Foreign Policy Flashcards
Context
16th Century Europe dominated by major power houses Spain and France; England somewhat restricted to a reactive foreign policy lacking power to dictate events
Aims
Security
Defence of Protestantism
Trade
Security: borders
Treaty of Berwick, 1560: provided Scottish Lords of the Congregation with an army to expel French troops garrisoning Scottish fortresses
Spanish in Ireland
Security: alliance with one of the two power house
Treaty of Blois, 1572: countered deteriorating Anglo-Spanish relations (April Sea Beggars expelled, 1572)
Security: evidence of failure
Treaty of Joinville, 1584: political isolation – reactive > Treaty of Nonsuch, 1585
Spanish Armada, 1588
Security: conclusion
Challenged by dominance of Spain and France rather than her own mistakes
Security: historiography
David Loades: EI strategy was always defensive
Protestantism: evidence
With no immediate threat to security EI had less of a stance to take action in Calvinist Netherlands
Huguenots, France, 1560-1: unsuccessful: Treaty of Troyes 1564
The Spanish Fury, 1575-6: dangerous position – alienated Spanish and does nothing to help Dutch
Anjou in the Netherlands, 1581-2: sponsored by EI
Protestantism: Netherlands: why?
Protection of trade: Antwerp: cloth trade 90% exports
Security: easier for Spanish to launch invasion - geographical springboard
EUROPEAN BALANCE OF POWER: France in decline, Spain growing
Influence of councillors? Walshingham French Ambassador and Protestant, St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre, 1572
Protestantism: conclusion
Foreign policy broadly fashioned in terms of this aim but sacrificed in favour of pragmatism – security
Protestantism: historiography
D.J.B. Trim: policy driven by religion
Trade: evidence
Support of Dutch Revolt (1566), 1575 onwards: Netherlands essential for cloth trade (90% exports) due to port of Antwerp
Overseas trade : San Juan Ulua, 1568: John Hawkins and fleet funded by EI blockaded after taking shelter – deteriorating relations with Spanish
Overseas exploration: Sir Francis Drake, Sir Richard Greynvile, New World
Information deficit
Influence of Cecil and Walshingham: diplomats owed position to them – bias, distortion
Councillors: historiography
Conyers Read: influence of Walshingham’s Protestantism and pragmatism of Cecil
Stephen Alford: secular pragmatism of Walshingham and Protestant outlook of Cecil underestimated
Susan Doran: contradictory advice confused EI policy
P Williams: strong EI ruled over council
EI: gender issue
Unable to lead army
Leicester disobeyed in the Netherlands, 1586, opinion dismissed
Historiography
Traditional propaganda: glorified EI and Spanish Armada, 1588
C Wilson: no foreign policy and haphazard – “obstinate”
Susan Doran: at times merely reactive but still at times successful
Relations with France 1558-1574
Death of Francis II and decline of Catholic Guise Faction, 1560
Marriage negotiations, Henri Duke d’Anjou, 1568
Treaty of Blois, 1572
Renewal of Blois, 1574 (St Bart’s)
Relations with France 1584-1603
Decrease
Treaty of Joinville, 1584: Catholic Alliance: Philip II, Catholic League. Isolation (+ MQS!!)
Increase
Accession of Henry IV, 1589: Huguenot
Triple Alliance, 1596: (Netherlands)
