The 2nd Spanish Armada also known as the Spanish Armada of 1596 was a major naval event that took place during the Anglo–Spanish War in which another invasion of England or Ireland was attempted in the Autumn of 1596 by King Philip II of Spain. In an attempt at revenge for the English capture and sack of Cadiz in 1596 Philip immediately ordered a counter strike in the hope of assisting the Irish rebels in rebellion against the English crown. The strategy was to open up a new front in the war, forcing English troops away from France and the Netherlands where they were also fighting.