1. The story so far…
When Elizabeth came to the throne, England was a close ally of Spain.
Despite their religious differences, initially Philip wanted to remain Elizabeth’s ally.

2. However… Relations with Spain deteriorated for a number of reasons:
Mary, Queen of Scots
Elizabeth’s excommunication
The Netherlands

3. The Netherlands

4. Why does Spain care about the Netherlands?
Traditionally Habsburg lands
Nobles in the Netherlands had been used to some independence.
Netherlands was home to a growing number of Calvinists
Dutch rebels were challenging Spanish rule
1567: Duke of Alba sent to crush the rebellion.

5. Why does Elizabeth care about the Netherlands?

6.
Some of Elizabeth’s councillors (e.g. Leicester and Walsingham) urge Elizabeth to take military action against Spain
Elizabeth is cautious. Her privateers harass Spanish ships and allows Dutch rebels to stay in English ports.
Spain is increasingly aggressive and the Spanish ambassador is implicated in the Ridolfi and Throckmorton plots

7. The War with Spain
1584 Treaty of Joinville: Spain and French Catholics sign a treaty. Elizabeth appears surrounded!
1585 Elizabeth signs the Treaty of Nonsuch with the Dutch Rebels
Elizabeth sends 7000 troops to the Netherlands under Leicester

8. “God blew and they were scattered” So what, now what?

9. The continuing war with Spain
War continues
England is never invaded (although Spain try)
The war is still going on when Elizabeth dies
So where does the war take place?

10. Where were the main areas of war?
Netherlands
At sea/in Spanish ports
In the New World
France

11. The Netherlands
1589: Willoughby scores a victory over Spanish army in the Netherlands
1590s: English force of 8000 men help rebel leader Maurice of Nassau score victories over Spanish in Netherlands
In 1594 Dutch rebels secure the Northern part of the Netherlands and it becomes independent from Spanish control

12. At sea/in Spanish ports
1596: Burning of Cadiz
Essex wants to keep a permanent base there but is overruled
The English fail to destroy the rest of the fleet in Lisbon
October 1596: Philip sends another Armada to England, but it fails because of the weather
1597: Essex and Raleigh attempt to attack the Spanish fleet in Northern Spain. Indecisiveness, disagreements and bad weather mean they are unsuccessful.
1597: Philip tries to send an Armada for the third time. He fails.

13. What’s France got to do with it?
France was in a state of chaos
Divided between Catholics, Protestants and various factions
In 1584 Spain had signed the Treaty of Joinville with Catholic League (Guise family). See Red part of map
However, there were a significant number of Protestants (Huguenots)

14. 1589: Henry III is murdered
Henry IV comes to the throne. He is a Protestant.
This leads to civil war

15. Henry IV asks Elizabeth for help against the Catholic League
1589 Elizabeth sends Henry IV a loan of £20,000 and 4000 men under Willoughby
1590: Duke of Parma invades France from the Spanish Netherlands
1592: Elizabeth sends a English force to Normandy under Essex (who achieves nothing).
1593: Henri IV declares himself a Catholic in order to end the war

18. How successful was foreign policy 1585-1603?
War with Spain
Evidence of Success
Evidence of Failure
Overall Judgement /10
Netherlands
At Sea/New World
France
Overall

19. How successful was foreign policy 1585-1603?
War with Spain
Evidence of Success
Evidence of Failure
Overall Judgement /10
Netherlands
Willoughby a better commander than Leicester. Victories in the aftermath of the Armada. English forces help Maurice of Nassau in early 1590s. . By 1594 Northern N’lands is independent and Protestant, partly as a result of help from English.
Leicester’s expedition a disaster. Led to resentment from Dutch and no great benefit militarily. Stanley and Yorke’s desertions boosted Parma.
Expedition to Portugal 1589 is a distraction.
At Sea/New World
Led by privateers rather than the Crown – meant Eliz had to spend less money. Many made a profit. Eliz made £80,000 after seizure of Madre de Dios. Distracted the Spanish ships and cost them money.
Seizure of Cadiz in 1596 was humiliating for Philip and this stopped merchant ships from West Indies landing. Led to bankruptcy for Philip.
Not all privateers made a profit. Historians argue that they angered the Spanish without making significant gains.
1596 expedition to Cadiz – failed to capitalise on gains. No attempt to destroy Spanish fleet at Lisbon or hold Cadiz. Leaders disunited and many were mainly interested in profit. MacCaffery “A muddle of contradictory purposes”.
Lack of strategy after failure to destroy fleet in Ferrol ships go to Azores for plunder.
France
Support for Henri makes an ally of him. Some successes (e.g. John Norris fortress of Cozon). Distracts Spain from Netherlands.
Henri has to convert to Catholicism. Costs Elizabeth a lot of money (and more than she wants to pay)
Overall