Foreign Relations: Spain + The Netherlands Flashcards
What was the relationship between England + Spain like when Elizabeth came to the throne? Why?
Good
Mary had been married to Philip (marriage alliance)
Why did England + Spain want to remain on good terms after Elizabeth came to power?
- Elizabeth wanted to avoid an expensive + risky war
- Philip wanted to keep England as an ally against France
- Trade
What did Philip do when Elizabeth gained power to try to maintain good Anglo-Spanish relations?
Marriage proposal
Why did Elizabeth reject Philip’s marriage proposal?
Wanted to use herself being single as a foreign policy strategy
Why was Spain wealthy?
Gold + silver shipments from colonies in the New World made them a rich, key trading power
What happened to Anglo-Spanish relations in the 1560s-70s?
Started to deteriorate
Give 5 reasons why Anglo-Spanish relations started to deteriorate in the 1560s-70s
1) Trade disagreements
2) Actions of John Hawkins
3) Increasing Protestantism in England
4) Philip’s support for Catholic rebellions + plots in England
5) Situation in the Netherlands
Give an example of a trade disagreement that damaged Anglo-Spanish relations in the 1560s-70s
Nov 1568
- Storm
- Spanish ships sheltered in English ports
- Spanish carried £85,000 to pay Duke of Alva in his campaign to crush the Dutch rebels
- Elizabeth seized the ships + cargo
- Philip + Alva seized English ships in Dutch ports + banned trade with England
Who was John Hawkins?
English naval commander + privateer (commanded ship commissioned by gov to engage in warfare)
How did the actions of John Hawkins cause Anglo-Spanish relations in the 1560s-70s to deteriorate?
Led English efforts to break the Spanish trading monopoly in the Caribbean, massively infuriating the Spanish
What did the Spanish do with John Hawkins?
Blockaded his ships in Mexican port in 1568 during his 3rd expedition
How did increasing Protestantism in England cause Anglo-Spanish relations in the 1560s-70s to deteriorate?
Philip + Spain were Catholic and opposed Elizabeth having England as Protestant (especially after 1570 excommunication)
Give an example of a Catholic rebellion in England supported by Spain
1569 Northern Rebellion
(Spanish ambassador encouraged rebel leaders in their anti-Elizabeth rebellion + the rebels even requested aid from Philip)
Who were the leaders of the 1569 Northern Rebellion
Northumberland + Westmorland
Give an example of a Catholic plot against Elizabeth supported by Spain
1571 Ridolfi Plot
Duke of Norfolk convinced Pope + Spanish it had potential and should be supported
How did the situation in the Netherlands cause the deterioration of Anglo-Spanish relations?
- Philip wanted more direct Spanish (Catholic) control there
- Elizabeth pressurised to help the Dutch Protestant rebels
How was the Netherlands ruled in the 1560s?
Semi-autonomous Spanish rule by Philip
What was Philip’s title over the Netherlands?
Lord of the Seventeen Provinces of the Netherlands
What was England’s role in the Netherlands pre-rebellions?
Netherlands (Antwerp) were England’s most important trading partner (particularly of cloth) - 75% English trade passed through Antwerp
Why did Spanish control of the Netherlands threaten English?
Netherlands were close to England + the Spanish could launch a Catholic invasion of England from this stronghold
Who was the 1563 Trade Dispute between?
English + Netherlands (+ Spanish)
What did Granvelle accuse English of in the 1563 Trade Dispute?
Charging Dutch merchants too highly + trying to spread Protestantism in the Netherlands
What was the outcome of the 1563 Trade Dispute?
Trade embargo between England + Netherlands (+ Spain) for a year until trade was restored by Philip removing Granvelle
What was the 1566 Dutch rebellion?
Dutch rebellion against their Spanish masters in the Netherlands
What were the 3 main reasons why the Dutch rebelled against the Spanish from 1566?
1) POLITICAL - Spain trying to centralise Netherland’s gov
2) SOCIAL - Conflict between Dutch + Spanish speakers
3) RELIGIOUS - N.Neth were embracing Protestantism
How long did the 1566 Dutch rebellion last?
1 year (but it was the start of a chain of rebellions by the Dutch against the Spanish)
Who led the rebels in the 1566 Dutch rebellion?
William Duke of Orange
Who was sent by Philip to crush the 1566 Dutch rebellion?
Duke of Alva
Did Elizabeth get involved in the 1566 Dutch rebellion? Why?
No - too risky to antagonise the Spanish
What was the main focus of Anglo-Spanish relations in the 1570s?
The ongoing in the Netherlands (as the Dutch revolt tried to expel the Spanish)
Who were the sea beggars?
Dutch pirates licensed by William Duke of Orange (Protestant leader)
What did Elizabeth do to the sea beggars in 1572?
Expelled them from English ports
Forced to land at Brielle (Dutch port)
When the sea beggars landed in Netherlands, what was initiated?
Dutch revolt (against Spanish rule in Netherlands)
In what year had the Dutch revolt spread to all 17 Netherlands provinces?
1576
What was the Spanish Fury?
1576
- Spanish troops in Netherlands angry at irregular pay
- Spanish troops refused Dutch authority + sacked Antwerp
How did the Spanish Fury (1576) impact the Dutch revolt (1572 onwards)?
United the Netherlands (Protestants + Catholics across all provinces), fuelling the Dutch revolt
What was the Pacification of Ghent (1576)?
Demand by the Dutch revolters for:
1) Removal of Spanish troops
2) Restoration of the provinces’ “rights + liberties”