James I and Foreign Policy

James I and Foreign Policy

His aims and reactions to the policy in Parliament

    Aims - avoiding war (very expensive, Elizabeth had lost lots of money through Spanish Armada), wanted to be a mediator of Europe (“rex pacificus”, through setting up marriage negotiations with his children), wanted Britain to establish good relationships with both sides of Europe (secure marriage alliance with Spain and Germany).

    Protestant foreign policy (1612), signed alliance with Protestant union, (1613) his daughter Elizabeth was married to Frederick of the palatinate.

    (1621) Parliament - James tried to secure funds from parliament, which was unusual as foreign policy was a royal prerogative matter. Parliament wanted to allie with Dutch, and enter sea war with Spain. Parliaments petition demanded end all negotiations with Spain (as Catholic).

    (1624) Parliament voted to fund sea with Spain, spending £300,000

Peace with Spain

    Treaty of London (1604), allowed for trade with Spain and the Spanish Netherlands and impositions.

    Spanish ambassador (Count Gondomar) sent to England to persuade James to ally with Spain. Dowry of £600,000 offered for Spanish Match.

England and the Thirty Years War

    Palatinate Crisis (1618), Battle of White Mountain where Frederick and Elizabeth were defeated, where Frederick accepts the crown of Bohemia. Frederick was considered a protestant hero.

    Parliament, after being asked for funds, wanted to ally with the Dutch and enter sea war with Spain.

    James, wanted to use Parliament to negotiate with the Spanish, and if this failed, launch land expedition to palatinate with Frederick to win it back.

The Spanish War

    Mansfield Expedition (1625),