James and foreign policy

Question 1

What was the Treaty of london 1604?

Answer 1

Peace was made with Spain, this was a popular decision as it allowed english merchants to trade in the Spanish Netherlands and Spain.

Question 2

What did james turn down in 1603 and why?

Answer 2

Leadership of the Protestant alliance in europe, he wanted to be the peacemaker of Europe as he saw war as repugnant and contrary to the interests of the crown.

Question 3

What happened in 1613?

Answer 3

James married his daughter Elizabeth to Frederick elector palatine who was a german Protestant, this was to be balanced by marrying his son Charles to a Catholic.

Question 4

Who took control of most of the major government offices in 1614 and why did this matter?

Answer 4

The Howard family, they were pro Spanish and many were secret Catholics, they encouraged james to pursue the Spanish match for Charles.

Question 5

Why would the Spanish marriage be good for james?

Answer 5

1. With the failure of the addled parliament, he needed money and the match would provide a rich dowry. 2. Spain was the strongest European power and was in the best place to help english Catholics. 3. After the 30 years’ war broke out, james hoped he could use the match to convince the Spanish to help Frederick win back the palatinate.

Question 6

Why did the 30 year’s war break out?

Answer 6

1. Protestant nobles revoked their alliance to anti Protestant archduke Ferdinand of Bohemia and offered his crown to Frederick in 1619. 2. If Frederick accepted the crown, this would swing the electoral collage balance for the holy roman emperor in favor a Protestants, altering the balance of power in europe. 3. Frederick accepted the crown, his reign was short lived and was brought to an end at the battle of white mountain in 1620, the palatinate was then occupied by Spanish and Bavarian troops.

Question 7

What were the consequences of the 30 years’ war on England?

Answer 7

1. Frederick was james’ son in law, he knew that he had to act to help him get back his ancestral lands of the palatinate. 2. James pinned his hopes on using the Spanish match to get concessions from Spain, but knew this might fail, so called parliament in 1621.

Question 8

What approach to foreign policy did the 1621 parliament want to take?

Answer 8

An alliance with the Dutch and naval war with Spain, Spanish treasure helped to pay for the germany soldiers in the palatinate, if Spain and the Spanish Netherlands came under threat, Spain might force Ferdinand into a settlement.

Question 9

What approach to foreign policy did James want to take in 1621?

Answer 9

He wanted to use parliament to push Spain into concessions, if this failed, he could mount an expedition to the continent to win back the palatinate directly in alliance with the germans and Dutch, he did not yet want to break ties with Spain.

Question 10

What were james’ intensions in 1621?

Answer 10

1. He wanted an anti-Habsburg, not anti-Catholic league as he hoped for French involvement. 2. He was reluctant to name an enemy as this would restrict his freedom of action.

Question 11

List three outcomes of the parliament of 1621

Answer 11

1. Parliament was left uncertain about the king’s intentions, they presented the protestation which urged the king to “pursue and more publicly avow the aiding of those of our religion. 2. Rather then consider parliament’s demands for ending negotiations with Spain, James dissolved parliament. 3. It marked the beginning of the commons’ active dislike of crown foreign policy.

Question 12

What happened in 1623?

Answer 12

Charles and Buckingham set off on the infamous trip to Madrid in a bid to move marriage negotiations along. The Spanish held Buckingham and Charles as virtual prisoners for 9 months and Charles was not allowed to see Maria. Charles and Buckingham returned to England in October, humiliated and wanting war with Spain.

Question 13

Why did cranfield oppose war with Spain and what happened to him?

Answer 13

He opposed it on the grounds that it would damage crown finances. Buckingham used parliament to have him accused of corruption and impeached, they then voted £300,000 for war.

Question 14

What did parliament vote the £300,000 for?

Answer 14

A sea war of diversion against Spain, they did not want an expedition to the continent and the subsidy was granted under these specific conditions.

Question 15

What did Buckingham need to ensure a successful anti Habsburg alliance?

Answer 15

The cooperation of France, which could also provide a wife for Charles. Along with the marriage treaty, negotiations began for a joint anglo French mission to the palatinate to restore Frederick with the help of the french.

Question 16

What 3 things were decided under the marriage treaty with France 1624?

Answer 16

1. Henrietta Maria and her servants would be allowed to practice their religion freely and would have an open chapel in London. 2. Her children would be educated as Catholics until 13 years old. 3. Catholics would be granted toleration.

Question 17

What was the problem with the marriage treaty?

Answer 17

It made no mention of military aid, cardinal Richelieu had no intention of making war on the Habsburgs unless it suited his own purposes , Buckingham made concessions and gained nothing.

Question 18

What happened during Mansfeld’s expedition 1625?

Answer 18

The french refused to help or allow it to cross french territory. 2. Troops were poorly equipped and upon arriving realized that the countryside had been stripped bare. Over half of the men died from disease and the mission crept home having achieved nothing.

Question 19

What was another key part of Buckingham’s foreign policy?

Answer 19

Gaining Protestant allies in Europe. In 1624, James agreed to finance 6000 troops to fight for two years in the Netherlands and in 1625 it was agreed that England would pay for 7000 troops at a cost of £30,000 a month in return for a danish campaign in Germany.

Question 20

What was the problem with subsidizing Protestant allies?

Answer 20

It avoided war, but required considerable finance which would have to come from parliament, who had already made it clear they did not want to subsidize foreign allies.