The Explorers Podcast · Monday, August 31, 2026
In 1589, England launched a large-scale naval expedition, the 'English Armada,' commanded by Francis Drake, with the goal of weakening Spain by supporting a rebellion in Portugal. The venture, costing a significant sum and involving 20,000 men and nearly 200 ships, ultimately failed due to logistical issues, disease, and an overoptimistic assessment of Portuguese support.
“In England, it was believed that Spain was weakened, and now was the perfect time to strike back. This belief was aided by a guy named Don Antonio, a pretender to the throne of Portugal.”
“The goal was to sail to Portugal, rouse the populace into rebellion, and destroy Spanish ports and shipping.”
“The venture would be commanded by the great Francis Drake. It was a huge endeavor: 20,000 men, nearly 200 ships. The queen had invested a huge sum, 20,000 pounds. Other private investors, which included Raleigh, added another 40,000 pounds.”
“But it was probably for the best. And that's because the English Armada was a disaster, almost on the scale of the Spanish Armada the year before.”