Elizabeth's Foreign Policy Flashcards
Situation in Scotland in 1558
Mary Queen of Scots is currently in France, her mother Mary of Guise is ruling in her place however, the scottish Lords do no like this
Following the death of Henry II, the protestant scottish Lords begin to rebel against the Guise family- they looked to the south for support
Situation in France in 1558
Auld alliance is strengthened since MQS is married to Francis Valois, the Hapsburg-Valois conflict is still ongoing
Traditional enemy of England
Situations in Germany, the Netherlands and Italy in 1558
Germany- very protestant
Netherlands- under Spanish control
Italy- Pope lives there, central point in Hapsburg-Valois conflict
Situation in Spain in 1558
Phillip of Spain is ruling, ex-husband of Mary who is a very powerful catholic and is continually making conquests in the new world
Proposal to Elizabeth is rejected but no hard feelings
Treaty of Cateau-Cambresis
1559
Spain + France
ends the long struggle between the countries in which Spain is given dominance in Italy
England is represented as an ally of Spain in this treaty
French wars of religion
began in 1562
constant flip flop between catholic and protestant rulers
Huguenots are French protestants
how were England involved in the French religious wars
In 1562, Elizabeth (encouraged by Leicester) decides to help the Huguenots in exchange for the port of Le Havre
If protestants succeeded in the civil war, Elizabeth hoped to negotiate for Calais
However, the catholics and Huguenots made peace and her plan fell through
Treaty of Troyes
1564
treaty signed with France to end Liz’s involvement, firmly stated that Calais was French
Liz’s actions only proved to annoy Phillip
Elizabeth and Anjou
Elizabeth promises her hand to the duke of Anjou (protestant) in 1579 as well as £60,000 this eventually came to nothing
Pros and Cons of Phillip of Spain as a suitor
Pros: King of Spain, lots of land and money in europe and the new world
Cons: defender of the (catholic) faith
Had previously ruled England via Mary and was unpopular
foreign
Pros and Cons of Robert Dudley as a suitor
Pros: Earl of Leicester, English, protestant, rich, childhood friend (loyal)
Cons: Widowed in suspicious circumstances (pushed wife down stairs)
Cecil was not a fan, beneath Liz socially
Pros and Cons of Erik of Sweden as a suitor
Pros: Protestant, popular with the people, had the right status, easiest political choice
Cons: Poor, not a strong alliance
Pros and Cons of Duke of Alencon as a suitor
Later duke of Anjou
Pros: very wealthy, brother of the French King, alliance with France, big age gap (20+ years)
Cons: turned catholic, not strong in france
Pros and Cons of William of Orange as a suitor
Pros: protestant, wealthy, son of the queen of Holland (status)
Cons: Dutch, fighting a war with Spain, take power from Liz
The Lords of Congregation
the protestant scottish lords
treaty of Edinbrugh
1560, the french leave Scotland
MQS arrival in scotland
1561
she is catholic but remains indifferent to the protestant lords
MQS was a threat
Mary was a legitimate catholic heir who wanted to be recognised as Liz’s successor
Figure head of Catholicism
Civil relationship later turns sour when Liz suggests marriage to Dudley- Mary is insulted
Even after Mary is under house arrest in England and has lost scottish support, she is involved in all 3 plots against the queen (Ridolfi, Throckmorton and Babinton)
MQS and her 2nd husband
Lord Darnley, Scottish
Makes Mary more powerful
Gives birth to son James
Hates her husband and is rumoured to of help his murderer Lord Bothwell (whom she later married)
MQS abdication
1567
Forced by the Lord of Congregation
Flees to England where she is put under house arrest
MQS was not a threat
Originally has a good relationship with Elizabeth- both Queen Regents
Cecil is sooo against Mary she would never be heir
Liz is very elusive with Mary and refuses to meet her in person
Scottish Lords do not like Darnley and following his death and Mary’s marriage to Bothwell she looses Scottish support
Forced to abdicate
Execution of MQS
1587
Much deliberation from Liz who claimed she “didn’t know” it was the death warrant she signed as it was mixed with other papers- probs because she felt guilty for killing her cousin (like 4th removed though)
Ridolfi Plot
1571
Norfolk, Pope, Spain
Uncovered by Cecil
Aim to restore catholicism and overthrown Liz
Impact- made relations with Spain worse, Norfolk was executed and many catholic priests were raided and arrested
Throckmorton Plot
1583
MQS, French + Spanish ambassadors
Aims- invade England and free Mary, Pope and Phillip approved, Walsingham discovered
Impact- Throckmorton executed, life harder for Catholics, law in 1585
Babington Plot
1586
MQS, France, Phillip + Pope approval
Aims- France invade and put Mary on the throne, assassinate Liz, Walsingham discovered
Impact- Babington hanged, drawn and quartered, MQS is tried for treason and executed, Mass arrest of catholics, Anglo-Spanish relations are ruined
how dangerous were the plots against elizabeth?
significantly, all plots involved a foreign power who was catholic and willing to help
If these plots worked, MQS had divine right to take the English throne
Which nation was England at war with in the latter part of Elizabeth’s reign
Spain
Foreign policy between 1580-1603 was dominated by Spain which eventually led to the Anglo-Spanish war 1585-1604
Spanish Ambassadors in England
De Spes and Mendoza, both were expelled from England after being found involved in plots (Ridolfi and Throckmorton respectively)
Treaty of Joinville
1584
Spanish x French catholics
Religious differences between Spain and England
Phillip protests about Liz’s support of Huguenots, this causes her to withhold her troops from joining the rebels
Pope excommunicates Elizabeth in 1570 however Phillip was angry at this decision and refused to have Papal bulls published in her territory
De Spes encourages the Norther Earls to revolt in 1569
Treaty of Joinville
Trade/Exploration tensions between the English and Spain
Elizabeth seizes spanish money, 1568, from a bullion headed for Alba, this caused a ban on all trade with the Netherlands until 1573
Prior to this in 1563, Phillips government ban all imports of English cloth to the netherlands- Liz similarly bans all imports from there (resumed a year later)
1568- A spanish ship attack John Hawkins fleet as it was trespassing on spanish monopoly of the transatlantic slave trade- first sign of major issues
1580- Phillip inherits the Portuguese crown and thus overseas territories- big win for Spain