The Spanish Armada has gone down in history as one of the most ambitious, and costliest, naval endeavors ever conceived. In July 1588, a fleet of over 100 ships set sail from Spain in an attempt to invade England. Fueled by rivalry and jealously, the seaborne assault was more or less doomed from the start. But what compelled the launch of this notorious naval conflict in the first place, and why did it fail so spectacularly?
To find out, click on and chart a course through this gallery.