On This Day

Spanish forces in Ireland surrender to the English army at Kinsale

The Fourth Spanish Armada, also known as the Last Armada, was a military expedition sent to Ireland that took place between August 1601 and March 1602 towards the end of Anglo-Spanish war.

The Fourth Spanish Armada, also known as the Last Armada, was a military expedition sent to Ireland that took place between August 1601 and March 1602 towards the end of Anglo-Spanish war. The armada – the fourth and smallest of its type, was sent on orders from the Spanish king Philip III to southwestern Ireland to assist the Irish rebels led by Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone, who were fighting to rid Ireland of Queen Elizabeth I of England's rule. Don Juan del Águila and Don Diego Brochero commanded the expedition that consisted of 36 ships and 4,500 soldiers, and a significant amount of arms and ammunition.

Historical Significance

The Fourth Spanish Armada, also known as the Last Armada, was a military expedition sent to Ireland that took place between August 1601 and March 1602 towards the end of Anglo-Spanish war.

Events Before

  1. A fleet of five British East India Company vessels departs on its first voyage from London, led by James Lancaster comma

    A fleet of five British East India Company vessels departs on its first voyage from London, led by James Lancaster commanding the "Red Dragon"; the journey lasts nearly 16 months

  2. Louis Gunther of Nassau weds countess Anna Margaretha of Manderscheid

    Louis Gunther of Nassau weds countess Anna Margaretha of Manderscheid

  3. Church authorities in Rome burn Hebrew books

    Church authorities in Rome burn Hebrew books

  4. France gains Bresse, Bugey, Valromey, and Gex in a treaty with Spain

    France gains Bresse, Bugey, Valromey, and Gex in a treaty with Spain

  5. Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, leads an unsuccessful revolt in London against Queen Elizabeth

    Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, leads an unsuccessful revolt in London against Queen Elizabeth

Events After

  1. Scottish King James VI, son of Mary, Queen of Scots, becomes King James I of England in succession to Elizabeth I, uniti

    Scottish King James VI, son of Mary, Queen of Scots, becomes King James I of England in succession to Elizabeth I, uniting the English and Scottish crowns

  2. Chinese uprising in the Philippines fails after 23,000 people are killed

    Chinese uprising in the Philippines fails after 23,000 people are killed

  3. First fleet of the Dutch East India Company under Admiral Steven van der Haghen departs for the East-Indies

    First fleet of the Dutch East India Company under Admiral Steven van der Haghen departs for the East-Indies

  4. Battle at Mellifont: English army under Lord Mountjoy beats Irish

    Battle at Mellifont: English army under Lord Mountjoy beats Irish

  5. Merga Bien arrested for witchcraft in Fulda, Germany, part of Fulda witch trials. She and about 250 people later burned

    Merga Bien arrested for witchcraft in Fulda, Germany, part of Fulda witch trials. She and about 250 people later burned at the stake.

More from the 1600s

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on January 3, 1602?
The Fourth Spanish Armada, also known as the Last Armada, was a military expedition sent to Ireland that took place between August 1601 and March 1602 towards the end of Anglo-Spanish war. The armada – the fourth and smallest of its type, was sent on orders from the Spanish king Philip III to southwestern Ireland to assist the Irish rebels led by Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone, who were fighting to rid Ireland of Queen Elizabeth I of England's rule. Don Juan del Águila and Don Diego Brochero commanded the expedition that consisted of 36 ships and 4,500 soldiers, and a significant amount of arms and ammunition.
Why is Spanish forces in Ireland surrender to the English army at Kinsale significant?
The Fourth Spanish Armada, also known as the Last Armada, was a military expedition sent to Ireland that took place between August 1601 and March 1602 towards the end of Anglo-Spanish war.

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