The Armada of Flanders: Spanish Maritime Policy and European War, 1568–1668 (Cambridge Studies in Early Modern History)

The Flanders armada, took shape in response to the use of seapower by the Dutch rebels, and evolved into the most effective unit in Spain's defence establishment. In combination with its privateering auxiliaries, this elite striking force dominated the North Sea for some twenty years (1625-45), and campaigned also in the Mediterranean and Atlantic theatres of war. Yet its contribution to the tenacious survival of Spanish hegemony has never before been assessed. A narrative of the armada's fighting record over the century of its meaningful existence is presented with constant reference to the strategic-logistical context and analysis of policymaking in Madrid. Attention is paid to the political significance of maritime policy, and particularly the relationship between Madrid and its subordinate headquarters in Brussels; the infrastructure of the armada; the ships themselves, above all the revolutionary but elusive 'frigate'; the social hierarchy of crews and commanders; and details of administration and financing. Pt. 1. Prologue -- Failure And Retrenchment, 1568-1621. 1. The Search For A Naval Policy. 2. Dunkirk Rediscovered -- Pt. 2. The Great Offensive, 1621-1640. 3. The First Quinquennium. 4. The First Crisis. 5. Dunkirk's Golden Decade -- Pt. 3. Dunkirk And The Defence Of Empire, 1640-1658. 6. The Flanders Fleet In The South. 7. The Prize Of Dunkirk -- Pt. 4. Quills, Keels And Cutlasses. 8. Men And Ships -- The Cutting Edge. 9. Administration -- Structures, Personnel, Finance. 10. Prizetaking -- Plunder Of A Century -- Epilogue -- Decay And Transition, 1658-1668 -- Appendices. 1: Routes Taken By Reinforcements To Army Of Flanders, 1567-1640. 2: Flanders Armada And Other Naval Units: Comparative Wage Rates, 1588-1663. 3: Senior Officials Of The Admiralty Of Flanders, 1583-1696. 4: Monthly Salaries Of Admiralty Staff, 1596-1670. 5: Ships Of The Flanders Armada, 1587-1669. 6: Other Naval Forces In Spanish Flanders. 7: Estimated Strength Of Flanders Armada, 1588-1669. R.a. Stradling. Includes Bibliographical References. In this book, a narrative of the armada's fighting record over the century of its meaningful existence is presented with constant reference to the strategic--logistical context analysis of policymaking in Madrid. Attention is paid to the political significance of maritime policy, and particularly the relationship between Madrid and its subordinated headquarters in Brussels. Both as explosive event and as counting phenomenon, the Revolt of the Netherlands was the fundamental conditioning factor in the experience of Spain's European hegemony.