Philip's Foreign Policy (The Mediterranean) (1) Flashcards
Why did Philip feel so strongly about fighting Turks and other Muslims? Why did the people of Spain feel so strongly against the Turks and Muslims?
- he was chief defender of the Catholic faith and could consider no cause more righteous
- with their tradition of the Reconquest they were natural enemies
Why was Philip rarely in a position to concentrate all his efforts on dealing with the Muslims?
- problems in other areas of his vast empire
- lack of money
Due to Philip not being able to actively deal with the Turks/ Muslims very often, what did his policy mainly focus on?
- defence
- fortifying coasts
- doing whatever he could to help maintain the safety of those areas he ruled in the western and central areas of the Med
What threat of the Turkish navy did Philip perceive?
- they controlled eastern med
- threat to central and western areas
- fears raised that a large Turkish fleet would be on the offensive
- possibility of communication and access to the foothold in North Africa and thus could easily access Sicily and Naples etc
What was the perceived threat from North Africa?
- Philips held bases on coast eg. Tunis and Algiers
- from which Barbary corsairs could attack shipping and raid coasts of Spain itself
What was the threat from the Moriscos in Spain?
- might have co-operated with any Muslim invasion of Spain
Was the fight against Turks/ Muslims a constant crusade?
- no, it ebbed and flowed due to Philip’s involvement in other areas across his vast territories
What was the purpose of the 1560 expedition to Tripoli/ Was it successful?
- to help protect central Med
- to defend Spain’s North African outposts, eastern coasts, trade and communications in the western Med
- all that was accomplished was the capture of Djerba island - soon lost again
- reputation suffered
- half fleet lost (42/80 vessels lost, 18,000 men)
- 10,000 Spanish prisoners - were humiliatingly paraded through Istanbul
- freak storm in 1562 destroyed 25 more galleys and lost 4,000 men leaving the navy nearly halved in strength in the space of two years
- it was doomed: took 6 months to assemble fleet, lost element of surprise as concentration of ships in Sicily was noticed and fortifications repaired
How did Tripoli have a positive impact on Philip’s policy against Islam? What were the drawbacks?
- led him to revise strategy
- realised need to possess powerful navy if he was going to have real success
- Spanish dockyards were fully occupied in building new fleet over next few years
- was a drain on Castilian economy
- time and money spent repairing the damage - Muslim pirates attacked Spain - Granada was a prime target for attack and in one raid in 1561: 4,000 prisoners were taken
In 1563, how did Philip’s testing of the new fleet against the Barbary corsairs go? What other success followed?
- sent into action swiftly and efficiently
- Philip acted decisively
- Oran was saved (Hasan Pasha defeated)
- 1565: victory over Turks besieging Malta, Knights of St John held out for five months (it was a close call, Spanish regime and brilliant Grand Master of the Knights Templar - le Valette - was taken by surprise and only saved by intervention from viceroy of Naples - Don Garcia)
From 1570 why did Philip decide more forceful methods were needed?
- Muslim governor of Algiers took Tunis from a supporter of Philip and left Spanish garrison at La Goleta isolated
Why was the Holy League formed?
- to send an expedition to help Cyprus against the Turks invasion
Who formed the members of the Holy League?
- Spain
- Venice
- Genoa
- Pope
- other Italien states
Why did Philip have his reservations about the Holy League? Why did he join and support them?
- defending Cyprus wasn’t seen as a priority
- Philip was concerned with regaining Tunis and conquering Algiers
- suspicious of plans of Venice and Pope
- would have lost some support from the Italien states if he hadn’t joined
Who led the fleet of the Holy League? Was he a good leader?
- Don John of Austria (Philip’s illegitimate half brother)
- yes, was young and charismatic and united the disparate forces
Where did the Holy League fleet sail to? Were they evenly matched?
- sailed east across Med
- met Turkish fleet at Lepanto
- yes, sides were evenly matched
What brought victory to the Spanish at Lepanto? What were the results?
- Don John broke enemy in centre of formation
- Turkish admiral was killed (Ali Pasha)
- thousands of Turkish soldiers/ sailors killed/ imprisoned
- most ships sunk/ captured (30,000 Turkish troops died, 195/230 galleys of previously invincible fleet sank)
Why was the initial rejoicing in Christian Europe short lived?
- not followed up by success because it was late in the campaigning year (inability to transform naval victory into territorial gains, frontiers had reached natural limit)
- Ottoman control in Cyprus was unchallenged and empire remained untouched
- victors themselves had suffered serious losses in men and ships (just 12 galleys but 9000 soldiers dead)
Although the Turks captured Cyprus a few months after Lepanto, what was a success of the battle?
- never again was a large Turkish fleet seen again in the western Med - arguably ended Ottoman naval supremacy
In what period did the Turkish threat diminish?
1578 - 1597
When did the Holy League break up? Why did Venice’s peace with the Turks cause Philip problems?
- broke up when Venice returned to its usual method of dealing with the Turks (negotiation rather than fighting)
- Philip was left with the cost of the Med fleet (60,000 ducats a month)
In 1573, Tunis was retaken for a short time. (8000 Spaniards and Italians defended city) Why wasn’t Philip in a position to do anymore?
- had neither time nor money
- was now fully involved in dealing with Protestant challenge in England, France and especially the Netherlands
Why did both Spain and the Turks become prepared to make peace?
- Philip looked to northern Europe
- Turks became more concerned with situation in east and fight against Persia
- by mid-1570s: military stalemate reached
- growing economic crisis put both countries under pressure - Ottomans had a weak currency and several peasant rebellions broke out
In 1578, peace was made with the Ottomans - how? Was this a well-timed decision?
- number of truces and treaties were arranged and were regularly renewed during the remaining years of Philip’s reign
- it was a successful choice, recognising that the Turks were not in a position to aggravate further
- could be argued that it damaged his reputation as the truce had to be made as a result of previous failures but overall a good political decision
