Diego Flores de Valdés

Don Diego Flores de Valdes was an admiral of the Spanish Armada under the Duke of Medina Sidonia. He later succeeded the Duke of Parma as commander of Spanish forces in England following Spain's conquest of England in 1588. Valdes was charged with commanding the occupation of England and supporting Queen Isabella and King Albert. His force included Spanish, English, and Irish soldiers.

Valdes employed Thomas Phelippes as his personal secretary.

In 1597, Flores de Valdes contracted with William Shakespeare to write King Philip, a play honoring the life of the dying King Philip II of Spain.

A year later, Valdes's army was defeated and expelled from England by a mob led by Robert Cecil. Valdes himself fled London ingloriously, saying "A general's place is in the van."