Later foreign policy Flashcards
Why did ministers want Elizabeth to marry?
To prevent the succession falling in the hands of the Catholics
Elizabeth attitude to marriage?
It lay within her royal prerogative and was not to be discussed at the council table or parliament
This caused tensions as councillors failed to acknowledge her outlook
Early suitors for Elizabeth marriage?
Robert Dudley - Earl of Leicester - her preferred choice
Phillip II of Spain- polite gesture
Archdukes Ferdinand and Charles son of the Emperor
Erik of Sweden- Protestant suitor- Elizabeth gave little encouragment
Why did Cecil not want the marriage to Dudley to go ahead?
Would undermine his own power
Would create political risks
Issues surrounding the death of Leicester’s first wife
Why did Philip lack serious intent?
Because of his profound Catholicism
When did the House of Commons first raise the issue of marriage?
January 1559
When did Elizabeth get smallpox?
Oct 1562
Caused an extreme level of panic amongst councillors
What was the Presence chamber?
When the Queen was female males could not usually enter the Privy Chamber - here was where private contact could be made between Queen and Courtier
Who was banned from the Presence Chamber?
Robert Dudley - for his insistence that she should marry
Backlash to pressurising Elizabeth to marry?
She summoned the House of Lords and Commons and gave a ferocious tongue lashing- stressed royal prerogative
Possibility of a mini marriage crisis?
Burghley and Sussex suggested that Elizabeth marry the Duke of Anjou - this horrified other councillors who realised that the infant child successor would be of French influence
In the end who had the best hereditary claim?
After Mary execution it was James VI of Scotland
He was Protestant and already had 2 sons
Impact of James being the most likely successor?
Councillors such as Essex began to woo James to stay in favour - he was in regular contact
Robert Cecil also kept in contact and ensured his succession- which he received due reward
Who was credited with how smooth the succession was?
Cecil
What factors influenced the relationship between Elizabeth and Mary?
Religion and succession
Mary’s trouble with marriage?
Incurred the wrath of Protestant lords and English because of her marriage to Earl of Darnley- then she was accused of being involved in his murder and there was a brief a civil war when the marriage between Mary and her husband’s presumed murderer Bothwell was arranged
Outcome of Mary’s failed second marriage?
Fled to England in 1567
Why was Mary a problem for E?
Some English Catholics saw her as the rightful heir and this made her a figure head for numerous plots
What intensified the problems that Mary caused?
Elizabeth’s ex communication in 1570- Catholic subjects no longer felt the need to obey sovereign authority- Elizabeth and council tightened treason law
Ridolfi plot detail?
Occurred in 1571- Involved a conspiracy for Mary to marry the Duke of Norfolk and to overthrow E
Significance of Ridolfi plot?
Allowed Burghley to secure the execution of Norfolk for treason
Throckmorton detail?
Occurred in 1583- the foreign landing in Sussex - french invasion and support from Spain and Pope- followed by the overthrow of E and her replacement by M
It was foiled by Walsingham’s espionage network
Who was Walsingham?
Cambridge educated lawyer
Dealt with diplomacy and espionage
Protestant
Significance of Throckmorton plot?
Led to creation of the Bond of Association- execution for usurpers- failed or successful
Worsened Anglo Spanish relations
Tightened conditions of Mary captivity
Parry plot details?
1585- plot to assassinate the Queen
Significance of Parry plot?
Led to the acceleration of parliamentary proceedings on a bill to ensure the Queen’s safety
Babington plot details?
Occurred 1586- Mary complicit in a plot to assassinate E but was exposed by Walsingham
Significance of Babington plot?
Enabled Burghley to secure Mary’s execution
Why was E reluctant to execute M?
Anxious about executing another appointed monarch- would undermine her own security as a monarch
Some councillors even pleaded illness in the fear of regecide when asked to try Mary for treason
Why were councillors worried?
To condemn the death of their possible future monarch’s mother may not be such a sensible idea
How many months of delay were there regarding M execution?
4
How did Cecil influence E to execute M?
Parliamentary pressure- it was for her own personal security and the survival of Protestantism
When was the death warrant signed?
Feb 1st 1587- it was then given contradictory order about its dispatch
Typical relations between England and Spain in the 1560s?
Usually cordial
Why did Spain and England’s relations detonate in 1560s?
Plymouth ship merchant John Hawkings attempted to break the Spanish trading monopoly in the Carribean- infuriated Spanish interests, his own fleet was therefore blockaded in retaliation
Philip wanted tighter form of political organisation in Netherlands- E encouraged to aid Dutch Protestant
Elizabeth’s own mistake that caused the breakdown of Anglo Spanish relations in 1560s?
Impounded money of Spanish vessels that was supposed to pay for Duke of Alba army- this occurred when a storm caused ships to seek refuge in English ports- Alba therefore seized English ships and property in the Netherlands
Further influences to why Anglo-Spanish relations were soured by 1570?
Breakdown of trade
Philip’s support for Northern rebellion and Ridolfi plot and the excommunication of Elizabeth
Elizabeth action 1572- causes declining Spanish relations?
She expels Sea beggars- Dutch pirates - from English ports- sparked of revolt against the rule of Spain
Dutch revolt against Spain?
Pacification of Ghent- called for expulsion of all foreign troops and the restoration of provinces autonomy - this was favoured by Elizabeth
Outcome of Dutch revolt?
France were willing to intervene- Elizabeth did not want this as she wanted to protect English influence in the Netherlands- she was prepared to marry Duke of Anjou
Division of Netherlands- Union of Arras. Utrecht
Union of Arras? Utrecht
Protestant and Northern
Southern and Catholic
Which union did Spanish make peace with?
Arras- Duke of Palma made new governor general, plan reconquest of Northern provinces
What in 1580 strengthened the power of Spain?
Annexation of Portugal
How did Elizabeth adopt an overtly anti- Spanish position?
Supported Portuguese pretender Don Antonio
Knighted Sir Francis Drake for circumnavigating the globe- irritating the Spanish
Treating the Spanish Ambassador contemptuously
Why were Protestant forces weakened in 1584?
Their leader William of Orange was assassinated
Only 2 Protestant provinces left- Holland and Zeeland
Treaty of Joinville 1584?
Alliance between Philip and French Catholic League
Philip had no political reason not to support Mary Queen of Scots
Treaty of Nonsuch 1585?
Elizabeth and Protestant dutch rebels - sent the troops to the Netherlands under Leicester’s control
Failure of Treaty of Nonsuch?
Troops were badly and irregularly paid- alienated Dutch
Dutch felt betrayed when two officers joined Palma
English commanders quarrelled
Leicester quarrelled with Dutch
