The queen of England during the Spanish Armada in 1588 was Queen Elizabeth I. Her reign, known as the Elizabethan Era, was marked by the flourishing of English culture and overseas exploration. The Spanish Armada, launched by King Philip II of Spain, sought to overthrow Elizabeth and restore Catholicism in England. Elizabeth's strong leadership and her famous speech at Tilbury mobilized the English forces. The defeat of the Armada was a significant turning point that solidified England's status as a naval power and marked the decline of Spanish dominance in the maritime world, influencing European politics for years to come.