Changes

==Origins==

==Origins==

The operation was planned by [[Philip II]], king of [[Spain, history|Spain]], to help realize his dynastic ambitions<ref> As widower of Elizabeth's immediate predecessor, Mary I, Philip contended that his claim to the English throne was superior to that of Elizabeth, who he claimed was illegitimate. </ref> to expand the Spanish empire and to reconvert Protestant Europe. He was repeatedly exhorted by popes [[Gregory XIII]] (d. 1585) and [[Sixtus V]] as well as by English Catholics in exile to extend the [[Counter Reformation]] to England. The stringent policies of English Queen [[Elizabeth I]] toward her Catholic subjects, her moral leadership of Protestants abroad, and particularly the encouragement she gave to Philip's rebelling subjects in the United Provinces of the [[Netherlands]] infuriated the Spanish king.  

The operation was planned by [[Philip II]], king of [[Spain]], to help realize his dynastic ambitions<ref> As widower of Elizabeth's immediate predecessor, Mary I, Philip contended that his claim to the English throne was superior to that of Elizabeth, who he claimed was illegitimate. </ref> to expand the Spanish empire and to reconvert Protestant Europe. He was repeatedly exhorted by popes [[Gregory XIII]] (d. 1585) and [[Sixtus V]] as well as by English Catholics in exile to extend the [[Counter Reformation]] to England. The stringent policies of English Queen [[Elizabeth I]] toward her Catholic subjects, her moral leadership of Protestants abroad, and particularly the encouragement she gave to Philip's rebelling subjects in the United Provinces of the [[Netherlands]] infuriated the Spanish king.  

In 1587 Philip roused to action. In February 1587 [[Mary Queen of Scots]], a Catholic who also claimed the English crown was executed for treason against England.  In April the English naval officer, [[Francis Drake]], who had previously raided Spanish settlements in Central and South America, destroyed over 20 ships at Cádiz, one of Spain's main ports.

In 1587 Philip roused to action. In February 1587 [[Mary Queen of Scots]], a Catholic who also claimed the English crown, was executed for treason against England.  In April the English naval officer, [[Francis Drake]], who had previously raided Spanish settlements in Central and South America, destroyed over 20 ships at Cádiz, one of Spain's main ports.

==Preparations==

==Preparations==