The threat of France

• Elizabeth had 2 problems concerning France

  • She inherited a bad relationship with France from her predecessor Queen Mary I.
  • France were big supporters of Mary, Queen of Scots, who Elizabeth had executed
• Elizabeth’s predecessor, Queen Mary I, had been in an anti-French alliance with her husband, King Philip of Spain
• • During Mary’s reign she lost the strategic town of Calais which had been ruled by England for hundreds of years
  • This meant that France now controlled the entire northern coastline of France and left England more vulnerable to an attack
• Mary, Queen of Scots had been married to Francis II, King of France before he died so the French were supporters of Mary and her claim to the English throne
• When Elizabeth eventually had Mary Queen of Scots executed, Elizabeth feared serious repercussions from the French.
• Despite initially being a threat to England, civil war in France from 1562 meant the French monarchs were too preoccupied with home affairs to pose a threat to Elizabeth
• Even when Mary, Queen of Scots was executed, the French King, Henry III, kept on friendly terms with Elizabeth
• Although trying, and failing, to take back Calais, Elizabeth managed to keep peace and a good relationship with France going, she even entered negotiations to marry the Duke of Alencon to help strengthen this