Final answer:
Spain launched a large armada against England in 1588, which was crucially defeated by the English, supported by treacherous weather. This event boosted English naval dominance and contributed to the decline of the Spanish Empire.
Step-by-step explanation:
Spain launched a large armada of ships against England in 1588. This military campaign, known as the Spanish Armada, was a monumental naval engagement in which Spain, under King Philip II, attempted to invade England. The English navy, led by Lord Charles Howard and Sir Francis Drake, fought the Spanish Armada in the English Channel. Aided by treacherous storms that scattered the Spanish fleet, England emerged victorious, marking a turning point that established its naval supremacy and effectively signaling the decline of Spanish maritime power.
Despite the significant challenge posed by the Spanish Armada, the vigorous defense by the English and the advantageous natural conditions led to a decisive English victory. This conflict was a part of the larger Anglo-Spanish War, during which both Protestant England and Catholic Spain sparred on multiple occasions. The defeat of the Spanish Armada also had broader implications, contributing to the rise of English colonization in the Americas and the decline of the Spanish Empire as a major European power.