Relations with Foreign Powers

Question 1

Key Chronology

Answer 1

Jan 1554 - Marriage Treaty between M + P
- Wyatt’s rebellion agaisnt sp marriage
July 1554 - Marriage between M + P
May 1555 - Election as Pope of fiercely anti-sp Paul IV
April 1557 - Scarborough raid followed by Eng declaring war against Fr
Jan 1558 - Eng lose Calais

Question 2

What were M’s 2 main aims in foreign policy?

Answer 2

1) Restore Eng to Papal Supremacy
2) Marry Philip - heir to Sp throne

Question 3

Were her aims achieved?

Answer 3

• Both were achieved
• BUT both took longer than expected and came into conflict with each other.

Question 4

What is the background to the war against France?

Answer 4

• Would be difficult for Eng to remain neutral in any Franco-Sp conflict
• To complicate matters further, one of main instigators of renewed Fr-Sp conflict was the anti-sp Pope, Paul IV
• Eng dragged into a war against Fr AND Mary found herself at war with papacy

Question 5

What were the events of the war with France 1557?

Answer 5

• Eng declared war on Fr 1557 following a bizarre landing at Scarborough of Fr troops led by Thomas Stafford - grandson of the Duke of Buckingham who had been executed 1521
• Many mbers of nobility were enthusiastic about prospect of war - offered those who were in disfavour because of links with EdVI regime to regain some credit with Crown.
• A promising start - assisting Sp at St Quentin and dealing with minor incursion into Eng by Scots
• However soon turned into disaster - humiliating loss of Calais Jan 1558 which had been in Eng hands for centuries. No attempt made to recapture and a full scale attack on port of Brest summer 1558 failed dismally.

Question 6

What are some examples of significant naval and militia reforms?

Answer 6

• 6 new ships built
• Many other ships repaired
• Crown finances budgeted for a peacetime allocation of £14,000 to navy
• System worked effectively with highly efficient treasurer to navy, Benjamin Gonson answerable directly to Lord Treasurer Winchester
• Long term - reforms laid basis for organisation of navy which was to defeat the Armada
• Methods for raising troops reformed too

Question 7

Mary had a mixed record as Queen, what are some examples of this?

Answer 7

Successes:
- Determinisation and bravery when seizing throne
- Faced down rebellion

Failures:
- Died after just 5yrs on throne
- Humiliating loss of Calais
- Marriage failed to produce Catholic heir