International Situation

• Since the Reformation Europe had been divided religiously. This had caused war between/within countries. The Stuart family had dynastic links with other royal households in France.
• The United Provinces:Successfully broke away from the spanish catholic church and established a protestant republic. Charles I eldest daughter married into the royal family- married William Prince of Orange. The United Provinces = Netherlands
• Spain:Traditional enemy of England- religion and the Armada were huge factors. Hated and feared by the English. The superpower of the 15th century
• The Holy Roman Empire:Made of many different states and religions. Torn apart by religious wars for 30 years. Charles I sister married to king of Bohemia a leading protestant
• France:Catholic country with small protestant minority (Huguenot)Weakened by years of civil war but stable now. Henrietta Maria the wife of Charles I was a French princess Her youngest daughter married into the royal family. It had traditional ties with the clans of Scotland