Page 83 - All About History 55 - 2017 UK

Hero or Villain?
SIR FRANCIS DRAKE

Defining
moment
Defeat of the Armada
When the Spanish Armada makes its
way up the English Channel, Drake leads
the defence as vice admiral in command of
the English fleet. He organises fire ships to
wreak havoc with the Spanish, causing them to
become disorganised, devises a devastating
broadside attack and captures the enemy’s
flagship. The victory is the culmination
of a life’s work for Drake, yet his
hatred and lust for revenge are
certainly far from sated.
1588

Drake made sure that English
ships kept their distance to avoid
boarding, a popular Spanish tactic

“ Elizabeth used Drake like a battering ram, as well as supporting anti-Philip rebels in Lisbon.
The aim of Drake’s final journey was to cut off
thrusting him into Spanish ports” the Spanish revenue supply in Panama and finally
end the war — but this time the Spanish were
alone in his disapproval, and when Drake became But the MP wasn’t quite ready to settle down yet prepared. It was during this campaign that Drake
stranded several years later, the ship’s chaplain and would take breaks from his duties to raid contracted the disease that would kill him. Fittingly
claimed this was due to Doughty’s unjust murder. Spanish settlements at sea. for the man who had made his name at sea, Drake’s
The captain responded by not only firing him, but As relations between England and Spain body was dressed in full armour, sealed in a lead
chaining him to a hatch cover and claiming he worsened, Elizabeth used Drake like a battering coffin and buried in the watery depths. To this day,
was excommunicated. ram, thrusting him into Spanish ports to wreak his resting place has not been found.
While Drake’s brutal methods may have upset havoc and flee with gold. It was these raids that Even in the bloodthirsty era of piracy, Drake
some of his men, none loathed and feared him finally drove Philip to invade England once and for stood out. But if it wasn’t for his extreme methods,
more than Philip II. Infuriated by Drake’s raids, it all. The Spanish built a vast force of warships, but he wouldn’t have been so successful and it is
was the Spanish king who gave him the nickname then Drake raided Cadiz. He destroyed more unlikely he would be the English hero he is today.
‘El Draque’, meaning ‘dragon’. It is also claimed than 30 ships and thousands of tons of supplies Although his exploits terrified and alienated friend
Philip put a bounty of 20,000 ducats on his head, with a devastating attack that set the Armada and foe alike, they were also instrumental in
the equivalent of several million pounds today. back several years. building England up as a superpower. He was an
Drake’s Spanish enemies were so terrified of him However, in Drake’s own words, he only ‘singed undeniably talented navigator with a will of steel,
that a rumour quickly spread that he was in league the King of Spain’s beard,’ delaying the inevitable. despite his motivations being dubious at best. Just
with the devil. There was also gossip that he had The Armada arrived in 1588 and Drake was like his watery grave, it is likely that Drake’s rightful
an enchanted mirror that showed him the positions appointed vice admiral of the English force that place in history will remain unclear for some time.
of all ships on the sea. defeated the Spanish. Drake, as usual, followed his
England, however, embraced the ‘dragon’ as their own rules, breaking off from the fleet and capturing Was Sir Francis Drake a hero or a villain?
hero. Sir Francis Drake was appointed mayor of the flagship. Whether this was genius, a lust for Let us know what you think
Plymouth and became a Member of Parliament. fame or further revenge, it worked and the English
An active politician, he helped build a canal that won. Not sated with this, Drake headed out once Facebook Twitter © Alamy
supplied Plymouth with fresh water for centuries. more to destroy the last remains of the beaten force /AllAboutHistory @AboutHistoryMag
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