27. Elizabeth- foreign policy Flashcards
explain marriage and the succession?
Elizabeth was expected to marry, she would be able to benefit from the security that a marriage to a powerful European prince could offer, and her succession was at stake = so her her ministers believed she should marry to provide the kingdom with an heir
why did Elizabeth refuse to marry?
-didnt want to be dominated by a man, especially not a catholic one
she argued that:
1. in she married a foreign prince and had a son England may be dragged into foreign affairs (like Mary)
2, if she married English nobility it may lead to envy and rivalry= dangerous factions
how did Elizabeth use marriage in foreign policy?
- she held out the prospect of marriage without ever committing to any eg. Philip of spain
- however when she had passed child bearing age, this prospect was no longer available and her relationship with Philip broke down, he encouraged the pope to invade England
explain MQofS?
- unmarried Elizabeth remained vulnerable made clear in the 1562 succession crisis when she had smallpox= Cecil scared and tried to use parliament to convince her marry
- w/out named successor nation=conflict
- her natural successor was MQofS but she was catholic and had a half french lineage= problem
- during the beginning of her reign Mary seemed the better queen being the queen of France and married, and having a child in her second marriage
- however after she had to flee Scotland and help captive in England since 1568= plots to be woven around her
explain the cause of Mary’s execution?
- 1587 Elizabeth reluctantly agreed to execute Mary after evidence showed she had been involved in the Babington plot (1586)
- death was hoped to end the crisis surrounding Mary as a replacement, HOWEVER this was an excuse for Phillip ti launch the Armada against England (1588)
explain foreign policy in the later years of her reign?
-Dominated by Spain
-english support for Dutch rebels against Spanish rule in Netherlands infuriated Phillip
=worsened by privateers stealing Spanish bullion being shipped form the New World
=anglo Spanish war (1585-1604)
what were Elizabeths foreign policy objectives?
-similar to predecessors
1. preserve trade
2. maintain a secure northern frontier
3.ensure the channel was well protected
was not dynastic in her approach and gave up claims to the french throne
-domestic concerns like lack of resources and need to secure a religious settlement fuelled her foreign policy
explain Elizabeth’s consideration of naming a successor?
- either Lady Catherine Grey or MQofS
- Catherine: protestant :) but she’s was disgraced through a secret marriage that was declared invalid =disgraced and banished from court
- Mary: Catholic :( but she had accepted the protestant settlement for Scotland+ 1556 married Darnley =uniting two claims to the english throne
explain Mary’s life post- Darnley?
- she got married to Lord Darnley who had a claim to the English throne, through his mother Margaret Tudor
- Darnely’s house found blown up, but looked as if it was murder, suspect was Earl of Bothwell who Mary later married
- Protestant Scottish didn’t like the scandal and forced her to abdicate her throne in favour of her son
- she was imprisoned, BUT in 1568 fled to England for support, and kept in confinement in England for the rest of her life
Explain problems arising with Spain?
- first decade was mainly stable with the Habsburgs, Phillip preferred to see a heretic on throne than Mary a catholic and closely linked to the French royal family
- problems arose in 1566 as a revolt broke out in the Netherlands against Phillips rule, and he sent 50,000 men to repress them
- fears grew that he may use the Netherlands as a springboard to invade England
explain actions and consequences of problems arising with Spain?
to asset english power she= deterioration of relationship
- to try and break spanish monopoly Elizabeth backed john Hawkins to make voyages to Africa to STEAL people and sell them in Spanish America= =failed as his ships were destroyed by Spanish
- bullion affair, 400,000 florins seized from spanish ships= but prompted suspension of Anglo-Spanish trade for 5 years
- spanish supported Ridolfi plot
explain deteriorating relationships with Spain?
- events in Netherlands critical by 1572 as more revolts broke out against spanish rule
- Elizabeth used marriage negotiations with the Duke of Anjou to improve the situation by 1579
- after this she pursued more openly anti-spanish policies proposing an Anglo-French league
explain war and the Armada?
- 1585: England committed to fighting Spain
- phillips aims for the invasion were to recover his reputation and reduce England accepting catholicism.
- England were victorious ***Doran stating it was due to the ‘talents of Sir John Hawkins’
explain Elizabeth’s priorities after the Spanish Armada?
- from 1588 there was a shift in foreign policy, this was due to the fact that she felt that England’s security was no longer at risk and she needed more troops to send to Ireland
- moved from a defensive stance towards Spain
- 1598 Phillip died= Franco Spanish war came to an end she wanted peace as stated in her aims = Netherlands to be independent= spanish wouldn’t agree
