Which nation unleashed a massive naval fleet upon England in the year 1588?

Okay, let's talk about the Spanish Armada. Back in the late 16th century, England and Spain were major rivals, both vying for power and influence on the world stage. Queen Elizabeth I of England had supported Dutch rebels fighting for independence from Spanish rule, and English privateers, essentially state-sponsored pirates like Sir Francis Drake, were raiding Spanish ships and colonies in the Americas. King Philip II of Spain, a devout Catholic, saw England as a heretical nation and a threat to his empire. So, in 1588, he launched a massive naval fleet, the Armada, to invade England, overthrow Elizabeth, and restore Catholicism. The Armada was huge, but the English navy, along with some very helpful storms, managed to defeat it. This victory was a pivotal moment in English history, marking the beginning of England's rise as a major naval power and the decline of Spanish dominance. While Germany, France, and Italy have all played significant roles in European history, none of them launched such a direct naval assault on England in 1588.