Foreign Policy - Charles

Question 1

Points for the Essay

Answer 1

1) Defence of Christianity against Isalm
2) Protection of Land
3) New Worlds

Question 2

Defence of Christendom against Islam

• Strengths
• Weaknesses

Answer 2

1534: Tunis fell to Bardarossa, exposing Sicily 
= gateway to the Mediterarian + source of imported grain 
// holy war declared, captured Tunis w. 30,000 troops

Other interests meant he didnt focus on Crusade, not able to get involved until 1529 when in 1518 pirates placed under Ottoman protection

+ Not able to follow up on successes once attention on pirates

• Storm wreaked 1541 fleet
• Slow decline: only 4 ports left in 1555

Question 3

Protection of Lands under rule
Rivalry of France and Spain

Strengths + weaknesses

Answer 3

1525 - French defeated at Pavia
- Milan now in Charles control
- Forced to make Peace treaty of Madrid
= F renounced claim in Italy + agrees to give up Burgundian lands

BUT -no firm measures taken to force him to keep his conditions on Treaty // although sons prisoners - F renounced terms as soon as home

Treaty of Cambrai 1529 - C learnt lesson

• -> F gave up claim of Naples, Flanders, Milan
• -> Cemented with Marraige of Frances to his sister Eleanor
• -> Large sums of money paid to release sons

Question 4

New Worlds - what are the 4 aims

Answer 4

1) Expansion of the empire
2) Effective royal gov established
3) Religious conversions
4) Just treatment of the natives

Question 5

Expantion of the Empire
Strengths
Weaknesses

Answer 5

1519: Cortes expedition of 600 men and 13 horses
- -> 2 years later, took Azetec empire of Tenochtitlan

1532: Pizarri - 160 men defeated Incas due to the superiority of steal and guna + horses

WHY:

• -> Both empires had enemies, willing to join
• -> Determined men, nothing to lose and all to gain
• -> 1 priest every expedition // religion factor to some extent

Question 6

Treatment of the Natives
Strengths
Weaknesses

Answer 6

La Casas –> attacked system of Encomiendas as unjust + tryannical
–> Lead to the New Laws of 1542
= forbade all forms of slavery + granting new encomiendas
If found guilty of mistreating. ordered loss of Encomiendas

BUT settlers attitudes = naturally infearior // could do what they wished // outcry at laws

• CHARLES FORCED TO MAKE CONCESSIONS + LAWS REWRITTEN
• Large number died because of small pox + overworked
  1518: Central Mexican Indian Population 25 million
  1568: 3 million

Question 7

Religious Policies in the New Worlds
Strengths
Weaknesses

Answer 7

Charles able to control Church Appointments
1524-36: 4 million conversions recorded in New Mexico alone
How:
–> 1 priest per expedition
–> Large number of Dominican, Jesuit men determined to see spiritual needs of natives met

Question 8

Establishment of Royal Government

Strengths

Answer 8

No noble families + representative assemblies

TO deal with powerful Conquistadors
- Council of Indies 1524
Made up of letrados, many whom had lived in the Indies for at least a period of time
Became main authority over all affairs in the NW
Acted as supreme court of appeals + drew up necessary laws

Spanish Viceroy
Appointed in Mexico and Peru - representatives of + answered directly Charles
Various safeguards brought in to prevent a viceroy becoming too powerful
Adiencia: council of state made up of a number of judges and the viceroy
= oversaw the implementation of the Crowns policies and acted as a law court
Viceroy subject to a review of conduct at the end of their term in office

Question 9

Establishment of Royal Government

Weaknesses

Answer 9

Powerful Conquistadors
He had no prepared to see them set themselves up as powerful, virtually independent nobility as has been the case in Spain

Difficulties in terms of communication between Spain and Indies + within the Indies itself