In 1588 King Phillip II of Spain constructed the largest fleet ever seen on the Atlantic in attempt to invade England. This attempt famously flopped. At the time this was celebrated as an English triumph in the face of impossible odds, and over the centuries English historians echoed this Elizabethan propaganda. This led to some in the Victorian era declaring that the defeat of the Armada had been one of the most pivotal moments in the history of the world. However, more recently the scholarly view of this event has changed. Has the reputation of the Spanish Armada been grossly inflated by patriotic myths? Tune-in and find out how fake milkmen, English pirates, and good old fashioned pluck all play a role in the story.
