The Death of Spain: The Story of the English Armada

After the disaster of the Spanish Armada, England decided to take good use of the fact that nearly all of the Spanish fleet was being refurbished. With all of the Spanish ships parked in calm waters, under the command of Sir Francis Drake, the English attacked Lisbon, Coruna, and Cadiz, where the ships were being refurbished. The Spanish Atlantic fleet was destroyed.

With word of this, rebels in Portugal began to throw off Spanish rule. The vast rebellion led a better claimant to the throne of Portugal to come to power. The Portugo-Spanish alliance was dead.

After the destruction of the Spanish fleet, England turned their eyes to the next goal of the Armada. The Azores lay in between the Americas and Europe. To gain the region would be a very good thing. England would be able to take returning ships' treasure and would be able to establish Spanish colonies as their own. The English Armada moved there and attempted to conquer the region. However, there, Portuguese ships were stationed. The few ships there were destroyed by the vast armada.

Following the success of the English Armada, Spain's colonial empire nearly collapsed. To many, this was The Death of Spain.
 
The Loss of Spain's Empire

The Loss of Spain's Empire

The Hapsburgs ruled over Portugal. However, the English had just orchestrated a rebellion against the Hapsburgs. The Prior of Crato was leading a rebellion. With the Spanish having lost almost all of his naval power, he could now begin a massive campaign against the Hapsburgs. Using the powerful Portuguese navy, he was able to attack the Spanish at many key ports. Sending troops into Galicia to claim it for Portugal, he was forced out. However, he showed the Spanish he could invade their lands. However, despite this, the war between them, termed the Iberian War, continued. However, it ultimately ended with a Portuguese victory, with the Prior of Crato being crowned King Antonio I of Portugal.

Overseas, Portuguese privateers invaded Argentina. They attacked their ports. The land of silver was attacked by the Portuguese. Although deep forays into Argentine territory were repulsed, the northern region fell under Spanish control, while the English and French were trying to gain the remainder of Argentina. Ultimately, it was gained by England, while France gained New Granada.

France's colony of New Granada was termed France Antarctique after an old colony in Portuguese Brazil. With a small population of Spanish people that was forced out, France decided to use the colony as a colony for "prisoners, Huguenots, and other desirables." In contrast to New France, which was to be a colony for people of "good seed," France Antarctique was a colony for those of bad seed. Huguenot prisoners were forced onto the nation, forming the population that today makes a majority in Philippie. However, this colony was a sideshow in comparison to New France.

All remaining Spanish South American colonies fell under English control. With control of the mine of Potosi, the English could now grow into a wealthy empire. What made Spain the greatest nation in the world was now benefiting England. The next decade saw an expansion in English power. England became the greatest nation in the world with the turn of the century.

The Dutch saw the weakening of Spain in a good light. They began a war to unify the Netherlands. Invading the lands of the Spanish Netherlands, they attacked it. With their powerful navy, they were able to destroy and, in the pivotal Battle of Brussels, unified the Netherlands. The United Provinces were truly united once again.

Amidst all of this, Spain suffered much loss. Without any way to get to their colony of the Philippines, it fell under Portuguese control. Portugal no longer heeded the Treaty of Torsedillas. Spain was forced to rebuild their empire in North America. However, much of the continent was under French control. Any attempt to gain more of the continent would be seen negatively by the French. Indeed, there was no way they could gain significant holdings without the Magellan Strait.

Spain now tried to make a canal. In both Nicaragua and Panama, explosives were dug into holes in the ground. These explosives were then exploded. However, despite this, nothing occurred. It did not work. They were unable to make any canals and one would only be made much later. Spain lost almost all of its colonies. The remainder were reorganized into the Viceroyalty of New Spain. The Hapsburgs now only controlled Spain, Austria, Naples, and New Spain. They were a lot weaker than they were before.
 

GdwnsnHo

Banned
I'm doubtful that they'd have even considered trying to build a canal - the idea would be considered insane even two centuries later.

Perhaps Spain tries to assert control over the Falklands? It may be difficult with many of their islands taken by the English - but if they can still maintain control of their colonies, then I'd expect them to re-establish naval bases.

Frankly, I'm not sure of the plausibility of this (Even though I love a good England-wank). But I'd expect the English to take over some of the Spanish Caribbean, and significant instability in Mesoamerica when New Spain has no access to peninsular reinforcements.

Is there any potential of a refocus by Spain into the Med?

In addition, what are the comparative strengths of England and Portugal? Portugal seems to have grabbed some powerful trade routes, but if the English have a stronger navy, we could see significant problems in the future between the two.
 
Since he did not put dates, I believe his timeline spans hundreds of years. It is really impossible to make an empire as vast and as rich as Spain collapse and rebuild an empire within a few years. So, this would answer the canals.

The measure of collapse of the Spanish empire would be ASB if it were done within months or a few years. The measure of English and Portuguese success if this was a few months/years against Spanish colonies is also ASB. The English and Portuguese dont have the manpower or resources to invade and win against all or most Spanish colonies with a POD within Francis' Drake's lifetime.

Yes, the Portuguese and English are capable of winning battles. But projecting this power and organization around the world and overwhelming the Spanish colonies which was already populated seem stretched if this was a few years. If it were a hundred years, the timeline seems like OTL and possible.
 
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