General Crisis In Government (Tudors Section C): THREATS FROM SPAIN AND IRELAND

Cold War

A state of political hostility between countries, characterised by threats, propaganda and other measures short of war.

Domestic Policy

Administrative decisions which are directly related to all issues and activity within a nation's borders.

Foreign Policy

A government's strategy in dealing with other nations.

Locations associated with England's foreign policy

Holy Roman Empire, The Netherlands, Ottoman Empire, Spain, France, Ireland, England, Scotland.

French Wars of Religion

1562-1598.

Participants in the French Wars of Religion

Protestants (Hugenots) - (supported by) England (Elizabeth I) - led by Henry of Navarre; Catholics - (supported by) Spain (Philip II) - led by Catholic League.

Revolt of the Netherlands

1566-1648.

Participants in the Revolt of the Netherlands

Northern Protestant Provinces - (backed by Elizabeth I) - breaking away from Spanish, Catholic rule; Southern Catholic Provinces - (backed by Philip II of Spain) - generally loyal to Spain.

Anglo-Spanish Conflict Background

In 1585, Elizabeth was persuaded to intervene directly to help the Dutch rebels, signalling the English entry into war with Spain until 1604.

Elizabeth's War Strategy

Characterised by reluctance to commit money or troops to major campaigns, preferring a defensive strategy to protect English trading interests.

Spanish Response to Anglo-Spanish Conflict

Spain responded with several invasion fleets and by intervention in the Irish rebellion against English rule.

Impact of the War on English Resources

The war stretched English resources to their limits, leading to problems for Elizabeth's domestic government with both parliament and local rule.

Spanish Armada Summary

20 years before the Armada, John Hawkins and Drake set off on ships in search of money, with Elizabeth as one of the investors.

Hawkins and Drake's Voyage

They picked up 500 slaves in Guinea, then headed west, trading human cargo for silver, gold, and pearls.

Hawkins' Losses

Hawkins lost three ships and 200 men killed or captured, with fewer than 20 men left alive by the time they were home.

Hawkins' Vendetta Against Spain

This led to a personal vendetta against Spain.

Development of the Race Built Galleon

Developed by Hawkins using maths and geometry to produce the fastest ships of their kind, designed for war.

Drake's Attack on Cadiz

In 1587, Drake attacked Cadiz, destroying over 30 Spanish ships and stealing loot.

Spanish Revenge on England

The King of Spain decided to take revenge on England in July 1588.

When was the Armada?

1588

What was the plan for the Armada?

- Send 130 ships and 17,000 men

- Link up w/ Spanish troops in the Netherlands

- Invade England

- Incite a Catholic rebellion in England

What were the events of the Armada?

- The Armada took shelter from stormy weather on the French coast

- It was ravaged at Gravelines

- English fireships created panic and the Armada was forced to flee around the British Isles

- Only half the ships made it back

What was the aftermath of the Armada?

- A great English victory

- Spain recovers quickly and sends two more Armadas against England

Who was the ruler of France in 1589?

Henry IV of France

Who was the ruler of Spain in 1589?

Philip II of Spain

Who was the ruler of The Netherlands in 1589?

Philip II of Spain

What was happening in France in 1589?

French Wars of Religion - conflict between Catholics and Protestants

What was happening in Spain in 1589?

- Recovering from the failure of the Armada sent against England in 1588

- In war with England

- Intervening in France and The Netherlands

What was happening in The Netherlands in 1589?

The Revolt of the Netherlands/The Dutch Revolt against Catholic Spanish rule

Who became King of France in 1589?

Henry IV

Why was this unacceptable to the French Catholic League?

He was a Protestant King

How did this event in 1589 change Philip of Spain's intervention in France?

He decided to intervene directly in France but Phillip had already been subsidising the League

What was Philip's aim?

Help the League defeat Henry IV

What did Philip hope the defeat of Henry IV of France might result in?

The collapse of Dutch and English resistance

Who might he be planning to put on the French throne?

Infanta Isabella

What would the Spanish have controlled, had he succeeded?

European coastline from Spain to the Netherlands

What was the number of troops Philip sent to Brittany in 1590?

3,500 troops

Who was the leader of the Spanish troops in the Netherlands?

The Duke of Parma

Where did he order the Spanish troops in the Netherlands to gather?

The border of Northern France

Where did these Spanish troops launch major campaigns into between 1590 and 1596?

Flanders

What was the amount she sent to Henry in 1589?

£35,000

What was the amount she sent to Henry in 1590?

£10,000

What was the number of troops sent to France in 1589?

4,000 troops

What was the number of troops sent to Brittany in 1591?

3,000 troops

What was the number of troops sent in 1592-3?

5,200 troops

What was the number of troops sent under the Earl of Essex to besiege Spanish-held Rouen in 1591?

3,000 troops

What was the name of the commander in charge of English troops helping the Dutch rebels?

Sir Francis Vere

How were Elizabeth's tactics effective?

- 1592 - £100,000 worth of goods from a Spanish ship were taken by English sailors; there was £141,120 of goods left over

- Cautious approach meant they did not lose the war completely because she never risked committing all of her troops or resources in any one campaign

How were Elizabeth's tactics ineffective?

- Elizabeth encouraged privateers to attack and loot Spanish shipping, but this was not overtly successful.

Coordination of English privateers

There was no coordination between the English privateers.

Spanish shipping defenses

Spanish shipping was increasingly well guarded by warships, and was able to slip through the net.

English war funding

Only £80,000 in goods reached the English government's treasury, not nearly enough to fund the high cost of war against Spain.

Impact of prolonged war

The longer the war dragged on, the more damage it did to England's economy and society.

Spanish threat duration

The Spanish posed a continuing threat to English security from 1585 to 1604.

Earl of Essex's mission

In 1589, the Earl of Essex joined the naval mission to Spain and the New World expressly against Elizabeth's orders.

Naval attacks on Spain

The naval attacks on Spanish interests were not properly funded by the English government.

Threat of Armadas

There was a threat of more Armadas sent from Spain in the 1590s.

Recruitment difficulties

Social problems and a long war made it difficult to recruit soldiers, who lacked proper equipment.

Loss of life in France

11,000 English soldiers were killed in France in 3 years.

Elizabeth's command issues

Elizabeth's commands were sometimes ignored by male commanders.

English intervention in Netherlands

English intervention under Leicester was not decisive.

Decline of Spanish threat

The threat of Spain declined from 1595 as Henry IV defeated the Catholic League and Spanish troops.

Essex's joint mission

Essex led a joint mission with the Dutch to attack Cadiz in 1596, destroying two Spanish ships and capturing Cadiz temporarily.

Increased patriotism

War led to increased patriotism, especially after the Spanish Armada.

Failures of Spanish Armadas

Armadas in 1596 and 1597 failed, and the Irish rebellion failed in 1601.

Loyalty of English Catholics

Most English Catholics remained loyal and England was not invaded.

Victories against Spain

England achieved victories against Spain.

Capture of treasure ships

English privateers captured over 1000 Spanish and Portuguese treasure ships, helping English revenue.

Support for Netherlands revolt

English intervention helped sustain the revolt in the Netherlands and kept Spanish forces pinned down.

Elizabeth's debt

When Elizabeth became Queen, she was in debt of £227,000.

Doran's interpretation

Doran interprets the main purpose of war as ensuring national security and gaining profit.

Haigh's interpretation

Haigh suggests Elizabeth limited war by attempting to hold down costs and had poor military tactics.

Conflict with Spain's threat level

The conflict with Spain posed a large threat to national security as England was at war from 1585 until 1604.

Pale

The region around Dublin controlled by England.

Old English

Anglo Irish members of the nobility who maintained their own private armies and acted as quasi kings.

Rebellion in Munster

Rebellions faced by Elizabeth in Munster in 1569 and 1579.

Catholicism in Ireland

Ireland remained mostly Catholic despite English attempts to introduce Protestantism.

Elizabethan government's approach to Ireland

By the 1580s, it was taking a hard line approach through the plantation of English Protestant colonists.

Earl of Desmond

Leader of the Fitzgeralds who objected to English governance and wanted to maintain Irish lords' feudal rights.

Financial crisis during Elizabeth's reign

The Spanish conflict contributed to a financial crisis as the government had to plan for war with financial constraints.

Spanish threat to national security

The extensive loss of life (11,000 English soldiers in France in 3 years) indicated that Spain posed a threat.

Military planning under Elizabeth

Military planning was erratic, with many governors disobeying her direct orders.

Henry VIII's rule in Ireland

Henry sought to have the state ruled by a single king and crushed rebellions ruthlessly.

Creation of the Church of England

Created tensions between England and Ireland, leading to Ireland remaining Catholic.

Counter-reformation in Ireland

An increasing number of people returned to Ireland with training to spread the idea that Protestantism was wrong.

Adventurers in Ireland

They seized Irish land, leading to rebellions against England.

Papal troops in 1579

Papal troops helped another rebellion staged by Desmond.

Ireland as a launch pad for invasion

Its position off the west coast of England made it a perfect launch pad for invasion.

Loss of life in military conflicts

11,000 English soldiers were lost in France in 3 years.

Governors' disobedience

Many governors showed a lack of respect for Elizabeth's authority by disobeying her orders.

Resentment in Ireland

By the early 1590s, resentment was growing in Ireland against English rule.

Rebellion history in Ireland

Ireland had a history of rebellion against English rule.

Desmond Rebellion

A rebellion staged by Desmond in 1579, supported by papal troops.

Quasi kings

Old English acted as quasi kings in the regions under their control.

Lack of standing army

Henry VIII lacked a standing army in Ireland to enforce observance of the Protestant faith.

Nine Years' War Trigger

The spark that ignited war was a conflict between English government and key Irish nobles.

Conflict in 1593

Conflict in 1593 over County Donegal which spread to Ulster in 1593.

Turning Point of the War

The turning point came in 1595 when Hugh O'Neill second Earl of Tyrone joined the rebels.

Hugh O'Neill's Background

He was a member of the Anglo Irish nobility whose lands were in Ulster.

Hugh O'Neill's Father

His father had fallen foul of the English forces in Ireland and was killed in 1567.