Syllabus Edition
First teaching 2024
First exams 2026
Elizabeth's Action in the Netherlands (Edexcel GCSE History)
Revision Note
Written by: Natasha Smith
Reviewed by: Bridgette Barrett
Why did Elizabeth Change her Approach to the Netherlands in 1585? - Summary
The escalation of tension between Spain and England centred around Spain’s rule of the Netherlands. Between 1576 and 1585, Elizabeth’s government had advised her to increase her support of the Protestant Dutch rebels. When Spain broke the Pacification of Ghent, the perfect opportunity arose for Elizabeth to send an army to the Netherlands. Spain had lost its wealth and the support of its troops fighting an expensive war with the Dutch. Elizabeth hesitated and lost this opportunity when Spain incorporated Portugal into its empire in 1580. In 1585, Elizabeth changed her tactics and sent an armed force under the command of Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester. There are multiple reasons why Elizabeth sent a royal army to the Netherlands:
England’s intervention in the Netherlands failed on both fronts. Elizabeth’s refusal to give Dudley enough money and soldiers to succeed in the Netherlands angered the Dutch rebels. |
Elizabeth & the Pacification of Ghent, 1576
In 1576, the situation in the Netherlands changed
King Philip II promised to stop the religious persecution towards the Dutch and signed the Pacification of Ghent
The Pacification of Ghent offered Elizabeth an opportunity to increase England’s intervention in the Netherlands
In February 1577, Philip broke the Pacification of Ghent
Elizabeth did not send the armed forces even though she had promised to the Dutch rebels after Spain broke the Pacification of Ghent
Elizabeth's actions in the Netherlands after the Pacification of Ghent
Elizabeth's actions
The outcome of Elizabeth's actions
Elizabeth hired a mercenary named John Casimir. Elizabeth gave Casimir the money to raise an army of 6,000 volunteers
Casimir failed to beat the Spanish forces in the Netherlands. This angered the Dutch Catholics and persuaded the Dutch Catholics to seek peace with the Spanish
Elizabeth refused to follow the guidance from her Privy Council to send troops
Elizabeth's failure to send troops stopped the Netherlands from being independent, and from being a powerful Protestant ally of England. This would have reduced the power of the Habsburg family and the dominance of Catholicism in Europe
Elizabeth continued to use the Duke of Alençon rather than intervene in the Netherlands directly
In 1578, the Duke of Alençon raised an army and fought against Spain
Many historians believe that Elizabeth missed an ideal opportunity to free the Dutch from Spanish rule. By 1579, the situation in the Netherlands had changed because:
The Duke of Parma replaced Don Juan as governor of the Netherlands, making Spain’s forces in the Netherlands stronger than England’s
The Dutch rebels' leader, William of Orange, had lost influence among Dutch Catholics
The Spanish forces were making progress against the Protestant rebels
The Duke of Alençon decided to withdraw his troops from the Netherlands in 1579
1584: The Turning Point in Anglo-Spanish Relations
By 1584, Spain had gained complete control of the Netherlands
A series of events resulted in the downfall of England and Spain’s relationship
Events of 1584 and How They Negatively Affected Anglo-Spanish Relations
Event in 1584 | Why did the event hurt Anglo-Spanish relations? |
|---|---|
10th June - The death of the Duke of Alençon | Henri of Navarre was France’s new heir. His Protestant faith made the French create a Catholic League to stop him. The resulting civil war meant England could no longer use France’s military strength against Spain. England would have to face Spain without an ally |
10th July - The murder of William of Orange | The Dutch rebels no longer had a leader. They looked to Elizabeth as a figurehead of Protestantism to fill the role of William of Orange. Without a leader, Spain could easily defeat the Dutch rebels. Philip II could target England next |
31st December - The Treaty of Joinville | The Catholic League and Philip II allied to fight against French Protestants. Spain and France had become allies against Protestantism. The eradication of English Protestantism could become France and Spain’s next objective |
Treaty of Nonsuch, 1585
In June 1585, Dutch rebels communicated with Elizabeth
They offered Elizabeth the opportunity to become Queen of the Netherlands if the rebels successfully overthrew Spanish rule
Elizabeth rejected the offer. She did not want to depose Philip II, who she believed was the rightful King of the Netherlands
On 10th August 1585, Elizabeth signed the Treaty of Nonsuch with the Protestant rebel government ‘The Council of State’
Elizabeth agreed to send 7,400 troops to fight alongside the Dutch rebels
Elizabeth placed Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, in charge of the campaign
It effectively meant Spain and England were at war with each other
Alongside the Treaty of Nonsuch, Elizabeth used Sir Francis Drake
She ordered Drake to raid the Spanish settlements in the Americas
Drake’s actions in the Americas angered Philip
Philip was in communication with the Pope about a possible invasion of England by the end of 1585
Worked Example
Describe one feature of the Treaty of Nonsuch, 1585
2 marks
Answers:
One feature of the Treaty of Nonsuch was the promise of troops (1). Elizabeth promised that an army of 7,400 English troops would support the Dutch rebels (1).
Examiner Tips and Tricks
This question focuses on the key features and characteristics of the Treaty of Nonsuch. Testing your knowledge and understanding will help you achieve full marks.
This question previously asked students to describe two features of a given event. This question was out of four marks. However, as of 2025, Edexcel will split this question into two subsections, asking you to describe a feature of two different events. Each subsection is worth two marks.
Robert Dudley in the Netherlands
Dudley, Earl of Leicester, arrived in the Netherlands at the end of 1585
Robert Dudley's Actions in the Netherlands
Robert Dudley's actions in the Netherlands | The outcomes of Dudley's actions |
|---|---|
In January 1586, Dudley accepted the title 'Governor General of the Netherlands' on Elizabeth's behalf | This angered Elizabeth, who did not want the title. She believed it undermined Philip II as the Netherlands’ anointed monarch |
Dudley trusted Sir William Stanley to govern the town of Deventer | In January 1587, Stanley defected and gave the town to Spain. Rowland York also defected and gave Spain the Zutphen fort |
In 1587, Dudley successfully prevented Parma from capturing the deep sea port of Ostend | This would prove pivotal in the Spanish Armada of 1588 |
Elizabeth eventually lost trust in Dudley’s ability to succeed in the Netherlands
She reduced the amount of money she invested in the campaign
She insisted Dudley return to England in November 1586. She ended the entire Dutch campaign by the end of 1587
Why Did England's Campaign in the Netherlands Fail?
Examiner Tips and Tricks
An exam question may ask you to explain why Dudley’s campaign in the Netherlands failed in 1587.
One perspective is that Elizabeth set Dudley up for failure. She did not want to provide Dudley with the necessary resources to succeed. Elizabeth half-heartedly supported the Dutch rebels in the hope of restoring the Netherlands to its way of government in 1548. This would retain Philip as King of the Netherlands. As a result, she did not want Dudley to free the Dutch Protestants as they would overthrow their monarch.
Another perspective is Robert Dudley was not a suitable leader of the campaign. Dudley was one of Elizabeth’s favourites in the royal court. He had limited military experience. He arrogantly ignored Elizabeth’s instructions. As a result, Dudley annoyed the Queen and the Dutch rebels.
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