| February 6 | Philip II appoints Don Alonso de Guzman el Bueno, Duke of Medina Sedonia, as Captain General of the Ocean Sea in preparation for the proposed invasion of England |
| February 25 | Mass & benediction for the endeavor offered in the Cathedral of Lisbon |
| May 8 | Violent weather keeps the Armada pent up in Lisbon's harbor |
| May 30 | The Armada departs Lisbon but makes little progress due to heavy winds |
| June 19 | The fleet puts into Corunna for fresh water & other supplies |
| July 22 | The fleet leaves Corunna |
| July 26 | The Armada is becalmed |
| July 27 | A violent gale sends the fleet seeking shelter |
| July 29 | The fleet regroups & sets off from the Scilly Islands; English ships spot the approaching Armada & report back to Plymouth; tide conditions have the English ships trapped in Plymouth harbor; beacons are lit warning of the imminent danger |
| July 30 | After a council of war, the Armada executes its order of battle, organizes itself into a crescent formation, & proceeds up the English Channel |
| July 31 | Lord High Admiral Howard engages the enemy; succeeds in taking two ships |
| August 2 | The Armada continues despite periodic English harassment |
| August 3 | Both fleets becalmed; small skirmish off the Isle of Wight |
| August 4 | Breeze springs up; more fighting off the Isle of Wight |
| August 6 | The Armada anchors off Calais in an attempt to rendezvous with the Duke of Parma's forces; the English anchor off Whitsand Bay; they are about two miles apart |
| August 7 | The English launch their famed Fireship Attack, scattering & demoralizing the Spanish |
| August 8 | Battle of Gravelines; English inflict serious damage upon the Armada |
| August 9 | The Armada escapes into the North Sea with the English sea dogs in hot pursuit |
| August 12 | Howard gives up the pursuit |
| August 19 | Queen Elizabeth gives her famous speech to the troops at Tilbury (see link below) |
| October 7 | After having been scattered by storms en route home, the last of the Armada ships limps into Corunna |
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