Elizabeth I Foreign Policy Notes
Main Aims:
- Solve the religious issues - this will keep society in order
- Succession - this will make your dynasty secure.
- Good Foreign Policy - this will lead to a strong economy →from HVII
Elizabeth’s Foreign Policy can be viewed as successful, as for most of her reign England was at
peace and it was only from the 1580s that there was tensions- Spain and only one major battle-
Spanish Armada.
Succession and Marriage
- Foreign policy is woven throughout other issues, such as succession.
- Elizabeth was expected to marry, however Elizabeth did not want to make the same
mistake as her sister - married Philip II which dragged England into the European power
struggles - wars are very expensive.
- Elizabeth the marriage tool to gain favour from other countries - Sweden, France and
Spain - until 1570s after Elizabeth went past child bearing age.
- The fact that Elizabeth did not marry left Elizabeth vulnerable - caught Smallpox in 1562
her ministers thought that she could die
- No heir to the throne apart from Mary Queen of Scots - issue with religion and with Spain
Dates
Year Events
1559 - England represented as ally of Spain at peace conference
- French refuse to return Calais due to treaty with Mary I saying they
would hold it for 8 years
- Philip married Henry’s daughter
- Henry died in tournament
1562 - French wars of religion begin
- Calvinism spreads through Netherlands
- Spanish treatment of Netherlands as province of Spain increasingly
causes anger
1563 - Trade embargo declared between Netherlands and England
1570-71 - Marriage negotiations between E and Duke of Anjou
1572 - Religious conflict in France
- Elizabeth allowed Huguenots to use England as base and english
protestants to give munitions
- Explosion of sea beggars by Elizabeth leads to Dutch Revolt
- Dutch refugees allowed to come to England and english people to join
sea beggars
, - Sir Humphrey Gilbert with volunteer army sent to protect Flushing from
French army
1573 - Liz continues to aid the Dutch rebels unofficially, sending money and
volunteers.
- Policy did have some successes as it was indirect enough to not cause
conflict with Spain but irritating enough to cause Spain to make
concessions.
1574 - Trade embargo spain - england lifted → Convention of Bristol settles
bullion dispute, banishes english rebels from netherlands and allows
english merchants in Netherlands to practise their beliefs
- Spain rejects discussion of its rule over Netherlands but Alva is replaced
by more moderate de Requesens
- Treat of Blois renewed
1576 - The Spanish Fury - spanish army mutiny culminates in Sack of Antwerp
- unites all dutch provinces in rebellion regardless of religion
- Pacification of Ghent - the Dutch Estates General calls for expulsion of
foreign troops and restoration of trad liberties
- Liz loans DEG £100,000 and agrees to send expeditionary force to
Netherlands
- Warns HIII (France) that she will act against France
1577 - Don Juan of Austria → reconquest of Netherlands
- 1000s english volunteers to Netherlands
- Liz tells Philip he must accept PoG and recall Don Juan
- Instead of all out war with Spain, Elizabeth finances mercenary force
under Casimir
- Liz authorises Drake’s circumnavigation of globe
1578 - French, Catholic Duke of Alencon signs alliance with Estates-General
and William, prince of Orange and intervenes in Netherlands
- James VI under the influence of an agent of the Guise family (Esmé
Stuart). Invasion plot drawn up by Stuart but discovered by Walsingham
1579 - Duke of Parma, spanish commander, has success in netherlands
- Alencon withdraws forces
- Southern Netherlands makes peace with Parma
- Despite Council, Liz is cautious, working to limit Alencon’s Dutch
campaigns by resuming courtship (english people against marriage)
- In this time Hawkins builds navy
- Alencon erratic →personal limitation effects whole operation
- Liz still won’t wage war against Spain
, 1580 - Philip gains Portugal, uniting two wealthiest sea empires with navy
competitive with England’s
- Liz sends Alencon £100,000 for campaign
- Pro-english scottish regent executed and replaced by Ésme Stuart, Earl
of Lennox
1582 - Scottish Lords overthrow Esmé (now Earl of Lennox) and Liz’s agents
work to establish alliance with Scotland
- Understanding made with James based on J wanting to inherit and
shared religion →eventually Treaty of Berwick 1586
1583 - Philip orders construction of large navy
- Spanish ambassador involved in Throckmorton
- Parma reconquers most of Brabant and Flanders
- Alencon withdraws from Netherlands and dies a year later
1584 - Spanish ambassador expelled
- William of Orange assassinated
- Leading French catholics form a catholic league as following Alencon’s
death heir to french throne is protestant Henry of Navarre
- Philip promises french league support under secret Treaty of Joinville
1585 - Treaty of Nonsuch
- Drake + 29 ships sack Cartagena and Santiago
1586 - Treaty of Berwick
1587 - Singing of the King’s Beard at Cadiz
- Drake captures Portuguese treasure fleet at Azores
1588 - Defeat of Armada
1589 - Massive but ineffective expedition under Drake
- Henry III assassinated
1590 - Henry IV defeats catholic league at Battle of Ivry
- Philip renews treaty with Catholic League and send 3000 men to
Brittany
1591 - E sends army to Brittany under Sir John Norreys
- E sends army to Normandy under Essex
1593 - H IV and Catholic League make peace
1595 - Failure of Hawkins and Drake to attack Panama
1596 - Lord Howard of Effingham and Essex sack Cadiz
- Philip launches second Armada but destroyed by weather
Main Aims:
- Solve the religious issues - this will keep society in order
- Succession - this will make your dynasty secure.
- Good Foreign Policy - this will lead to a strong economy →from HVII
Elizabeth’s Foreign Policy can be viewed as successful, as for most of her reign England was at
peace and it was only from the 1580s that there was tensions- Spain and only one major battle-
Spanish Armada.
Succession and Marriage
- Foreign policy is woven throughout other issues, such as succession.
- Elizabeth was expected to marry, however Elizabeth did not want to make the same
mistake as her sister - married Philip II which dragged England into the European power
struggles - wars are very expensive.
- Elizabeth the marriage tool to gain favour from other countries - Sweden, France and
Spain - until 1570s after Elizabeth went past child bearing age.
- The fact that Elizabeth did not marry left Elizabeth vulnerable - caught Smallpox in 1562
her ministers thought that she could die
- No heir to the throne apart from Mary Queen of Scots - issue with religion and with Spain
Dates
Year Events
1559 - England represented as ally of Spain at peace conference
- French refuse to return Calais due to treaty with Mary I saying they
would hold it for 8 years
- Philip married Henry’s daughter
- Henry died in tournament
1562 - French wars of religion begin
- Calvinism spreads through Netherlands
- Spanish treatment of Netherlands as province of Spain increasingly
causes anger
1563 - Trade embargo declared between Netherlands and England
1570-71 - Marriage negotiations between E and Duke of Anjou
1572 - Religious conflict in France
- Elizabeth allowed Huguenots to use England as base and english
protestants to give munitions
- Explosion of sea beggars by Elizabeth leads to Dutch Revolt
- Dutch refugees allowed to come to England and english people to join
sea beggars
, - Sir Humphrey Gilbert with volunteer army sent to protect Flushing from
French army
1573 - Liz continues to aid the Dutch rebels unofficially, sending money and
volunteers.
- Policy did have some successes as it was indirect enough to not cause
conflict with Spain but irritating enough to cause Spain to make
concessions.
1574 - Trade embargo spain - england lifted → Convention of Bristol settles
bullion dispute, banishes english rebels from netherlands and allows
english merchants in Netherlands to practise their beliefs
- Spain rejects discussion of its rule over Netherlands but Alva is replaced
by more moderate de Requesens
- Treat of Blois renewed
1576 - The Spanish Fury - spanish army mutiny culminates in Sack of Antwerp
- unites all dutch provinces in rebellion regardless of religion
- Pacification of Ghent - the Dutch Estates General calls for expulsion of
foreign troops and restoration of trad liberties
- Liz loans DEG £100,000 and agrees to send expeditionary force to
Netherlands
- Warns HIII (France) that she will act against France
1577 - Don Juan of Austria → reconquest of Netherlands
- 1000s english volunteers to Netherlands
- Liz tells Philip he must accept PoG and recall Don Juan
- Instead of all out war with Spain, Elizabeth finances mercenary force
under Casimir
- Liz authorises Drake’s circumnavigation of globe
1578 - French, Catholic Duke of Alencon signs alliance with Estates-General
and William, prince of Orange and intervenes in Netherlands
- James VI under the influence of an agent of the Guise family (Esmé
Stuart). Invasion plot drawn up by Stuart but discovered by Walsingham
1579 - Duke of Parma, spanish commander, has success in netherlands
- Alencon withdraws forces
- Southern Netherlands makes peace with Parma
- Despite Council, Liz is cautious, working to limit Alencon’s Dutch
campaigns by resuming courtship (english people against marriage)
- In this time Hawkins builds navy
- Alencon erratic →personal limitation effects whole operation
- Liz still won’t wage war against Spain
, 1580 - Philip gains Portugal, uniting two wealthiest sea empires with navy
competitive with England’s
- Liz sends Alencon £100,000 for campaign
- Pro-english scottish regent executed and replaced by Ésme Stuart, Earl
of Lennox
1582 - Scottish Lords overthrow Esmé (now Earl of Lennox) and Liz’s agents
work to establish alliance with Scotland
- Understanding made with James based on J wanting to inherit and
shared religion →eventually Treaty of Berwick 1586
1583 - Philip orders construction of large navy
- Spanish ambassador involved in Throckmorton
- Parma reconquers most of Brabant and Flanders
- Alencon withdraws from Netherlands and dies a year later
1584 - Spanish ambassador expelled
- William of Orange assassinated
- Leading French catholics form a catholic league as following Alencon’s
death heir to french throne is protestant Henry of Navarre
- Philip promises french league support under secret Treaty of Joinville
1585 - Treaty of Nonsuch
- Drake + 29 ships sack Cartagena and Santiago
1586 - Treaty of Berwick
1587 - Singing of the King’s Beard at Cadiz
- Drake captures Portuguese treasure fleet at Azores
1588 - Defeat of Armada
1589 - Massive but ineffective expedition under Drake
- Henry III assassinated
1590 - Henry IV defeats catholic league at Battle of Ivry
- Philip renews treaty with Catholic League and send 3000 men to
Brittany
1591 - E sends army to Brittany under Sir John Norreys
- E sends army to Normandy under Essex
1593 - H IV and Catholic League make peace
1595 - Failure of Hawkins and Drake to attack Panama
1596 - Lord Howard of Effingham and Essex sack Cadiz
- Philip launches second Armada but destroyed by weather
