The Triumph of Elizabeth, 1563-1603: Foreign Affairs - Relations with Spain, the Netherlands

Question 1

Outline the main events in the Netherlands

Answer 1

• 1572
- Elizabeth expels Sea Beggars and their landing in Netherlands sparked revolt

• 1576
- Rebellion spreads to all provinces of Netherlands
- Pacification of Ghent

• Rebels split

• 1579
- Union of Arras make peace with Spain
- Duke of Parma begins reconquest of northern provinces

• 1585
- Treaty of Nonsuch between Elizabeth and Union of Utrecht

• 1589
- Sir Francis Vere made commander of English forces, forms good relationship with Dutch leader, Maurice of Nassau

• 1594
- Spanish expelled from all northern Netherlands

Question 2

Who were the Sea Beggars?

Answer 2

• Dutch Calvinist pirates
• Led by William of Orange

Question 3

When did Elizabeth expel the Sea Beggars from English ports?

Answer 3

• 1572

Question 4

What happened after Elizabeth expelled the Sea Beggars?

Answer 4

• Sea Beggars land in Netherlands and were unchecked by Spanish garrison there
• Rebels start revolt against high taxation and Spanish rule

Question 5

When did all of the provinces in the Netherlands revolt and what did they produce as a result?

Answer 5

• 1576
• Pacification of Ghent
• Called for expulsion of all foreign troops and restoration of provinces’ autonomy

Question 6

Did the provinces successfully work together?

Answer 6

• Provinces became divided and led to two separate groups
• Union of Utrecht - largely northern and Protestant
• Union of Arras - largely southern and Catholic

Question 7

When did the Union of Arras make peace with Spain? What were the outcomes of this agreement?

Answer 7

• 1579
• Duke of Parma becomes new governor-general
• Reconquest of northern provinces begins

Question 8

How did Anglo-Spanish tensions deepen during the conflict?

Answer 8

• Elizabeth briefly considered marrying French Duke of Anjou - he considered invading Netherlands to rid of Spanish
• Elizabeth knights Francis Drake who circumnavigated globe
• Elizabeth supports Portuguese pretender, Don Antonio - Spain annexed Portugal in 1580

Question 9

How successful was Parma’s reconquest of the north by 1580?

Answer 9

• Only Holland and Zeeland left in Protestant hands

Question 10

When was the Treaty of Nonsuch made? What were its outcomes?

Answer 10

• 1585
• Between Elizabeth and Union of Utrecht
• Elizabeth pays for 6400 infantry and 1000 cavalry under Robert Dudley’s (Earl of Leicester) command

Question 11

How many infantry and cavalry were agreed to be given to the Dutch in the Treaty of Nonsuch?

Answer 11

• 6400 infantry
• 1000 cavalry

Question 12

Was the Earl of Leicester’s invasion successful?

Answer 12

• No
• Soldiers badly paid, prepared and disciplined
• Officers, Stanley and Yorke, deserted and joined Spanish
• Leicester quarrelled with Dutch

Question 13

Who was made commander of the English after the Earl of Leicester? When were they made commander? Which Dutch leader did he form a positive relationship with?

Answer 13

• Sir Francis Vere
• 1589
• Maurice of Nassau

Question 14

By what year had all the Spanish been expelled from the northern Netherlands?

Answer 14

• 1594

Question 15

What were the outcomes of the Dutch revolt?

Answer 15

• Northern Netherlands became an independent state
• Southern Netherlands still under Spanish control, but gained some autonomy
• No major foreign power established in the Netherlands