Elizabeth - Foreign Policy (Spain)

Question 1

Duke of Alva

Answer 1

• Aug 1567 – marches into the Netherlands to put down Dutch rioters. His close position to England poses a potential physical threat
• 29 Dec 1568 – orders the seizure of all English ships and goods in Dutch ports

Question 2

Don John

Answer 2

• 1578 - leads a re-conquest of the Netherlands
• Elizabeth lends the States General £2,000 to hire mercenaries and thousands of volunteers from England travel abroad to help the Dutch
• Oct 1578 – Duke of Parma takes command of the army after Don John’s death

Question 3

Spanish bullion 1568

Answer 3

• Nov 1568 – Five Spanish ships carrying £85,000 to the Netherlands for Alva are forced to dock in Plymouth and Southampton due to bad weather
• Elizabeth at first agreed to provide the ships with an armed escort, but soon decided to instead retain the money for her own use
• The money had been borrowed from Genoa. Elizabeth contended that instead of stealing from Philip II, she was merely taking over the loan. The Genoese are fine with this change
• 29 Dec 1568 - Duke of Alva seizes all English ships in Dutch ports as retaliation

Question 4

John Hawkins

Answer 4

• Sep 1568 – A Spanish squadron attacks John Hawkins’ fleet at San Juan de Ulua
• 1577-80 – Elizabeth permits John Hawkins expedition to the Pacific, hoping he would seize sufficient riches from the Spanish to both aggravate Philip’s financial situation and fill her own coffers

Question 5

Philip II and Portugal

Answer 5

• 1580 – The male line of the royal house of Portugal dies out. Philip had a better claim to the throne than his rival, the illegitimate Don Antonio. Spain conquers the country
• Apr 1581 – Philip becomes King of Portugal
• Elizabeth contemplated sending troops to seize the Azores on behalf of Don Antonio and only refrained from doing so when Philip warned her that it would lead to war

Question 6

Treaty of Nonsuch 1585

Answer 6

• 10 Aug 1585

- Elizabeth is recognised as protector of the Dutch and sends 7,000 troops to assist them

Question 7

The Armada 1588

Answer 7

• Jul 1588 – the 130 Spanish armada ships reach the English Channel
• The Armada’s strong defence means it only loses 2 ships passing up the Channel
• The English scatter the armada fleet with fireships at Calais
• Battle of Gravelines – the English sink only 4 Spanish ships, but force the remaining ships to move northwards

Question 8

Spain’s position in 1558

Answer 8

• Spain controlled most of the Netherlands
• The efforts of English Protestants to spread the religion caused Philip II dismay
• Dutch clothmakers resented the higher prices charged by English merchants due to the increased taxes of the 1558 Book of Rates
• Granvelle ends the wool trade on which England depends. An English plague in 1563 provides the excuse to ban the import of English cloth