Elizabeth’s Foreign Affairs
Date Event Details Did it help Elizabeth to achieve her aims?
• To secure England’s borders
• To remain a stable part of Europe
• To maintain her religious settlement on an
international stage
1559 Mary of Guise had been The French Mary of Guise had It secured her northern border as she no
deposed been deposed as the regent of longer had a Catholic threat from the
Scotland by the Protestant Lords north. However Elizabeth did not have to
act against Scotland, which is good
because it didn't involve her in a conflict
with France.
Treaty of Cateau- French-Spanish peace treaty. This means that there is peace amongst the
Camberesis major catholic forces in Europe, which
means that Elizabeth’s stability in Europe
in question.
1560 Treaty of Berwick Cecil persuaded Elizabeth to help It helped her to further secure Scotland as
the Scottish Protestants as he was a friendly country but it also alienated the
fearful of the French in Scotland, French, meaning that she was
so much so that he threatened to internationally less stable. Also by aiding
resign. The treaty was Elizabeths the protestant rebels she became an enemy
agreement to support the Scottish to other Catholic powers with Protestants,
Protestants full. This was despite i.e. Spain
Elizabeth’s dislike of aiding
rebels.
Treaty of Edinburgh Treaty in which the French Eliminated the Scottish problem and
agreed to withdraw form replaced it with a friendly government.
Scotland and a new Protestant
government was established
under Lord James Stuart, Mary
Queen of Scots illegitimate half
brother.
1562 Hawkins slaving voyage Hawkins goes on his first voyage This voyage allowed for the greater
to Africa, funded by a syndicate expansion of the Empire and Elizabeth’s
including Elizabeth and Cecil power. This would make her a strong and
stable player in Europe, as it meant she
would firmly challenge Spain’s monopoly
in the Americas, as they had already
conquered Mexico, Chile, Peru, and the
Caribbean by 1550.
Treaty of Hampton Offered military and financial aid This would have helped her to maintain
Court to the Protestant Huguenots in her religion on an international stage by
France, against the Catholic showing support for protestant forces.
Guises. France united under the Catholic Guises
would have been a bigger threat to
England, as they may have tried to retake
Scotland. In doing this Elizabeth assured
her position on the international stage and
her domestic borders.
, Elizabeth’s Foreign Affairs
Date Event Details Did it help Elizabeth to achieve her aims?
• To secure England’s borders
• To remain a stable part of Europe
• To maintain her religious settlement on an
international stage
1563 Granvelle bans all Granvelle was Philip’s chief It meant that Elizabeth’s economy was now
English trade to the minister in the Netherlands. The very fragile as England’s main source of
Netherlands Spanish claim it was because of trade as through the Netherlands. This
an outbreak of the plague but tested the stability of her place in Europe
actually it was because they and, because of the religious motivations
feared the state sponsored spread behind the ban, began to question her
of Protestantism religious settlement. However, this shift in
trade lead her to seek newer markets in the
New World, which would decrease her
dependence on Spain and increase
England’s economic stability.
1564 Treaty of Troyes Peace treaty after the English and Made Elizabeth seem weak, as the English
the Huguenots were defeated. Monarchy had now lost all claim to the
Elizabeth gave Calais formally to throne of France. It also meant a unified
the French. and anti-English France. This ultimately
made Elizabeth’s position in Europe less
stable and there was also the chance, due
to the animosity, that the Catholic French
would be willing to aid in Scotland, which
would jeopardise the security of England’s
northern border.
1567 Philip suppresses After Calvinist riots in the This is negative for Elizabeth because
heretics Netherlands, after a brief period Spain are taking a strong grip on the
of acceptance, Philip sends the Netherlands again, which is neither good
Spanish army to crush the rebels. for trade or security due to the trade links
Elizabeth refused to take with the textiles industry or the proximity
Protestant rebels fleeing to By not taking in the rebels she did
England because she didn't want somewhat reduce her status as the
to be seen as the protector of Protectress of Protestantism. This
rebels. decreased her religious status amongst
protestants on the international level, but it
also mean she maintained some level of
security with some Catholic countries, as
they were less likely to be hostile towards
her. Also, by not accepting the rebels, she
made it clear that she did not think that
rebellion against the crown was legitimate.
