Spanish Armada tactics drew heavily on the work of Santa Cruz and his father. Doctrine still required judgment from the commander applying it. A person who understands a rule's full context is well placed to recognize when it no longer fits events. Santa Cruz had the confidence and authority to discard his own plan if circumstances changed, though expertise did not guarantee flawless decisions. His palace now houses the Spanish Navy's general archive, giving his institutional legacy a physical home.
Notable Point · 58:02-1:00:05
Why the author of doctrine could also discard it
Santa Cruz's mastery of Spanish doctrine could have enabled him to abandon it when the Armada plan failed in practice.