The civil war between the Huguenots (French Protestants) and Catholics in France was becoming more intense. Wanting to gain the upper hand, the Duke of Guise decided to ask Spain for help. He formed an alliance with Spain called the Spanish League and worked closely with Philip II of Spain to create a detailed plan to defeat the Huguenots once and for all. Philip II, who was a strong Catholic ruler, was eager to support this cause. He provided Guise with soldiers, military strategies, and a large-scale plan that would not only crush the Huguenots in France but also expand Spain’s influence across Europe.

At the center of this plan was the Spanish Armada, a massive fleet of over 200 Spanish warships. These powerful ships were ordered to sail from the Spanish city of Cadiz, pass through the English Channel, and head to the Netherlands. There, they would pick up the Duke of Parma's army, which was stationed in the Netherlands under Spanish rule. Once they had gathered the troops, the next step was to sail to England. Their goal was to overthrow Queen Elizabeth I, who was a Protestant ruler and a strong supporter of Protestant causes in Europe. By removing Elizabeth from power, Spain hoped to put a Catholic ruler on the English throne, making England a Catholic country once again.

After conquering England, the Armada would then cross the English Channel and invade France. With their combined forces, they planned to completely defeat the Huguenots, wiping out Protestantism in France once and for all. This ambitious plan was meant to strengthen the Catholic cause across Europe and increase Spain’s power. However, history took a different turn, and things did not go as planned for the Spanish League.