History: Wars and Monarchy (1066-2000) Vocabulary Flashcards

A set of vocabulary-style flashcards covering major wars, empires, and shifts in royal power from 1066 to the 20th century, as described in the lecture notes.

Spanish Armada

A large fleet (1588) sent by King Philip II of Spain to invade England; 151 ships planned to cross the Channel; defeated by weather and English tactics.

King Philip II of Spain

Catholic monarch who sought to overthrow Elizabeth I and restore Catholic dominance in England; financed the Armada.

Queen Elizabeth I

English Protestant queen who defended England against the Spanish Armada and supported explorers like Drake.

Duke of Parma

Commander of the Spanish army in the Netherlands who would join the Armada’s plans to invade England.

Sir Francis Drake

English privateer and explorer who attacked Spanish towns; knighted by Elizabeth I.

Armada formation (crescent formation)

Spanish Armada tactic with slower ships in the middle and faster ships on the wings.

Battle of Gravelines

1588 naval engagement where English fire and wind disrupted the Armada, forcing it to retreat.

Napoleon’s Plan (to invade Britain)

Napoleon’s strategy to cross the Channel with barges and combine French and Spanish fleets to defeat Britain.

Drogheda

Siege in Ireland (1649) where Cromwell’s forces killed many Royalists; symbol of harsher war conduct.

Horatio Nelson

British admiral known for innovative tactics; commanded at Trafalgar and helped secure British sea power.

Battle of Trafalgar

1805 naval battle in which Nelson defeated the French-Spanish fleet and established British naval dominance.

Crossing the T

Naval tactic used at Trafalgar to maximize broadsides and overwhelm the enemy line.

New Model Army

Professional Parliamentarian army created during the English Civil War; better trained and equipped.

Oliver Cromwell

Puritan leader, key commander of the New Model Army; later Lord Protector of England.

Drogheda massacre

Massacre of Irish Royalists during Cromwell’s campaign in Ireland (1649).

The Restoration

Restoration of the monarchy in 1660 with Charles II; theatres reopened and Parliament regained influence.

Magna Carta

1215 charter limiting the king’s power and establishing rule of law; taxes require noble consent.

Divine Right of Kings

Belief that a king’s authority comes from God and should be obeyed without question.

Grand Remonstrance

Parliament’s list of grievances against Charles I, used to limit royal power.

The Triennial Act (1641)

Law forcing the king to meet Parliament at least every three years.

Richard Whiting

Abbot executed in 1539 during Henry VIII’s Dissolution of the Monasteries.

Dissolution of the Monasteries

Henry VIII’s dissolution of monastic houses to fund wars and reward allies.

Henry VIII

Tudor king who broke with Rome, established the Church of England, closed monasteries, and had six wives.

Elizabeth I’s Middle Way

Elizabeth’s policy of moderate Protestantism aiming for unity between extremes.

James II

Catholic king who was deposed in the Glorious Revolution of 1688.

William and Mary

Protestant rulers installed after the Glorious Revolution; Parliament secured limits on the monarchy.

Battle of Edge Hill (1642)

First major Civil War battle; Royalists won locally but did not seize London.

Naseby (1645)

Decisive Parliamentarian victory in the Civil War with heavy Royalist losses.

Marston Moor (1644)

Parliamentarian victory that helped break Royalist power in the north.

War of the Roses

Dynastic conflict (1455–1487) between York and Lancaster that ended with the Tudor dynasty.

Marlborough

John Churchill, Duke of Marlborough; led Britain in the War of the Spanish Succession; never lost a battle.

Anglo-Dutch Wars (1652-1684)

Series of naval wars between Britain and the Dutch for control of trade and seas.

War of Jenkins’ Ear (1739-1743)

Conflict between Britain and Spain in the Caribbean over trade and imperial interests.

Seven Years’ War (1756-1763)

Global conflict expanding Britain’s empire; Britain gained Canada and Florida; France weakened.

War of American Independence (1775-1782)

American colonies fought for independence; Britain’s empire faced a major setback.

Napoleonic Wars (1793-1815)

Series of wars against Napoleonic France; Britain expanded empire and industry.

Opium Wars (1839-1842; 1856-1860)

Britain vs China over opium trade; led to ports being opened and Hong Kong cession.

Crimean War (1853-1856)

Conflict where Britain and France fought Russia; introduced telegraphs, trenches, and railways.

Sikh Wars (1845-1846; 1848-1849)

British East India Company campaigns that expanded control over Punjab and Kashmir.

Afghan Wars (1839-1842; 1878-1880)

Britain’s attempts to control Afghanistan; included mass casualties and resistance.

Zulu War (1879)

Britain’s invasion of the Zulu Kingdom in South Africa; initially successful for Britain.

Boer War (1889-1902)

South African conflict between the British and the Boer settlers; British empire expansion.

World War I (1914-1918)

Global conflict affecting Europe and empires; led to widespread devastation and pacifism.

World War II (1939-1945)

Global conflict against Nazi Germany, Italy, and Japan; rise of USA and USSR as superpowers.

Falklands War (1982)

Conflict where Britain defeated Argentina’s invasion of the Falkland Islands.

Iraq War (2003)

Anglo-US invasion to remove Saddam Hussein; contributed to terrorism debates and regional hostility.

George II

Second Georgian king; last monarch to personally lead troops in battle (Dettingen, 1743).

Battle of Dettingen

1743 battle where Britain, led by George II, defeated France in Europe.

George IV

King (1820-1830) who reigned amid rising parliamentary power and reform; regent before.”

Robert Walpole

First British Prime Minister; helped shift power from the king to Parliament.

Victorian Period (1837-1901)

Era of strong parliamentary government, imperial expansion, and social reform.

Cromwell Letters (1845)

Publication of Oliver Cromwell’s letters and speeches, offering insight into his views.

Glorious Revolution

1688 overthrow of James II; William and Mary invited to take the throne; Protestant succession ensured.

Monarchy vs. Parliament (medieval to modern)

A shift from absolute monarchies to systems where Parliament shared or held power.

Turning Points in English History

Key moments changing power or policy (e.g., 1649 execution of Charles I; 1660 Restoration; 1688 Glorious Revolution).

Glastonbury Tor and Richard Whiting

Symbolic site and abbot executed for dissent against Henry VIII’s reforms.

Magna Carta, 1215 vs. 1640s Parliament

Early constraint on royal power vs. later constitutional limits on monarchy.