The Anglo-Spanish War (1585–1604) was an intermittent conflict between the kingdoms of Spain and England that was never formally declared. The war was punctuated by widely separated battles, and began with England's military expedition in 1585 to what was then the Spanish Netherlands under the command of Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, in support of the resistance of the States General to Spanish Habsburg rule.

The English enjoyed a victory at Cádiz in 1587, and repelled the Spanish Armada in 1588, but then suffered heavy setbacks in a series of expeditions: those of the English Armada in 1589 and the Drake–Hawkins and Essex–Raleigh in 1595 and 1597, respectively. Two further Spanish armadas were sent to England in 1596 and 1597 but these likewise ended in failure for Spain, mainly because of adverse weather and poor planning.

The war became deadlocked around the turn of the 17th century during campaigns in the Netherlands, France, and Ireland. It was brought to an end with the Treaty of London, negotiated in 1604 between representatives of Philip III of Spain and the new king of England, James I. In the treaty, England and Spain agreed to cease their military interventions in the Spanish Netherlands and Ireland, respectively, and the English ended their high seas privateering.... More • http://en.wikipedia. ... 1585-1604) View • Books • Images • Videos • Search Related • Wars • Cadiz • Enlightenment • Great Britain • Netherlands • Piracy • Reformation • Spain • War • All Events • 16th Century • 17th Century