CLEP Western Civ I

Answer: A - Phillip II’s marriage to Mary I was not a result of the Spanish Armada defeat in 1588. King Phillip II of Spain was married to the Queen Mary I of England from 1554 until her death in 1558. His position in England was essentially terminated upon Mary’s death, but in 1559, he asked her successor and half-sister, Elizabeth I, to marry him. She refused, and their political relationship quickly soured. Phillip, a staunch Catholic, deemed his former sister-in-law a heretic for her Protestantism and proclaimed that she was an illegitimate queen. He supported plans to overthrow her in favor of her cousin, the Catholic Mary, Queen of Scots, who was already considered to be Elizabeth’s lawful successor (since she had no children). Elizabeth had Mary, Queen of Scots imprisoned in 1568; the plots continued, and finally, Elizabeth had her executed in 1587. It was the last straw for Phillip. He plotted to overthrow Elizabeth and invade England. Phillip deployed the Spanish Armada, considered the best navy in the world to execute the plan, but the English navy engaged the Armada and defeated them because their ships were smaller and more nimble. Severe weather during Spain’s attempted invasion aided the English cause. The unexpected English victory was considered a sign throughout Europe that God favored Protestantism, helping to protect it during the Counter-Reformation movement. Subsequently, Elizabeth sent military support to the new Protestant King of France, Henry IV. The defeat of the Spanish Armada is still considered to be one of the greatest moments in English history.