Final answer:
Spain's vast naval fleet is called an Armada. The most famous is the Spanish Armada, which was defeated by the English navy in 1588, leading to Spain's decline as a major power and the rise of English naval dominance.
The correct option is a) Armada
Step-by-step explanation:
Spain created a vast naval fleet known as an Armada. The most infamous of these was the Spanish Armada which Philip II of Spain deployed in 1588 in an attempt to overthrow Protestant England and replace it with Spanish Catholic rule.
However, the armada faced a combination of skilled English naval tactics led by Lord Charles Howard and Sir Francis Drake, along with treacherous weather.
The English fleet managed to defeat the Spanish Armada in the English Channel, with storms contributing to the loss of many Spanish ships.
This significant defeat, coupled with subsequent English successes such as the capture of Spanish treasure and raids on Spanish ships, marked the decline of the Spanish Empire as a foremost European power, allowing England to emerge as the leading naval power and a major colonial force.
The correct option is a) Armada