queen of Scots Sir Francis Drake

Explain, in your own words, why was their conflict between Protestants and Catholics in England during the 16th Century?

What religions were King Philip of Spain and Queen Elizabeth of England?

According to this information, why do you think Philip would have wanted to invade England?

Why would King Philip have been angry with Elizabeth?

According to this information, can you identify two reasons why Philip would have wanted to invade England?

Why do you think Philip would have been angered by Elizabeth’s execution of Mary Queen of Scots?

According to this information, why do you think Philip would have wanted to invade England?

What had English ‘Sea-Dogs’ been doing that may have angered King Philip?

According to this information, why do you think Philip would have wanted to invade England?