Elizabeth’s Foreign Policy
Elizabeth’s Foreign Policy
1560-1572
Introduction
• Important questions:
 Did Elizabeth have a foreign policy?
 Was she reacting to safeguard England’s
national interests?
What Shaped Foreign Policy?
Resources
Manpower
Ships
Munitions
England’s Traditional Alliances
Spain
(friend)
France
(foe)
• England & Spain allies despite their religious
differences.
• France’s geographical proximity made it the
greatest threat.
What Determines
Foreign Policy?
Personality
of the
Monarch
Priorities
of the
Monarch
• But subject to change.
• Elizabeth had TWO major priorities.
1. To secure trade access through Antwerp.
2. To secure England’s national interests against
Spain, France and Scotland.
Facts on Elizabeth’s Foreign Policy
• For the first 20 years it was linked to the
question of marriage & succession.
Major Influences
Privy
Council
William
Cecil
Leading
Foreign
Men
Ambassadors
• Relied on all for advice. Cecil was the most
influential.
Limitations on Elizabeth’s Foreign Policy
• Couldn’t wage a prolonged war in Europe.
• Smaller population.
• Less financial resources.
 The loss of Calais and England’s failure
to conquer Scotland was proof of it’s
inability to fight a prolonged war.
• England’s navy and militia’s role was primarily
defensive.
The Situation in 1558
• Events at home and abroad determined and
shaped Elizabeth’s foreign policy.
In England
• Expectation for Elizabeth to right the wrongs of
Mary’s reign.
 To unify England after years of division.
 To rebuild England’s run down navy.
In Europe
• Catholicism was a unifying force in Europe.
• Protestantism had ended that unity.
European Opponents of Protestantism
Pope
Spain
France
 All were committed to achieving a
Counter-Reformation!
Spain
• Philip II rule was extensive.
• As ‘Most Catholic King’ he saw himself as the
Protector of Catholicism.
• Spain had several advantages over England:
 THREE times the POPULATION.
 GREAT WEALTH from the NEW WORLD.
• Spain had a fear of France.
• Alliance with England to neutralize French threat.
Elizabeth’s Greatest Fear
• Spain and France would unite against England.
• In the past she had been able to play one off
against the other.
 In 1559 Spain, France and England signed
the Treaty of Cateau-Cambresis. Spain and
France were now friends and Elizabeth’s
worst fears were realised.
France
• England’s traditional enemy.
 FOUR times the POPULATION.
The French Threat
Geographical
Proximity
Alliance with
Scotland
Mary’s claim
to English
throne
• Rome support Mary Stuarts claim the throne.
Elizabeth’s Concern
• Mary Stuart’s husband Francis II was a puppet
King of Mary’s uncles the Guise brothers.
They
wanted….
 Mary Guise restored to the Scottish throne.
 Mary Stuart on the English throne.
 The Treaty of Cateau-Cambresis and papal
support against Elizabeth made this threat
a distinct possibility.
Scotland
• In 1558 was ruled by Mary Guise on behalf of
her daughter Mary Stuart.
Elizabeth’s Concern
• Influence of French.
• Geographical proximity made it a threat.
 Elizabeth welcomed and supported a
rebellion led by Scottish Protestants against
Mary of Guise.
The
Main Features
of
Elizabeth’s Foreign Policy
Intervention in Scotland
• Elizabeth feared a French and Catholic crusade
being launched from Scotland and Ireland.
• Wanted to reduce French influence.
• Cecil threatens to resign if Elizabeth doesn’t
intervene in Scotland.
Treaty of Berwick
1560
• Elizabeth pledges support to Scottish nobles
against the French.
Treaty of Edinburgh
1560
• French agree to withdraw from Scotland.
• New government formed under Lord James
Stuart.
Result
• Cecil’s policies prove successful.
• Threat of France resolved without war.
• Elizabeth seen as Protectress of Protestant
rebels, a role that would upset Spain and France.
The War with Spain
Elizabeth had successfully kept the peace
with France but Spain was angered by the
execution of Mary.
Points of Conflict
•Colonialism and piracy
•England’s assistance to Netherlands, 1585
– 86.
The Naval War 1585 - 86
• Phillip seizes English ships in Spanish ports
• Drake sacks Cape Verde Island, Sanio
Domingo, Cartagenea
• Spanish shipping devastated, English
supremacy at sea underlined.
The Spanish Armada 1587 - 88
• Attempts at assassination had failed, the sea
war had been lost, only a land war could
succeed.
• Catholic countries supplied ships and troops
• Elizabeth became aware of Armada plans, sent
Drake in. 1587 Drake attacked Spanish fleet at
Cadiz – delayed the invasion for at least a year.
Counter
Reformation
impossible
Increased
English
colonialism
at American
colonies
Anglican
church
secure
Effects
of
Defeat
English
nationalism
advances
English
power and
influence
increase
No Catholic
heir to
throne
Elizabeth's
prestige
increased
IRELAND
Although Ireland was one of her two kingdoms, Elizabeth faced a hostile—
and in places virtually autonomous Catholic population that was willing to
plot with her enemies.
Policy
•grant land to her courtiers
•Prevent Spain a base
•scorched-earth tactics, burning the land and slaughtering man, woman and
child.
"that rude and barbarous nation”
•Tyrone's Rebellion, or the Nine Years War. Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone,
was backed by Spain. 1599, sent Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex made
little progress and returned to England without permission. Charles Blount,
Lord Mountjoy, three years to defeat the rebels.
•O'Neill finally surrendered in 1603, a few days after Elizabeth's death.
Stephen Ellis (1985) The Tudor achievement in
Ireland remains distinctly unimpressive.
Considerations
Concerns in Ireland did not receive the urgent
attention which characterised Elizabeth’s dealings
with mainstream issues.
A drain on resources
A volatile situation, clearly periods where English
rule broke down.
Results
Individual policies were workable but none were
given time, effort or resources.
Inconsistently applied goals, and as a result
Ireland simply entered another unhappy
relationship with England.
Was Elizabeth’s
Foreign Policy
Successful?
• Historians agree war with Spain inevitable .
• Not able to authorize full scale attack and
preferred to send limited aid through her allies.
Considerations
• 1570s: aim was to avoid war with Spain but by
the 1580s couldn’t.
• England a second rate power went to war against
Europe's strongest military power.
• War not a success because of its length & cost.
• Defeat of Armada due to external
factors(Storm).
Defending Elizabeth
• Could not have anticipated events of 1580s.
 Philip’s acquisition of Portugal.
 Murder of Henry III.
 Assassination of William of Orange.
 Accession of Henry V! to throne of France.
• Concerned that defeat of Spain would open the
way for French expansionism.
• Elizabeth wanted to maintain the balance of
power between Spain and France.
• Elizabeth’s foreign policy deemed a success!.