The History

   

Rules

The 'History'

Army Lists  

Figures

Scenery

Scenarios

Events

Links
"God blew and they were scattered"
The famous line above is taken from the commemorative medallion that was struck after the defeat of the Armada. It offers proof that God is an English man. But What if when they scattered they didn't all sail up the North Sea and around the Scottish and Irish coasts?
 
1588 And All That is based on a 'series of 'What ifs?'. These what ifs, then, would form a slightly alternate history to the familiar story of the Spanish Armada from the summer of 1588. Of course the eventual outcome is clear after all we are speaking English not Spanish, but how we got here could have been slightly different.
 
I intend to write a full history for this game as our campaigns progress, in the meantime here is a potted history of the Spanish invasion of East Anglia August 1588
 
The events of the Spanish Armada are well known. King Phillip of Spain had been preparing for war with England  for many years. His fleets had often been attacked by English Pirates and his army in Flanders had fought on several occasions against Englishmen who supported the upstart protestant Dutch.

Elizabeth had been excommunicated by the Pope and Phillip had been encouraged to wage war against Protestant England. It appears that the final straw was the execution of Mary Stewart, Queen of Scots.

An enormous fleet of ships, the largest ever seen, was assembled in the Atlantic ports. Thousands of  Besonio were recruited in Spain and the Army of  Flanders headed for the Channel ports.

The Spanish Fleet sailed into the Channel and fought several running skirmishes with the English Fleet. They by passed the south coast ports and the Isle of Wight, eventually the found refuge in the Straits of Calais and it was here, where the English made the famous fire ship attack. The Armada was scattered, but not all the fleet headed out to sea and thus were not present at Gravelines, the only real battle.

The Saint Iago, Captained by Don Juan Rodregez had a local man on board who was bale to pilot her, and lead a squadron of ships up the treacherous French coast. These ships successfully made contact with the Duke of Parma. he in turn a realised that the Armada would be forced North and decided to strike across the North Sea whilst the English fleet was drawn north in pursuit.

Parma, being the finest general in the world, believed that even with a reduced force he could surprise the English, march on London and force Queen Elizabeth to come to terms thereby grabbing all the glory.

Parma's small fleet of warships and barges set sail for the Thames estuary with the intention of sailing right into England. Unfortunately a huge storm arose and they were forced north after losing several troop and supply vessels. The battered Spanish ships made landfall of the North Essex coast and immediately besieged Harwich. The garrison of Harwich believed they were attacked by a much larger force, they were betrayed by recusant Catholics who opened the land side gates to the town and let a tercio of Spanish veterans into the port. With a sea port in his hands Parma felt he was in a strong position and sent forces up the Stour and Ouze. Next to fall was Ipswich, it was now crucial for the Spanish to consolidate and gather supplies...