In 1585, a war for naval supremacy broke out between Spain and England, dragging on for a decade and a half and ending, in essence, in a stalemate. In the early stages of the war, success favored the forces of Elizabeth Tudor. By 1588, the Spanish had assembled a massive fleet and attempted to transport the army of the Duke of Parma to the British Isles. This event entered history under the name "the campaign of the Invincible Armada." Despite much of Catholic Europe rallying against Protestant England, the English fleet managed to thwart the Spanish plans and force them to turn back. But on the return journey, a truly terrible ordeal awaited them, and only a few ever reached their home shores…