The two main threats Elizabeth I faced were the Spanish Armada and the Catholic Church. The Spanish Armada was a massive fleet of ships sent by King Philip II of Spain in an attempt to invade England and overthrow Elizabeth I. The Armada was defeated by the English navy in 1588, which was a major victory for England. The Catholic Church was also a major threat to Elizabeth I, as she was a Protestant and many of her subjects were Catholic. Elizabeth I was able to maintain religious peace in England by enacting a series of laws that allowed Catholics to practice their religion privately, but not publicly.