Elizabeths relations with Foreign Powers in 1570-1588 Flashcards
What were Elizabeths main aims towards the Netherlands during the 1570/1580s?
Elizabeth wanted the Spanish army and the inquisition to be withdrawn from the Netherlands to be granted their traditional liberties, but for the country to remain under loose Spanish control as French control of Netherlands was unthinkable as it would grant them control of the southern Channel coastline.
- Therefore Elizabeth used diplomacy to encourage Philip to restore the Netherlands to semi independent status + attempted to not use too much money on this issue – and so refused to send direct military support to the Netherlands initially. However this did not last as seen by the 1585 Treaty of Nonsuch
State the key chronology which led to worsening relations with Spain from 1570-1588
1570 - The Excommunication of Elizabeth
This created a huge mix of crises + encouraged further plots against her + exacerbated the severity of these plots. Pope also encouraged secret missionaries to travel to England + convert citizens back to Roman catholicism.
1572 - Expulsion of the Sea Beggars by Elizabeth
Late 1570s - Elizabeth becomes more anti-Spanish
1580 - The Spanish annexe Portugal
1585 - The Treaty of Nonsuch
1585 - Intervention is put under command of Leicester.
When did the Spanish Armada take place + why was Englands victory so significant?
The sailing of the Armada was postponed and delayed as a result of the successful English attack on Spanish ships at the harbour of Cadiz in April 1587 so it finally set sail on 22 of July 1588 + lasted from 30th July-6th August.
Ultimately the armadas leadership under the Duke of Medina Sidonia + the English exploitation of the poor weather + fireships led to the defeat.
The defeat of the Armada was a major propaganda victory for England + Elizabeth as a protestant queen. Elizabeth claimed it was gods favour which won the war + It saw Spain forced to divert its resources which weakened there progression in the netherlands.
What were Elizabeths aims for the continued war against Spain from 1588-1604
War w Spain dragged on at great expense for a further 16 years + peace wasn’t concluded until after the deaths of both Elizabeth and phillip.
Elizabeth’s aims for the continued war with Spain;
- National security, autonomous Netherlands + Intervention for Huguenots(protestants)due to Philips alliance with the catholic league)
Explain the Key successes Elizabeth/England achieved throughout the continued ‘War at Sea’
- 1592 English capture of Madre De Dios huge treasure ship, english captured gold, silver + jewels amounting to £140,000. This had a debatable impact on spanish war effort however did spread the spanish more thinly.
From 1595 the English made 3 further attacks on mainland Spain which included a spectacular but short lived victory with the capture of the occupation of Cadiz;
- The 1595 The Capture of Cadiz humiliated Phillip and was a huge blow for the spanish and provoked Phillip to an uncharacteristically incautious response in 1596 where he ordew a fleet to invade England however it was defeated by storm because of the season.
Explain the Key failures of Elizabeth/England throughout the continued ‘War at Sea’ (1590s)
- War in the Netherlands tended to be expensive + challenging.
- Hawkins + Drake advocated an attack on the Duke of Parma in 1595 but the attack failed + they both died at sea.
- The Spanish attempted to expand the rebellion in Ireland for their own ends during 1595/6. To prevent a possible Spanish attack on Ireland, Elizabeth sent a fleet under the command of the Earl of Essex, to attack the Spanish fleet in the harbour in Spain in 1597. However Essex fleet was driven back to Plymouth by adverse winds + the Spanish fleet succeeded in setting sail for Ireland and if not for the wind they likely would have arrived unopposed in Ireland.
Overall was Elizabeth successful in her Foreign Policy aims throughout the 1570s-1604?
Yes Elizabeth was successful;
- England’s FP was extended beyond the Netherlands, northern France and Spain + the awareness/ importance of England at sea grew significantly.
- By 1594 the Spanish had been expelled form all of the lands in the northern Netherlands so the dutch revolt proved successful. Much credit was due to the English crown + Elizabeth made many strategic objectives which led to the triumphant success in the Netherlands. The Northern section became an independent state though southern Netherlands remained under Spanish sovereignty.
No Elizabeth Failed;
- Elizabeth had to repeatedly rely on parliament for taxation to finance the war at sea and sea expeditions + was forced to exploit her other sources of revenue which dramatically increased expedincture. This included selling monopolies
- Overall Respect for the crown + elizabeth declined as a result of huge taxation and Jps were irritated by the job they had to perform, going around and constantly raising taxes for ordinary people which led to an increase in vagrancy and there was internal disruption and unrest caused by this.
HOWEVER;
Overall despite the shortcomings + increasing expenses, Elizabeth’s foreign policy had proved broadly successful, she and her councillors changed the emphasis of foriegn policy away from dynastic considerations + toward the desire for national prestige + glory.
Explain the significance of the 1572 - Expulsion of the Sea Beggars by Elizabeth
Elizabeth, possibly unknowingly significantly contributed to the deterioration of anglo-spanish relations via expelling sea beggars from english ports + they were forced to land on the duch port of Brienlle + their occupation of the port sparked a full-scale protestant revolt against Dutch rule + Spain.
Explain the significance of the 1580 -Spanish annexation of Portugal
The Duke of Parama began his new reconquest of the northern provinces + this was exacerbated in 1580 when spanish powers were strengthened via the annexation of Portugal + The Spanish inheritance of the portraguese throne greatly enlarged the Spanish navy.
England was unable to prevent the rising dominance of Spain which worsened relations.
Explain the 1585 - Treaty of Nonsuch + the significance of the Intervention being placed under command of the Earl of Leicester
Treaty of Nonsuch;
- Formal alliance between the Netherlands and Elizabeth whereby Elizabeth agreed to give the Netherlands military support committing 7000 troops + resources + halted the Spanish advance. (England officially intervenes in the Netherlands)
Earl of Leicester;
- The Initial welcome was replaced by anger + calls for his resignation. The troops were poorly disciplined with low morale + irregularly paid. The Dutch felt betrayed when officers William Starkey and Rowland Yorke deserted + joined Parma which demoralised the dutch rebels. There were quarrels amongst English commanders + Licester quarrelled with dutch over tax + religion. He failed to take local sensitivities into account and forced to return home hes disgraced.
