Foreign Policy

Question 1

Context

Answer 1

16th Century Europe dominated by major power houses Spain and France; England somewhat restricted to a reactive foreign policy lacking power to dictate events

Question 2

Aims

Answer 2

Security
Defence of Protestantism
Trade

Question 3

Security: borders

Answer 3

Treaty of Berwick, 1560: provided Scottish Lords of the Congregation with an army to expel French troops garrisoning Scottish fortresses

Spanish in Ireland

Question 4

Security: alliance with one of the two power house

Answer 4

Treaty of Blois, 1572: countered deteriorating Anglo-Spanish relations (April Sea Beggars expelled, 1572)

Question 5

Security: evidence of failure

Answer 5

Treaty of Joinville, 1584: political isolation – reactive > Treaty of Nonsuch, 1585

Spanish Armada, 1588

Question 6

Security: conclusion

Answer 6

Challenged by dominance of Spain and France rather than her own mistakes

Question 7

Security: historiography

Answer 7

David Loades: EI strategy was always defensive

Question 8

Protestantism: evidence

Answer 8

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

Question 9

Protestantism: Netherlands: why?

Answer 9

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

Question 10

Protestantism: conclusion

Answer 10

Foreign policy broadly fashioned in terms of this aim but sacrificed in favour of pragmatism – security

Question 11

Protestantism: historiography

Answer 11

D.J.B. Trim: policy driven by religion

Question 12

Trade: evidence

Answer 12

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

Question 13

Information deficit

Answer 13

Influence of Cecil and Walshingham: diplomats owed position to them – bias, distortion

Question 14

Councillors: historiography

Answer 14

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

Question 15

EI: gender issue

Answer 15

Unable to lead army

Leicester disobeyed in the Netherlands, 1586, opinion dismissed

Question 16

Historiography

Answer 16

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

Question 17

Relations with France 1558-1574

Answer 17

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)

Question 18

Relations with France 1584-1603

Answer 18

Decrease
Treaty of Joinville, 1584: Catholic Alliance: Philip II, Catholic League. Isolation (+ MQS!!)

Increase
Accession of Henry IV, 1589: Huguenot
Triple Alliance, 1596: (Netherlands)