Relations with France Flashcards
Why did Charles marry Henrietta Maria in 1625?
To strengthen relations with France against the Spanish Habsburgs, a mutual rival.
What was the outcome of Charles’s marriage to Henrietta Maria in terms of foreign policy?
France, under Louis XIII and Cardinal Richelieu, prioritised its own interests and refused to align fully with England, highlighting Charles’s inability to achieve foreign policy goals through diplomatic marriages.
What happened in September 1625 regarding an anti-Spanish alliance?
France declined to join an alliance between England and the Dutch Republic aimed at isolating Spain, leaving only Denmark to join after Charles paid it €30,000 to bolster its army.
How did the refusal to join the anti-Spanish alliance affect England?
It revealed England’s diplomatic isolation and financial strain.
How were English ships used by France in September 1625, and what was the impact?
English ships, loaned to France, were used by Richelieu to suppress the Huguenots at La Rochelle. This undermined Charles’s authority, embarrassed him, and was seen as a betrayal of Protestant allies.
What significant treaty did France sign in February 1626, and why was it problematic for England?
France signed a separate peace treaty with Spain, countering England’s Protestant foreign policy objectives and rendering Charles’s marriage alliance ineffective.
What role did George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham, play in the failure of Anglo-French relations?
Buckingham attempted to destabilise Richelieu by allying with discontented French nobles and supporting Huguenot uprisings, but his schemes failed and strained resources.
How did Buckingham’s plans impact Charles’s relationship with Parliament?
Funding Buckingham’s schemes forced Charles to recall Parliament in February 1626, exacerbating tensions between the Crown and Parliament.
What was the religious context in France during Charles’s reign?
France had a history of violent Catholic-Protestant conflict, including the St Bartholomew’s Day Massacre (1572) and Richelieu’s suppression of the Huguenots, which aligned France with Catholic interests.
How did Richelieu’s suppression of the Huguenots affect Anglo-French relations?
It directly contradicted Charles’s Protestant alliances, weakened his credibility among Protestant states, and highlighted his inability to assert control over foreign policy.
How did Charles’s foreign policy demonstrate arbitrary government?
His centralized, personal decision-making without parliamentary input led to diplomatic failures, financial strain, and further eroded his authority.
Why did Charles frequently recall Parliament during his foreign policy ventures?
To secure funding for foreign policy, particularly Buckingham’s schemes, which increased tensions over his governance and Buckingham’s influence.
What were the consequences of Charles’s failure to protect the Protestant cause in Europe?
His inability to secure effective alliances alienated Parliament and the English public, who were deeply concerned about protecting Protestant interests.
How did the failure of Charles’s marriage alliance with France undermine his authority?
It highlighted his diplomatic isolation, financial mismanagement, reliance on Buckingham, and inability to achieve tangible successes.
What were Charles’s primary foreign policy objectives?
To counter Habsburg dominance in Europe, which he failed to achieve due to weak alliances and insufficient resources.
Who was Cardinal Richelieu, and how did he affect Anglo-French relations?
Richelieu was a master diplomat and statesman who prioritized France’s interests, often to England’s detriment, including suppressing the Huguenots against Charles’s Protestant goals.
How did Charles’s foreign policy failures contribute to the English Civil War?
They weakened his domestic position, fostered dissatisfaction in Parliament, and contributed to broader grievances over his arbitrary rule and financial mismanagement.
