Year by year · 16th century

1588

1588 in world history: 7 events, 4 births, 7 deaths, 1 work and 2 states founded. 984 recorded states existed that year.

Events

21 July
English ships first engage the Spanish Armada off Plymouth
The English fleet under Lord Howard and Drake attacked the Armada off Plymouth (21 July Old Style). The running fight up the Channel ended at Gravelines and in the Armada's disastrous voyage home.
Spanish Empire Spanish Armada
29 July
The English fleet defeats the Spanish Armada at Gravelines
Scattered by fire-ships the night before, the Armada was attacked at close range off Gravelines (29 July Old Style). Driven north by wind, its ships fled around Scotland and Ireland, where many were wrecked.
Spanish Empire Spanish Armada Scotland

ProfileState864 states with a known seat in 1588Open the atlas at 1588 →

Kaabu EmpireThe Portuguese found Cacheu, a key coastal port for Kaabu's slave trade
Songhai EmpireCivil war divides the Songhai Empire
Spanish EmpireThe Spanish Armada sent against England is defeated and wrecked by storms
Kingdom of EnglandEnglish ships help defeat the Spanish Armada
Habsburg SpainThe Spanish Armada fails against England

Cite this page

APA: The Epoch Institute. (2026). 1588. In The Epoch Institute, Year by Year. https://the-epoch-institute.org/years/1588
MLA: “1588.” The Epoch Institute, Year by Year, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/years/1588. Accessed .
Chicago: The Epoch Institute. “1588.” The Epoch Institute, Year by Year. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/years/1588.
Harvard: The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘1588’, The Epoch Institute, Year by Year. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/years/1588 (Accessed: ).