Mary's Foreign Policy

Question 1

What was the Treaty of Vaucelles?

Answer 1

• Feb 1556
• established peace between France and Spain

Question 2

Why was the Habsburg Valois War reopened and what was the result?

Answer 2

• July 1556: alliance between French and the Papacy reopened the war
• March 1557: Philip returned to England to demand funds, naval support and troops
• April 1557: French support for the invasion attempt of Protestant exile Thomas Stafford pushed Mary to finally support Spain

Question 3

What happened after England declared war on France?

Answer 3

• garrisons in Scotland strengthened in anticipation of an attack
• 7000 troops sent to aid the 70,000 Spanish
• August 1557: victory for Philip II over Henry II at St Quentin - had obtained little support from the English

Question 4

How did the French attack the English after their defeat at St Quentin?

Answer 4

• 1558: launched a surprise attack and captured Calais Pale
• the 2000 English troops who had not received winter reinforcements stood no chance against the 7000 French
• they recaptured the whole of Calais Pale in 3 weeks

Question 5

What was the Treaty of Cateau Cambresis?

Answer 5

• Philip’s success made him look to bring the 40yr Habsburg Valois conflict to an end
• peace negotiations complete in April 1559
• didn’t attempt to recover Calais for England

Question 6

What was the significance of the loss of Calais?

Answer 6

Economically: Crowson argues it was an economically “crippling blow” due to the loss of trade however Tittler argues this is a vast exaggeration due to the decline in traditional markets bringing to importance of Staple merchants in Calais to an end

Image and Morale: owned by English Kings since 1347 - loss used as propaganda by Protestants against the combination of a Spanish marriage and Catholic policy

Territorially: last French territory controlled by England however little achieved by maintaining it

Militarily: difficult and expensive to garrison and another frontier to defend

Diplomatically: seen as a failure of the Anglo-Habsburg alliance - Philip abandoned England by allowing France to keep it

Question 7

How was the military developed under Mary?

Answer 7

• navy reorganised and improved: naval treasurer appointed and no. of ships available increased from 3 in 1555 to 21 in 1557
• significant improvements in army recruitment: inefficient old system of getting individual lords and gentlemen to raise troops replaced - lord lieutenants and JPs in each county now given responsibility
• 6 new ships built and many others replaced
• crown finances budgeted for a peacetime allocation of £14,000 to the navy - crucial for the later defeat of the Armada