Elizabeth became queen of England after a period of religious conflict between Catholic and Protestant forces following the establishment of the Church of England by her father, Henry VIII. As queen, Elizabeth led England during a time of cultural flourishing but also faced a major threat when Catholic Spain sent its vast Spanish Armada navy to invade England and force it back to Catholicism. To inspire her troops as they prepared to defend England from the invading Armada at Tilbury, Elizabeth delivered a famous speech.