5. Why did Elizabeth go to war against Spain?

About this Lecture

Lecture

In this module, we consider the question ‘Why did Elizabeth go to war against Spain?’, focusing in particular on: (i) the extent to which war with Spain was inevitable when Elizabeth came to the throne in 1558; (ii) the economic ties between England and Spain in the mid-16th century, especially trade through the Spanish Netherlands; (iii) the importance of the Dutch Revolt in shifting the relationship between Elizabeth and Philip II of Spain; (iv) Elizabeth’s indirect support to the Dutch rebels, including the provision of safe harbour to Dutch privateers, of funds to supply mercenaries against the Spanish in the Netherlands, and her proposed marriage to the Duke of Anjou; (v) the importance of the deaths in 1584 of William of Orange and the Duke of Anjou, which led to a successful Spanish counterattack in the region; (vi) Elizabeth’s decision to take more direct action from 1585 onwards, including the provision of troops to the Netherlands and the dispatching of Francis Drake to the Spanish colonies; and (vii) the Spanish response in the form of the Spanish Armada.

Course

In this course, Professor Susan Doran (University of Oxford) explores Tudor foreign policy through six key questions: (1) Why did Henry VIII spend so much time at war against France?; (2) Why was foreign policy so disastrous during the years 1547-58?; (3) How did the Reformation affect foreign policy?; (4) How and why did England’s relationship with France change under Elizabeth?; (5) Why did Elizabeth go to war against Spain?; and (6) Was Elizabeth’s foreign policy a ‘complete mess’?

Lecturer

Susan Doran is Professor of Early Modern British History at the University of Oxford. She has a substantial publishing record which reflects a particular interest in the religious and political history of the Tudors, especially Elizabeth I. She is also a Senior Research Fellow at Jesus College and Director of Studies in History at Regent’s Park College.