Armada

The great and - allegedly invincible - armed fleet of the Spanish. Defeated in 1588 by the English Navy (fireships and clever manouevres due to smaller ships) and God (storms off the Scottish coast): "Afflavit Deus et dissipati sunt" (God blew and they were scattered). This became a central element in the myth of the English as God's chosen people and a victorious seafaring nation.