The queen of England during the Spanish Armada's defeat in 1588 was Queen Elizabeth I. Her reign, which lasted from 1558 to 1603, is often referred to as the Elizabethan Era, noted for its flourishing arts, exploration, and the establishment of Protestantism in England. The defeat of the Spanish Armada, a fleet sent by King Philip II of Spain to overthrow Elizabeth and restore Catholicism, was a significant victory for England. The successful defense against the Armada solidified Elizabeth's position as a powerful monarch and marked the rise of England as a formidable naval power in Europe.