Elizabeth's Foreign Policy

Question 1

Situation in Scotland in 1558

Answer 1

Mary Queen of Scots is currently in France, her mother Mary of Guise is ruling in her place however, the scottish Lords do no like this
Following the death of Henry II, the protestant scottish Lords begin to rebel against the Guise family- they looked to the south for support

Question 2

Situation in France in 1558

Answer 2

Auld alliance is strengthened since MQS is married to Francis Valois, the Hapsburg-Valois conflict is still ongoing
Traditional enemy of England

Question 3

Situations in Germany, the Netherlands and Italy in 1558

Answer 3

Germany- very protestant
Netherlands- under Spanish control
Italy- Pope lives there, central point in Hapsburg-Valois conflict

Question 4

Situation in Spain in 1558

Answer 4

Phillip of Spain is ruling, ex-husband of Mary who is a very powerful catholic and is continually making conquests in the new world
Proposal to Elizabeth is rejected but no hard feelings

Question 5

Treaty of Cateau-Cambresis

Answer 5

1559
Spain + France
ends the long struggle between the countries in which Spain is given dominance in Italy
England is represented as an ally of Spain in this treaty

Question 6

French wars of religion

Answer 6

began in 1562
constant flip flop between catholic and protestant rulers
Huguenots are French protestants

Question 7

how were England involved in the French religious wars

Answer 7

In 1562, Elizabeth (encouraged by Leicester) decides to help the Huguenots in exchange for the port of Le Havre
If protestants succeeded in the civil war, Elizabeth hoped to negotiate for Calais
However, the catholics and Huguenots made peace and her plan fell through

Question 8

Treaty of Troyes

Answer 8

1564
treaty signed with France to end Liz’s involvement, firmly stated that Calais was French
Liz’s actions only proved to annoy Phillip

Question 9

Elizabeth and Anjou

Answer 9

Elizabeth promises her hand to the duke of Anjou (protestant) in 1579 as well as £60,000 this eventually came to nothing

Question 10

Pros and Cons of Phillip of Spain as a suitor

Answer 10

Pros: King of Spain, lots of land and money in europe and the new world
Cons: defender of the (catholic) faith
Had previously ruled England via Mary and was unpopular
foreign

Question 11

Pros and Cons of Robert Dudley as a suitor

Answer 11

Pros: Earl of Leicester, English, protestant, rich, childhood friend (loyal)
Cons: Widowed in suspicious circumstances (pushed wife down stairs)
Cecil was not a fan, beneath Liz socially

Question 12

Pros and Cons of Erik of Sweden as a suitor

Answer 12

Pros: Protestant, popular with the people, had the right status, easiest political choice
Cons: Poor, not a strong alliance

Question 13

Pros and Cons of Duke of Alencon as a suitor

Answer 13

Later duke of Anjou
Pros: very wealthy, brother of the French King, alliance with France, big age gap (20+ years)
Cons: turned catholic, not strong in france

Question 14

Pros and Cons of William of Orange as a suitor

Answer 14

Pros: protestant, wealthy, son of the queen of Holland (status)
Cons: Dutch, fighting a war with Spain, take power from Liz

Question 15

The Lords of Congregation

Answer 15

the protestant scottish lords

Question 16

treaty of Edinbrugh

Answer 16

1560, the french leave Scotland

Question 17

MQS arrival in scotland

Answer 17

1561
she is catholic but remains indifferent to the protestant lords

Question 18

MQS was a threat

Answer 18

Mary was a legitimate catholic heir who wanted to be recognised as Liz’s successor
Figure head of Catholicism
Civil relationship later turns sour when Liz suggests marriage to Dudley- Mary is insulted
Even after Mary is under house arrest in England and has lost scottish support, she is involved in all 3 plots against the queen (Ridolfi, Throckmorton and Babinton)

Question 19

MQS and her 2nd husband

Answer 19

Lord Darnley, Scottish
Makes Mary more powerful
Gives birth to son James
Hates her husband and is rumoured to of help his murderer Lord Bothwell (whom she later married)

Question 20

MQS abdication

Answer 20

1567
Forced by the Lord of Congregation
Flees to England where she is put under house arrest

Question 21

MQS was not a threat

Answer 21

Originally has a good relationship with Elizabeth- both Queen Regents
Cecil is sooo against Mary she would never be heir
Liz is very elusive with Mary and refuses to meet her in person
Scottish Lords do not like Darnley and following his death and Mary’s marriage to Bothwell she looses Scottish support
Forced to abdicate

Question 22

Execution of MQS

Answer 22

1587
Much deliberation from Liz who claimed she “didn’t know” it was the death warrant she signed as it was mixed with other papers- probs because she felt guilty for killing her cousin (like 4th removed though)

Question 23

Ridolfi Plot

Answer 23

1571
Norfolk, Pope, Spain
Uncovered by Cecil
Aim to restore catholicism and overthrown Liz
Impact- made relations with Spain worse, Norfolk was executed and many catholic priests were raided and arrested

Question 24

Throckmorton Plot

Answer 24

1583
MQS, French + Spanish ambassadors
Aims- invade England and free Mary, Pope and Phillip approved, Walsingham discovered
Impact- Throckmorton executed, life harder for Catholics, law in 1585

Question 25

Babington Plot

Answer 25

1586
MQS, France, Phillip + Pope approval
Aims- France invade and put Mary on the throne, assassinate Liz, Walsingham discovered
Impact- Babington hanged, drawn and quartered, MQS is tried for treason and executed, Mass arrest of catholics, Anglo-Spanish relations are ruined

Question 26

how dangerous were the plots against elizabeth?

Answer 26

significantly, all plots involved a foreign power who was catholic and willing to help
If these plots worked, MQS had divine right to take the English throne

Question 27

Which nation was England at war with in the latter part of Elizabeth’s reign

Answer 27

Spain
Foreign policy between 1580-1603 was dominated by Spain which eventually led to the Anglo-Spanish war 1585-1604

Question 28

Spanish Ambassadors in England

Answer 28

De Spes and Mendoza, both were expelled from England after being found involved in plots (Ridolfi and Throckmorton respectively)

Question 29

Treaty of Joinville

Answer 29

1584
Spanish x French catholics

Question 30

Religious differences between Spain and England

Answer 30

Phillip protests about Liz’s support of Huguenots, this causes her to withhold her troops from joining the rebels
Pope excommunicates Elizabeth in 1570 however Phillip was angry at this decision and refused to have Papal bulls published in her territory
De Spes encourages the Norther Earls to revolt in 1569
Treaty of Joinville

Question 31

Trade/Exploration tensions between the English and Spain

Answer 31

Elizabeth seizes spanish money, 1568, from a bullion headed for Alba, this caused a ban on all trade with the Netherlands until 1573
Prior to this in 1563, Phillips government ban all imports of English cloth to the netherlands- Liz similarly bans all imports from there (resumed a year later)
1568- A spanish ship attack John Hawkins fleet as it was trespassing on spanish monopoly of the transatlantic slave trade- first sign of major issues
1580- Phillip inherits the Portuguese crown and thus overseas territories- big win for Spain

Question 32

Diplomacy issues with Spain

Answer 32

Spain send hard-line ambassador to England (De Spes) in 1568- he is expelled following ridolfi
In 1570 Liz considers marriage to Duke of Anjou in order to prevent a french-spanish alliance against her
Instead of this, the treaty of Blois is signed
In 1579 the Netherlands scene changes as a new spanish commander (Duke of Parma) begins to recover land lost to rebels - increases the possibility of a spanish invasion

Question 33

Treaty of Blois

Answer 33

1572
Instead of marriage, a defence alliance between England and France against Spain
ineffectual as Liz wasnt willing to commit

Question 34

The issue of the Netherlands for Spain and England

Answer 34

1566-7, revolt in the Netherlands, suppressed by Alba show England’s coast to be very defenceless
1576- Spanish Fury, leads to Liz sending financial assistance but only under pressure from Leicester
1572- civil war in the Netherlands intensifies and Spain accuses Liz of encouraging the rebels as she offered them safe harbour in English ports while allowing English volunteers to help
1581- Liz funds resistance against Parma in the Netherlands, Philip is aware and considers a serious attack
1585- Treaty of Nonsuch

Question 35

Treaty of Nonsuch

Answer 35

1585
England x Dutch Rebels
Sends Leicester with 7,000 troops
unofficial start of the Anglo-Spanish war

Question 36

Was it Religion, Trade, Exploration, the Netherlands or diplomacy that had the biggest impact on Anglo-Spanish relations

Answer 36

the netherlands
essentially a proxy war
raised loads of tensions
Taking place in the new world (privateers) and Europe (Netherlands)

Question 37

Duke Medina Sidonia

Question 38

John Hawkins

Answer 38

L

Question 39

Lord Burghley

Question 40

Philip II

Question 41

Francis Drake

Question 42

Essex

Question 43

Sir Frances Vere

Question 44

The Dutch

Answer 44

T

Question 45

The Catholic League

Question 46

Don Antonio