Challenges to Elizabeth at home and abroad, 1569–88 Flashcards
What was known as a key turning point in Elizabeth’s reign?
the Revolt of the Northern Earls (1569-70)
Why did the Northern Earls rebel?
- the earls and their followers wanted to make England Catholic again; they especially resented
the appointment of James Pilkington, a Protestant, as Bishop of Durham in 1561 - the earls had lost much of their influence at court under Elizabeth; they resented the ‘new men’, such as William Cecil, John Forster & Robert Dudley.
- Elizabeth’s refusal to name an heir, or to marry & have a child, created uncertainty; the earls
feared civil war & loss of power & wealth under a future Protestant monarch
Who were the ‘rebels’ of 1569-70?
- Charles Neville
- Jane Neville
- Thomas Howard
- Mary, Queen of Scots
- Ann Percy
- Thomas Percy
Who was Charles Neville & who was he connected to?
- Earl of Westmorland - a major Catholic northern landowner
- connected to Jane Neville
Who was Jane Neville?
- the wife of Charles Neville
- Duke of Norfolk’s sister
Who was Thomas Howard & who was he connected to?
- Duke of Norfolk
- senior noble & Protestant
- family links to the old, northern Catholic families
- planned to marry Mary, Queen of Scots
- connected to Jane Neville & Mary, Queen of Scots
Who was Thomas Percy & who was he connected to?
- Earl of Northumberland - a major Catholic northern landowner
- connected to Ann Percy
Who was Ann Percy?
wife of Thomas Percy
What was Mary’s marriage plan?
- Mary would marry the Duke of Norfolk,
depose (remove) Elizabeth & become
queen herself; she told the Spanish
Ambassador in 1569 that she “shall
be Queen of England in three months”
& that “mass shall be said all over
the country” - Robert Dudley told Elizabeth of the
plot, leading to Norfolk’s arrest &
imprisonment in the Tower
Describe the progress of the Revolt of the Northern Earls
- Northumberland & Westmorland, with
their wives’ support, continued with
the revolt; they took control of Durham
Cathedral, celebrating mass there, as
well as in other northern churches, &
began to move south - Elizabeth moved Mary to Coventry, to
stop her escaping to join the rebels - Though the rebels captured Hartlepool,
support from Spain never arrived
Why did the Revolt of the Northern Earls fail?
- support from Spain never arrived
- many northern landowners, especially those
in Lancashire & Cheshire, remained loyal
to Elizabeth - many landowners did not want to risk losing
wealth gained from the dissolution of the
monasteries under Henry VIII by backing a
failed revolt
What is the significance of the Revolt of the Northern Earls?
- it showed Mary, Queen of Scots, could not
be trusted – & she remained in prison - the Pope excommunicated Elizabeth &
called on loyal Catholics to depose her; this
encouraged further Catholic plots against her - the loyalty of England’s Catholics was now
in doubt, forcing the government to take harsh
steps against them - Elizabeth’s control over the north of England
was strengthened
Give an example of a Catholic plot against Elizabeth post-1570
the Ridolfi plot
Describe the background of the Ridolfi plot
- the failure of the revolt of the Northern Earls & the Papal Bull of 1570 meant that Elizabeth & her Privy Council treated Catholics with suspicion
- The Earl of Huntingdon, a committed Protestant,
led the Council of the North; he implemented
laws against Catholics in the north of England; this angered many Catholics, who were now
prepared, with the Pope’s backing, to plot
against Elizabeth - The Ridolfi plot (1571)
- Narrate the events of the Ridolfi plot
- Roberto Ridolfi was an Italian banker who lived in England
- worked as a spy for the Pope
- Narrate the events of the Ridolfi plot
- in 1571, Ridolfi plotted to murder Elizabeth, start a Spanish invasion & put Mary, Queen of Scots, on the English throne
- Mary would then marry the Duke of Norfolk
- Narrate the events of the Ridolfi plot
- in March 1571, Ridolfi travelled to the Netherlands (which, at that point, was Spanish controlled) to discuss the plot with the Pope, Philip II & the Duke of Alba
- Ridolfi had a letter signed by the Duke of Norfolk in which Norfolk declared himself a Catholic & pledged to lead the rebellion with Philip II’s support
- Narrate the events of the Ridolfi plot
Philip II instructed the Duke of Alba to prepare 10,000 troops to send across the English Channel in support of the revolt
- Narrate the events of the Ridolfi plot
- Sir William Cecil discovered the plot &, by autumn 1571, was able to prove that Norfolk was guilty of high treason (plotting against Elizabeth)
- Ridolfi remained abroad & never returned to England
- Narrate the events of the Ridolfi plot
- when parliament reconvened (came together) in May 1572, it demanded the execution of both Norfolk & Mary, Queen of Scots
- Elizabeth signed Norfolk’s death warrant leading to his execution in June 1572
- yet, Elizabeth was reluctant to punish Mary, & even refused to remove her from the succession
Why was Elizabeth reluctant to punish Mary?
- Elizabeth had to proceed cautiously
- executing Mary would further anger English Catholics & possibly unite France & Spain (Europe’s two big Catholic monarchies) against her
What was the significance of the Ridolfi plot for Spain?
- reinforced the threat from Spain, as Philip II would support any plots against Elizabeth
- threat from Spain meant that England needed to improve relations with France, as England could not fight both countries at once
What was the significance of the Ridolfi plot for the government?
- the government now began to monitor Catholics more closely & treat them more severely
- two laws passed in 1581 meant that families could be fined for sheltering priests & charged with treason if they converted people to Catholicism
What was the significance of the Ridolfi plot for Catholics?
it confirmed that English Catholics & Mary, Queen of Scots, remained a threat to Elizabeth
Name examples of plots organised by Catholics against Elizabeth
- Throckmorton
- Babington
Describe the Throckmorton plot
- 1583
- the French Duke of Guise, a cousin of Mary,
Queen of Scots, plotted to invade England
& overthrow Elizabeth, free Mary & make
England Catholic again - Philip II offered to help pay for the revolt
& the Pope approved of the conspiracy. - Francis Throckmorton, a young Englishman,
would pass letters between the plotters &
Mary, Queen of Scots
Why did the Throckmorton plot fail?
- Sir Francis Walsingham, Elizabeth’s Secretary
of State, discovered the plot in May 1583 - in November 1583, Walsingham’s spies found
papers at Throckmorton’s house that revealed
his part in the conspiracy - Throckmorton was arrested and tortured; he confessed to his involvement & was
executed in May 1584
Why was the Throckmorton plot significant?
1) revealed extent of threat posed by
foreign Catholic powers, English
Catholics & Mary, Queen of Scots
2a) Throckmorton’s papers included a
list of Catholic sympathisers in
England, confirming government’s
fears of ‘enemy within’
2b) showed potential threat from France &
Spain; Elizabeth had to take care these
Catholic powers did not unite against her
3a) government treated English Catholics with
greater suspicion; many fled England after the
plot; up to 11000 were imprisoned, or kept
under surveillance or house arrest; an Act of
Parliament of 1585 made helping or sheltering
Catholic priests punishable with death
- Narrate the events of The Babington plot (1586) & the execution of Mary, Queen of Scots
- the Duke of Guise would invade England, murder Elizabeth & put Mary, Queen of Scots, on
the throne - Philip II and the Pope supported the plot
- Narrate the events of The Babington plot (1586) & the execution of Mary, Queen of Scots
Anthony Babington, a Catholic, wrote to Mary in July 1586 about the conspiracy
- Narrate the events of The Babington plot (1586) & the execution of Mary, Queen of Scots
Sir Francis Walsingham intercepted & read Babington’s letters to Mary, which clearly
demonstrated her awareness of, support for & involvement in the conspiracy
- Narrate the events of The Babington plot (1586) & the execution of Mary, Queen of Scots
Babington & the plotters were sentenced to death & hanged, drawn and quartered
- Narrate the events of The Babington plot (1586) & the execution of Mary, Queen of Scots
- in October 1586, Mary was sentenced to death for her part in the plot
- Elizabeth delayed, but signed Mary’s death warrant in February 1587
- Mary was beheaded shortly afterwards
Why was the Babington plot significant?
- Elizabeth’s situation was more precarious than with previous plots
- by 1585, England & Spain were virtually at war
- Elizabeth’s government became determined to crush the Catholic threat
- the persecution of Catholics intensified; in 1585, 11,000 Catholics were imprisoned or placed under house arrest; thirty-one priests were executed across the country in 1586
- the plot led to the execution of Mary, Queen of Scots, ending any hope of replacing Elizabeth with a Catholic heir
What is significant about the execution of the Babington plotters?
the gallows were erected ‘mighty high’, to be visible to all to deter further plots
Who was Sir Francis Walsingham & why is he important?
- Elizabeth’s Secretary of State
- developed a network of spies & informers to uncover plots against Elizabeth
Why was Sir Francis Walsingham important?
- Walsingham’s actions provided intelligence that defeated plots, such as the Throckmorton plot &
Babington plot - his intelligence unmasked the activities of Mary, Queen of Scots; this put pressure on Elizabeth to
execute her & led to Mary’s execution in early 1587 - his actions also deterred further plots against Elizabeth
Describe Walsingham’s spy network
- Walsingham had a network of spies & informants in every town
- some of Walsingham’s agents were paid & trained by the government
- others were paid informants; these were often people who knew or were likely to know potential plotters against the queen; they were sometimes Catholic priests, such as John Hart, who turned
informant in return for a Royal Pardon. - Walsingham also used spies abroad; he had agents in France, Germany, Spain, Italy & North Africa
Describe Walsingham’s use of ciphers
- Walsingham used ciphers (codes) for all
correspondence; this meant that letters
would be written in code & translated out
of code once received - Walsingham also had the means of decoding
(deciphering) the codes of those who plotted
against Elizabeth; he hired specialists, such
as Thomas Phelippes, to help him do this
Describe Walsingham’s use of torture
& execution
- some priests were tortured, to deter others & force them to give up information; under Walsingham, 130 priests & 60 of their supporters were put to death
- the threat of execution & torture was often more effective, as it would provide Walsingham with informants he could use against any plotters
- Walsingham only used torture & execution in the most serious cases, as he did not want ordinary people to sympathise with plotters
Who were ‘agents provocateurs’?
- Walsingham employed ‘agents provocateurs’
to encourage those who were seen as a
threat to Elizabeth to plot against her; this
justified their arrest & execution - e.g. Walsingham used Gilbert Gifford
to open communications between Mary &
the Babington plotters; this encouraged
Mary to involve herself in the plot, so
leading to her execution
What led up to Mary’s execution?
- Elizabeth I eventually signed Mary’s death warrant in February 1587
- Mary, Queen of Scots, was executed for a number of different reasons
Why was Mary, Queen of Scots, executed?
- Mary had been involved in a series of plots against Elizabeth, such as the revolt of the Northern
Earls, the Ridolfi plot, the Throckmorton plot & the Babington plot. - Walsingham’s spies had unearthed evidence that Mary was involved with the plotters; this led to
her trial and conviction under the Act for Preservation of the Queen’s Safety - the Spanish threat was very real by 1587, with rumours of invasion; the fact that Philip II had
been involved in previous plots involving Mary, such as the Ridolfi plot, heightened the threat that Mary posed & the reasons for getting rid of her - Mary remained a rallying point for disgruntled Catholics who saw her as a legitimate queen
- the Pope excommunicated Elizabeth in 1570, making Mary an alternative Catholic monarch who
could take the throne by foreign invasion
Why was the execution of Mary, Queen of Scots,
significant?
- Mary was an anointed monarch, so executing her set a dangerous precedent; Elizabeth, in the
wrong circumstances, could meet
a similar fate; so the execution made Elizabeth & her heirs more vulnerable in the future - the execution further angered Spain & gave Philip II further reason to attack England, as Mary left her claim to the throne to Philip on her death
- the execution made the succession even more uncertain, increasing the chances of a civil war on
Elizabeth’s death - the execution removed an important threat to Elizabeth, as Mary had been the focus of many
Catholic plots to depose Elizabeth
When & where did the execution of Mary, Queen of Scots take place?
- 8 February 1587
- Fotheringhay Castle
How did relations between England & Spain escalate?
by the 1580s, relations between England & Spain had reached the point of war
1a. Describe the religious rivalry between England & Spain
under Mary Tudor, Spain & England were allies; as a Protestant country under Elizabeth I, England’s relationship with Spain soured:
- Philip II, backed by the Pope, saw Protestantism as a threat to the authority of the Catholic Church
- many English Protestants saw Spain & Catholicism as a threat.
- Philip II of Spain became involved in Catholic plots against Elizabeth
2a. Describe Spanish policy in the Netherlands
- the Netherlands had been Spanish since the 1400s, but many Dutch became Protestant
- a brutal Spanish campaign under the Duke of Alba aimed to restore Catholicism there
- Spanish Catholics executed many Dutch Protestants following the Council of Troubles (the ‘Council of Blood’) in 1568
- Spain’s campaign in the Netherlands angered many in Elizabeth’s government, who now saw Spain as hostile – a direct threat to English Protestantism & to England itself
3a. What was the English response to the Spanish?
Elizabeth’s government decided to secretly help Dutch Protestants resist the Spanish.
- it allowed Dutch rebel ships (the Sea Beggars) safe passage in English ports
- it provided financial support to others fighting the Spanish, including volunteers led by John Casimir, a foreign mercenary
- English privateers, such as Sir Francis Drake, were encouraged to attack Spanish shipping & colonies in Latin America
Elizabeth even proposed marriage to the French
heir, the Duke of Alençon, so he might be
persuaded to fight Spain in the Netherlands.
4a. Describe the Spanish Fury and the
Pacification of Ghent
- by 1576, the Spanish government in the Netherlands found the war there unaffordable
- a lack of funds meant Spanish troops went unpaid; this resulted in the Spanish Fury, when Spanish troops looted Antwerp
- after the looting, all 17 Dutch provinces (Catholic and Protestant) joined an alliance against the Spanish, drawn up in a document called the Pacification of Ghent; it called for all Spanish troops to be expelled from the Netherlands
5a. Explain the restoration of Spanish influence
by late 1584:
- Spanish control of the Netherlands had been restored under the Duke of Parma
- England’s allies, the Duke of Alençon and William of Orange, were dead
- the Treaty of Joinville (1584) united Catholic France & Spain against the Netherlands & England
- Dutch Catholics were ready to make
peace with Spain, strengthening Philip II’s
position there
6a. Explain the rising tensions between England & Spain
by 1587, England & Spain were close to war.
- Philip II blamed English support of the Dutch rebels for making the situation worse
- Philip II blamed English privateers for attacks on Spanish shipping
- Elizabeth’s government blamed Spain for a series of plots against Elizabeth
Who were ‘privateers’?
- sailors on privately owned warships who attacked Spanish shipping
- because the ships were privately owned, Elizabeth could deny responsibility for their actions
What significant rivalry was held between England & Spain?
- England & Spain had a significant commercial rivalry by the 1570s
- it involved trade & the New World, which was affected by English privateering
1b. Describe commercial rivalry between England & Spain
- by the 1570s, England & Spain had emerged as commercial (trade) rivals
- both competed against each other for access to the markets & resources of the New World, as well as to markets in Turkey, Europe, Russia, China & North Africa
- Spain had conquered Mexico & Peru in the early 1500s; this provided the Spanish with vast amounts of gold & silver, which were regularly shipped back to Spain; it also gave Spain control over the trade in sugar cane & tobacco
- by Elizabeth’s reign, Britain had emerged as a trade rival; sailors, including Sir Francis Drake, were journeying great distances on trading voyages to different parts of the world
2b. Describe the English hostility towards Spain
Spain represented a major barrier to English trade because:
- Spanish control of the Netherlands & the Scheldt & Rhine estuaries closed off one of the principal trade routes used by English traders in Europe; this reduced the incomes & profits of English merchants
- Spain’s control of the New World also denied English traders profit-making opportunities, because all trade there had to be licensed by the Spanish government
Therefore, English traders’ efforts to find ways of making money brought them into conflict with the Spanish government
3b. How did privateering increase commercial rivalries between England & Spain?
- English merchants, financed by private investors, including Elizabeth, raided Spanish colonies as well as ships voyaging to & from the New World
- in one raid alone, in 1572, Sir Francis Drake captured £40,000 in Spanish silver
- a second expedition between 1577 & 1580, involving Drake’s circumnavigation of the globe, resulted in the capture of a further £400,000 of silver & gold
- Elizabeth also encouraged Dutch rebels, known as the Sea Beggars, to attack Spanish ships sailing between Spain & the Netherlands
- by 1580, loss of silver meant that the Spanish government in the Netherlands was bankrupt & could not afford to pay its soldiers
4b. What deteriorated relations between England & Spain
by the early 1580s, the actions of Drake & other privateers had brought England & Spain to the brink of war
- Elizabeth, by knighting Drake, demonstrated her defiance of & hostility towards Spain’s commercial interests in Europe & the New World; her actions showed her support of the financial losses suffered by the Spanish government as a result of English privateering
- for Philip II, Drake & other privateers were little more than pirates who needed to be removed by war if neccessary; so, by getting rid of Elizabeth & Drake by war was the only remaining means of protecting Spain’s commercial interests
How did Elizabeth show her support toward Dutch rebels?
- by 1585, Elizabeth began to support the Dutch rebels directly by sending troops to the Netherlands under Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester
- Francis Drake continued to attack Spanish shipping & raided the Spanish fleet at Cadiz
Describe the background to the war with Spain
- England signed the Treaty of Nonsuch in August 1585 with the Dutch Protestant rebels; this made war with Spain more likely
- by the terms of the treaty, England would pay for an army of 7,400 English soldiers, led by an English commander; Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester; who would work with the rebels’ government, the Council of State
- it was likely that this group would fight the Spanish, although war had not been formally declared
1c. Describe the campaign in the Netherlands (1585-88)
the campaign was not a great success:
- Elizabeth still hoped to negotiate with Philip II. England was not formally at war with Spain & so Leicester was not given enough resources to defeat the Spanish
- Some of Dudley’s officers, William Stanley & Robert York, deflected to the Spanish side. ; this damaged relations with the Dutch rebels
- Dudley & Elizabeth had different aims in the Netherlands. Dudley wanted to end Spanish rule, making the Netherlands an independent country; Elizabeth wanted to go back to how the Netherlands had been governed in 1548 when it remained under Spanish control but with certain freedoms given to it
2c. What were the results of the campaign in the Netherlands?
the campaign achieved very little:
- Dudley could only disrupt Spanish forces in the Netherlands under the Duke of Parma; he could not defeat them
- Dudley did manage to stop the Spanish from capturing a deep-water port, Ostend, on the English channel; this was important because it denied the Spanish Armada the chance to link up with the Duke of Parma’s troops in 1588
1d. Describe Drake’s attack on Cadiz also known as ‘Singeing the King of Spain’s beard’
- since January 1586, Spain had been gradually building up its Armada, Philip II’s enormous invasion fleet that was due to help the Spanish army invade England
- in March 1587, Elizabeth ordered Francis Drake to attack the Spanish navy; between the 19th & 22th April, he attacked Cadiz, a major Spanish naval port, destroying 30 ships & much of the fleet’s supplies; this attack was called the ‘singeing of the King of Spain’s beard’
- Drake then continued to attack Spanish coastal ports & treasure ships
2d. Explain the importance of Drake’s attacks on Cadiz & Spain
- Spain had to take a break from building the Armada in order to defend itself against Drake
- the disruption Drake caused did not stop the Armada, but it delayed it by a year
- this bought England more time to prepare for the eventual Spanish attack & invasion in 1588
Why did Philip launch the Spanish Armada?
- religious conflict
- politics & diplomacy
- acts of provocation
- changing circumstances
Describe how religious conflict led to the Spanish Armada
- Philip II, a devout Catholic, had already failed in plots to get rid of Elizabeth; the Armada & invasion gave him another opportunity to remove her & place a Catholic on the English throne
- the papacy had wanted to overthrow Elizabeth since excommunicating her in 1570
- the Pope promised absolution (forgiveness of sins) to those taking part in the Armada
Describe how politics & diplomacy led to the Spanish Armada
- the Treaty of Joinville (1584) meant Spain could attack England without risking war with France
- the Treaty of Nonsuch (1585) meant English soldiers were at war with Spain, so Philip could justify attacking England
- England would be a useful addition to Philip’s empire, as it would give Spain complete control of the Atlantic
Describe how acts of provocation led to the Spanish Armada
- Drake’s acts in the New World threatened Spanish commercial interests
- Elizabeth’s support for the Dutch rebels challenged Spanish interests there
Describe how changing circumstances led to the Spanish Armada
- Spain acquired Portugal in 1580, giving Philip II access to Portuguese ports & ships
- the Duke of Parma’s success in the Netherlands since 1579 meant Spain’s position there was secure
- Elizabeth’s hesitation to fully back Dutch rebels was a sign of weakness & encouraged Philip II to attack
What was Philip II’s strategy for the Spanish Armada?
- Philip ordered the Armada (130 ships & 2431 guns) to sail along the English Channel to the Netherlands
- from there, the ships would join forces with Spanish troops under the Duke of Parma & transport 27,000 troops to Kent
- the Spanish army would then attack London, end Elizabeth’s reign & establish a new Catholic government
What were Philip II’s tactics for the Spanish Armada?
- for the invasion to succeed, the Spanish needed control of the English Channel to transport Parma’s troops to England
- it was vital that the English Navy disrupt Spanish shipping, as the Spanish had a bigger & better army than the English & were likely to defeat them if they landed successfully in Kent
Explain why the Armada was such a threat
- if the Armada succeeded, Elizabeth could lose her throne & possibly her life
- for English Protestants, including her privy councillors, a successful invasion meant the restoration of Catholicism in England & the persecution of Protestants
- for many, the war with Spain was a life & death struggle to preserve their religion & their lives
Narrate the Armada of 1588
1) 29th July: the Armada is spotted in the English Channel
2) 31st July: Battle of Plymouth; two Spanish ships are captured
3) 3-4 August: Battle of the Isle of Wight; Spanish ships are outgunned by the English & forced to move further up the channel towards Calais
4) 8th August: Battle of Gravelines; fireships cause the Spanish to panic; the Spanish fleet never links up with the Duke of Parma & is scattered
List the reasons for the English victory at the Armada
- communication problems
- Spanish ships lacked supplies & provisions, including food, for a long voyage
- English tactics were superior
- English ships were better armed & equipped
- the Spanish panicked
- the weather
How did communication problems lead to English victory at the Armada?
- there was no communication between the Duke of Parma & the Duke of Medina Sidonia
- no deep-water ports; the Dutch rebels still possessed Ostend; this meant the Spanish Armada could not stop at any ports in the Spanish Netherlands, but had to meet up with the Duke of Parma’s army at sea after it had embarked on a series of smaller ships; this made communications very difficult
How did the lack of supplies & provisions (which were supposed to be provided by Spanish ships) lead to English victory at the Armada?
- the Spanish fleet was at sea for 10 weeks & by early August & by early August the food had rotted
- this damaged Spanish morale & their ability to fight the English
How did the superiority of English tactics over the Spanish lead to English victory at the Armada?
- the English got close enough to the Spanish ships to fire on them, but stayed far away enough to prevent Spanish sailors & soldiers from boarding; this destroyed & damaged a number of Spanish ships while ensuring that English losses were minimal
- Drake’s use of fireships at the Battle of Gravelines was also important as it caused the Spanish to panic
How did the fact that English ships were better armed & equipped lead to English victory at the Armada?
- in English ships, cannons were mounted on smaller gun carriages than on Spanish ships
- this meant they could be reloaded & fired more quickly than the Spanish cannons
- this damaged many Spanish ships & undermined their chances of linking up with the Duke of Parma & invading England
How did the Spanish panicking lead to English victory at the Armada?
- the key turning point seems to have been the Battle of Gravelines, where the English used fireships
- many Spanish captains panicked, cut their anchors & allowed their ships to drift into the North Sea
How did the weather lead to English victory at the Armada?
- gale force winds caused most of the destruction to the Spanish ships as they retreated home
- many Spanish ships were destroyed off the west of Ireland
List consequences of the English victory for England
- English navy strengthened
- Elizabeth’s authority enhanced
- foreign policy: stronger alliances in Europe
- Protestant cause stronger in England
Explain the strengthening of the English navy after the Armada
- the defeat of the Armada showed the strength of the English navy
- this boosted English confidence to explore
- it also encouraged English merchants to trade with Europe
Explain the enhancing of Elizabeth’s authority after the Armada
- the queen took centre stage at a victory parade in London
- Elizabeth was able to portray herself as a military victor
- this is reflected in portraits during the later parts of her reign
Explain the (stronger) alliances in Europe (through foreign policy) after the Armada
- the Anglo Dutch alliance was strengthened
- Protestantism in the Netherlands survived, strengthening the Protestant cause in Europe
- this meant England had Protestant allies in Europe & was no longer isolated
Explain the strengthening of the Protestant cause in England after the Armada
- victory of the English ‘underdog’ suggested that God was on the Protestant side
- a commemorative medal was struck that said “God blew and they were scattered”
- this may have persuaded some Englishmen, who might have wavered between Protestantism & Catholicism, to accept Protestant rule
What were the consequences of the English victory for Spain?
- the defeat of the Armada was a major military & financial setback for King Philip II of Spain
- however, Spain’s war with England continued for the rest of Elizabeth’s reign
- Spanish prestige was broken; other countries became more willing to challenge Spain’s power; this led to the gradual decline of the Spanish Empire
What is the significance of the ‘Armada portrait’?
shows Elizabeth I surrounded by symbols of power with the defeated Armada in the background
