S4: How Successful was Elizabeth's Handling of Spain? Flashcards
Early: Outline foreign policy in the first three years of Elizabeth’s reign.
-Treaty of Cateau-Cambresis (1558) ended the Habsburg-Valois War, and loses Calais for 8 years (if they stay at peace, it will either be returned, or she’ll be given financial compensation).
-Treaty of Edinburgh (1560), ends MQS using coat of arms + withdrawal of French troops in Scotland.
-Philip II helps persuade the Pope to postpone Liz’s excommunication.
Early: What was happening in France?
-In March, 1562, religious civil war had broken out in France, caused by the spread of Calvinism and the growing influence of powerful nobles.
-The two major nobles families, the Guises and the Bourbons, were divided over religion. This religious conflict would last from 162-1593.
-As the conflict continued, Elizabeth came under pressure from Dudley & Throckmorton to send help to the Huguenots, as they feared greater control of France for the Guise family.
Early: Did Elizabeth give aid to the Huguenots? Did this go well? What did it mean for Spain?
-Initially, no. She was very reluctant to support any rebel groups, and even less so to be seen as a Protestant crusader.
-Eventually, though she was convinced by her councillors.
-However, when the Huguenots were defeated in 1562, and made peace with the Catholics, English soliders were forced out at Le Havre in 1563.
-The Treaty of Troyes was then signed in 1564, confirming French control of Calais.
-Philip complained that Elizabeth was supporting Protestant rebels, and viewed her as a threat for this.
Early: Why was England’s relationship with the Netherlands so important? What were relations with Antwerp like by 1563?
-Trade! At least 75% of all of England’s overseas exports passed through Antwerp, and over 75% of that was based on woolen cloth.
-Antwerp businessmen had already been upset by the new Book of Rates, introduced by Mary Tudor, which increased duties on imports by 75%.
-Also, piracy in the Channel disrupted trade.
-Cardinal Grenville, Philip’s chief minister in the Netherlands, who viewed Elizabeth as trying to spread Protestantism, used a break out of plague in London to justify banning the import of English cloth.
-England then retaliated with a full trade embargo (though this only lasted 12 months).
Early: What happened in 1567? What did this mean for England?
-An outbreak of Calvinist riots had led to a short period of religious tolerance, but in 1567 Philip announced his intention to crush heresy thoughout the Netherlands.
-Philip sent an army under the command of the Duke of Alva to pursue this.
-Many Dutch Protestants therefore sought refuge in England, despite Elizabeth’s public condemnation of the rebels.
Early: What was happening in the New World? What action did England take?
-By 1550, Spain had conquered Mexico, Peru, Chile, and the Caribbean. They imposed the rule that trade in the New World could not take place without a licence.
-England had previously launched discovery voyages (led by Humphrey Gilbert & Martin Frobisher), but these were fairly insignificant.
-In 1562, and 1564, Hawkins sailed to West Africa & began trading in enslaved people. The second voyage had been financed by Elizabeth, Cecil, and Leicester, who had all received a return of 60% on their investment.
-Also, use of piracy, under individuals like Drake, angered Spain.
Early: How did Spain respond to the New World?
-Spain had been angered by the actions of English sailors, and began to strengthen defences.
-In 1568, Hawkins was attacked by a Spanish fleet at San Juan du Ulua, in the Gulf of Mexico.
-Hawkins returned with only 15 men, and open hostility ensued.
-Hawkins retired after this attack! He was then appointed as an advisor to the naval board, where he emphasised the need for fast, maoeuvrable ships. This led to Elizabeth building up the English navy.
Early: What happened in the Netherlands in 1568? What happened in the Channel?
-By 1568, Alva had defeated the Dutch rebels, and Elizabeth did not have the means to challenge him directly.
-Elizabeth therefore moved towards a policy of harrassment, particularly through piracy.
-In November, Spanish ships, on their way to the Netherlands, took refuge from pirates in English ports. Cecil was able to convince Elizabeth to allow the seizure of bullion, which had been a Genoese loan, from these ships.
Early: What did the bullion lead to? How were tensions further heightened?
-Alva seized all English ships & property in the Netherlands, and Philip did the same in Spain.
-This resulted in a total embargo between the two.
-Between 1568-72, tensions only worsened. Philip authorised Alva to send financial aid to Catholics in England (Northern Rebellion), though he changed his mind before it got through.
-Spain also supported the Ridolfi Plot in 1571.
-Elizabeth, retaliating, did nothing to stop English piracy in the New World, and began to pursue a marriage alliance with the Duke of Anjou.
-She also signed the Treaty of Blois, a mutual-defence treaty with France.
Early: What happened with the Dutch Sea Beggars? What did France do?
-In 1572, Elizabeth expelled the Dutch Sea Beggars, who ahd been sheltering in English ports. These Sea Beggars had been attacking Spanish shipping in the Channel.
-When they returned to the Netherlands, they captured the Port of Brill, and the Revolt of the Netherlands began.
-Elizabeth, despite calls from Dudley, was unwilling to give aid to rebels.
-However, when France sent an army, in support of the rebels, under the Huguenot leader, Coligny, she retaliated.
-To prevent Flushing falling into French hands, she sent a volunteer force under Sir Humphrey Gilbert, but ensured the continuation of positive French relations, despite the 1572 St. Barts Day Massacre.
Mid: Was Elizabeth’s policy of harrassment successful? What did it lead to in 1574?
-Fairly, as it was indirect enough to avoid the outbreak of war, but also irritated Spain, forcing them to make some concessions in her favour.
-The trade embargo between Spain and England was therefore lifted, with the two states signing the Convention of Bristol.
-This convention ended the bullion dispute, banishing English rebels from the Netherlands and allowing English merhcants in the Netherlands to practice Protestantism.
-Also, Alva was replaced with the more moderate, de Requesens.
Mid: Why was the situation in the Netherlands destabilised in 1576? What was the Pacification of Ghent? What did Elizabeth do?
-The Spanish Fury, a mutiny of the Spanish army, took place, and all 17 Dutch provinces were united in open rebellion against Spain.
-Under the Pacification of Ghent, the Dutch Estates-General called for the expulsion of all foreign troops and the restoration of traditional liberties.
-She loaned the Dutch Estates-General £100,000 and agreed to send forces to the Netherlands.
-She also warned Henry III that if he intervened in France, she would use force against him.
Mid: How did Spain retaliate in 1577? How did Elizabeth react?
-Don Juan of Austria arrived with a new Spanish army.
-Elizabeth warned Philip that he must accept the PoG, and recall Don Juan, but he did neither.
-Elizabeth therefore, avoiding war with France, financed a mercenary force under John Cashmir.
-Also, Elizabeth financed Drake’s circumnavigtion!
Mid: Did France listen to Liz’s warning? What heppened in Scotland?
-In 1578, the Catholic Duke of Alencon signed an allaince with the Estates-General, and William of Orange. He then intervened in the Netherlands, ignoring Liz’s threat.
-James VI became King in Scotland, but he fell under the influence of Esme Stuart, an agent of the Guise family.
-A plot to invade England was drawn up, but it was uncovered by Walsingham.
Mid: What happened in the Netherlands in 1579? What did Liz do? What did Drake do?
-The Duke of Parma, the new Spanish commaner, had made considerable headway, and Alencon withdrew his forces.
-The southern Netherlands had made peace with Parma.
-Elizabeth still refused to openly intervene against Spain, and ignored her councillor’s wishes, though thousands of English volunteers went to the Netherlands.
-Instead, she resumed her courtship with Alencon, to keep his campaign within acceptable limits, controlling Spain without conquering the Netherlands.
-Drake captured the Spanish ship, the Cacafuego, earning £140,000.
Mid: What did Spain do in 1580 that was particularly worrying? What did Elizabeth do?
-Philip gained the Kingdom of Portugal, uniting the two wealthiest oceanic empires, and providing Philip with a navy almost matching the size of England’s.
-She was still reluctant to openly fight Spain, and instead sent Alencon £100,000 to help him revive his campaign in the Netherlands.
Mid: How was the Anglo-Scottish relationship by 1582?
-Esme Stuart had been overthrown by Scottish Lords, and Elizabeth seized the opportunity to strenghten realtions.
-Based on common religion, and James’ claim to the English throne, the 1586 Treaty of Berwick assured the end of hostilities.
Mid: What happened in 1583 that worsened relations with Spain?
-Philip had ordered the construction of a large navy.
-De Mendoza, the Spanish ambassador, involved himself in the Throckmorton Plot. He was expelled from England the following year for his part.
-Parma was able to reconquer most Brabant and Flanders, strengthening Spain’s control in the Netherlands.
-Alecon withdrew fro the Netherlands, and died 12 months later. This meant that Elizabeth had lost her leverage.
Mid: What was the situation with Spain by 1584?
-William of Orange was assassinated. The rebels had therefore lost their leaader, and Spanish victory was now almost certain.
-Alencon’s death meant that Henry of Navarre, a Protestant, was now the heir to the French throne. To prevent this, the Catholic League was established by French Catholics.
-Philip agreed to help them, in secret, under the Treaty of Joinville.
-Relations were therefore very poor, and England was under immense threat, having helped Dutch rebels & alienated Spain/France.
Late: What was signed in 1585? What did this mean?
-Elizabeth knew the rebels were not powerful enough to defeat Spain alone, but she feared that complete Spanish takeover would simply lead to an invasion of England.
-The Treaty of Nonsuch was signed, sending 7000 troops to help rebels. This was the first time that she had openly aided rebels, as previous troops had been voluntary.
-England were now essentially fighting a war with Spain on four fronts: Netherlands, New World, Channel, and in France.
Late: Oultine events in European waters, 1587-1598.
-1587: Drake sails into Cadiz harbour, and ‘singes the King’s beard’, sinking 30 Spanish ships.
-1588: 130 Spanish ships carrying 17,000 meet with the Spanish army, and the Armada is launched. The English use fireships to scatter the Spanish fleet, and they are defeated at Gravelines. Less than half the ships return to Spain.
1589: Drake leads a naval counter-attack. Liz wants him to destroy the remaining Armada fleet, but Drake wants to help Don Antonio regain Portugal. He launches an attack on Lisbon, which fails.
-1596: 17 naval ships & 47 warships sack Cadiz & capture treasure ships, costing Philip 12m ducats.
-1596-8: Two more armadas are launched, but fail due to storms.
Late: Outline the war in the New World, 1585-1595.
-1585: Drake attacks Spanish shipping in the New World.
-1586: Drake misses Spanish silver fleets, and, although he sacked Santo Domingo, loses £5000.
-1587: After Cadiz, Drake capture the Portuguese ship, San Felipe, returning with £140,000.
-1592: Capture of the Spanish bullion ship, Madre de Dios in the East Indies means a return of £80,000 on Elizabeth’s initial £3,000.
-1595: Drake and Hawkins launch a joint attack. Howver, Hawkins dies at sea, and Drake was defeated by Spain’s defensive measures in Panama, dying of dysentry at Porto Bello.
Late: Detail the war with France, 1589-98.
-1589: Henry III is murdered. Henry of Navarre becomes King of France. France is plunged into civil war w/ Catholic League, and Henry IV appeals to E. She sends a loan of £20,000, and 4,000 men under Willoughby.
-Channel defences are also threatened when Parma arrived in Paris, and a second Spanish fleet in Brittany
-1591: Force, under Sir John Norris is sent to Brittany, but they are defeated at Craon in 1592.
-1593: Henry IV converts to Catholicism.
-1594: Spaniards attempt to capture Brest. Elizabeth sends an expedition of 8 warships & 4000 men to combat Spain.
-1598: France & Spain agree peace, and Liz now has an ally on the French throne.
Late: What happened on Willoughby’s expedition to France?
-1589, Willoughby is sent with a force to prevent Philip from seiqzing the Normandy Channel ports.
-However, Henry IV sent a message saying that help was no longer needed, and he was ordered to stay in Dover.
-Willoughby ignored this order, and led a 10-week expedition.
-They met the enemy 5 times, and were even attacked by French populace.
-Less than half the original foce returned to England by December.
-Key example of Liz being ignored!
