James I's Foreign Policy Flashcards
What was England’s situation in 1603? Which war had ended and why was James diplomatic?
In 1603 the English had been at war with the Spanish Armada for 18 years as a Protestant minority. James opposed peace for many debated reasons: he believed in peace; he had a tough childhood; his mother watched her secretary die in 1566; England had no substantial armed forces and a small navy; Parliament would rarely pay for war; the Netherlands, another Protestant country, often had disputes with England; trade created division; France was too suspicious.
What actions were made to increase peace and what actions created more division from 1604-1611?
1604 Treaty of London - Ended the war with the Spanish and Spanish Netherlands and opened trade for cloth industry.
1609 - English ended war between Spain and Netherlands.
Failure of anti-Habsburg alliance as Louis XIII was appointed king in France, a pro-Habsburg. He married Anne of Austria and his sister married Phillip IV.
1611 - England joins the Protestant Union and encourages the Dutch to.
Who did Elizabeth marry and what results did this have for James?
Frederick V of the Palatinate in Europe of Protestant countries. James could mediate in dispute such as between Sweden and Denmark in 1613. In 1614 he budged Cleves-Jülich crisis caused by European powers wanting to seize the lower Rhine and United Provinces when William of Cleves-Jülich died in 1609, creating crisis until 1614.
Describe the Thirty Year War - 1618-48?
23 May 1618 - four Catholic councillors flung off building in Prague as Ferdinand is seen as being anti-Protestant.
Frederick V of Palatinate offered crown and elected on 26 August 1619.
Ferdinand elected Holy Roman Empire two days after, and set on revenge.
Battle of White Mountain leaves Frederick defeated and the Catholic Maximilian of Bavaria replace him as elector.
England becomes involved, with Parliament reorganised in 1621. While only two subsidies were offered, they threatened an end to the Twelve Year Truce between the Dutch and Spain to make Habsburgs negotiate.
Treaties of Westphalia - 1648.
Why did people consider Spain a threat and what happened as memory of the war faded?
Spain experienced economic decline after 1598 and Phillip II died to the resentment of the British public.
James had a royal prerogative to foreign policy. As memory of the war faded people took up naval victories and discussed how the war would be positive as Spanish shipping would be preyed on.
Describe James’ involvement with Henry IV of France…
Henry was a Protestant converted to Catholic and wanted to aid Dutch Protestants in their fight for independence while England wanted its loans repaid by the Dutch and would give diplomatic support. After 1609 Twelve Year Truce, Spanish troops were still in the Netherlands and Henry made alliances with German Protestants to crush the enemy, leading to his assassination.
Who did Louis XIII marry and why did this alarm James?
He wanted to marry a Spanish Princess, creating a Roman Catholic power bloc which would need to be neutralised through integration.
Describe the 1614 Spanish Match…
Spanish Infanta Maria and Charles would marry as planned by James, improving Anglo-Spanish relations. This was encouraged by the Court of Gondomar and Spanish Ambassador Don Diego Sarmiento de Acuña.
Some felt James was very influenced by him. The Howards, seeing the £600,000 dowry, approved the marriage while Neville, Winwood, and Southampton protested.
Due to Parliament’s protests as it was realised the children would have to be raised Roman Catholic and there would be Roman Catholic Courts, the marriage was cancelled.
Summarise the Thirty Year War.
In May 1618 Protestants threw four Catholic Councillors over a building in Bohemia and Frederick V won the crown by August 26, 1619, egged on by Elizabeth. Ferdinand wanted revenge and as Holy Roman Empire, he defeated Frederick at the Battle of the White Mountains and troops attacked his lands led by Spinola, creating a route to Italy. Frederick and Elizabeth were made to evacuate an the end of the Twelve Year Truce created new war. James decided an alliance would be needed. He had to defend Elizabeth and decided on diplomatic coup, by encouraging Spain to make Austria reappoint Frederick to the Palatinate. France was too occupied with Protestant unrest.
At the second Spanish match, 1922, Spain could not promise Frederick would be restored to Palatinate, while Maria did not even want marriage and they expected less restriction for Catholics in England. In February 1623 this was learned when Charles and Buckingham went to Spain behind Parliament’s back and it was believed they wanted to convert to Roman Catholicism. Moreover, the Count of Olivares opposed the match. They returned humiliated.
While Charles and Buckingham swayed for war, James couldn’t afford intervention and in aims to restore the Palatinate he agreed to limited expedition under German mercenary Mansfeld, and to create an anti-Habsburg alliance. In early 1625 attempts to send troops to the Palatinate failed as most fell ill before arriving at Flushing of Plague and by March James died. A failure.
