The Spanish Empire's mighty Armada, boasting 130 ships and 25,000 men, had been sailing towards England with one goal in mind: to overthrow Queen Elizabeth I and claim the throne for Spain. But the English were ready. Led by Lord Howard of Effingham and Sir Francis Drake, the smaller but more maneuverable English fleet had been waiting in the wings, prepared to defend their shores. As the Armada sailed into the Strait of Dover, the English launched a series of surprise attacks, using their superior speed and agility to outmaneuver the lumbering Spanish galleons. The Spanish ships, heavy with troops and supplies, were no match for the English tactics. As the Battle of Gravelines raged on, the Armada was battered and bruised, its ships either sunk or scattered, its men exhausted and demoralized. By the time the battle ended, the Spanish Armada's invasion attempt had been soundly defeated, securing a major victory for the English and cementing Elizabeth I's reign.