Discontent also existed over economic problems. 7,000 Spanish troops were garrisoned in the Netherlands and eventually the people refused to pay for them. When Alva arrived with his troops Philip decided they must be paid for by the Netherlanders. Philip raised taxes and although some were rejected, Alva tried to collect them forcefully anyway. This led to a tax stile and when ‘sea beggars’ invaded unexpectedly and captured towns in the Netherlands, various areas also rose in rebellion against Philip, with William of Orange joining in from exile by returning.
ii)
Philip had and alliance with England faded with his marriage to Mary, but when she died the Protestant Elizabeth came to the throne. She was always a problem to Philip and he finally went to war with England in 1585.
Both monarchs had acted in provocative ways, so one country could not be blamed entirely. When Mary died in 1558 Philip proposed to Elizabeth, hoping she would be looking to Spain for protection and support. Elizabeth turned him down and the family ties between the two nations were gone. However relations remained stable as both felt threatened by the French and Philip even prevented the Pope from excommunicating Elizabeth.
Later tensions began to increase with the Dutch Revolt. Alva’s army entered the Netherlands to suppress the mostly Calvinist rebels and Elizabeth feared Spain would launch a Catholic invasion of England via the Netherlands. This fear along with the decreasing French threat and thus less need of the Habsburg alliance led to Elizabeth allowing attacks on Spanish shipping, which Philip responded to by doing the same.
As Elizabeth captured more Spanish bullion, Alva placed a ban on trade between England and the Netherlands. This was significant as the Dutch were England’s important trading partners, especially in wool and cloth. Elizabeth had to retaliate by sinking more Spanish ships in English waters. There were also attacks on Spanish shipping by people such as Sir Francis Drake, and when the Spanish Ambassador protested at Drake being knighted Elizabeth denied all knowledge of the events.
Further events in the Netherlands increased Elizabeth's fear, with the assassination of William of Orange and the Duke of Parma’s increasing success in dealing with the rebellion. Eventually Elizabeth signed a treaty committing England to supporting the Netherlands against Spain, effectively beginning war against Spain.
Other events in Europe did not help matters. Philip took over Portugal and Elizabeth supported the alternative Portuguese pretender Don Antonio which greatly annoyed Philip. Philip’s signing of the Treaty of Joinville led to the formation of a Catholic League and further increased Elizabeth’s fear of a Catholic crusade.
Philip’s actions in England also caused Elizabeth great concern. He backed the Ridolfi Plot in 1571, which planned to replace Elizabeth with the Catholic Mary Queen of Scots. This plot failed and Elizabeth became even more wary. Philip sent troops to Ireland to support the Irish in rebellion against the English, and this also failed disastrously. Most importantly was the Throckmorton Plot in 1583 when the conspirators planned to assassinate Elizabeth to place Mary on the throne. This time Philip’s involvement was clear as his part was admitted by the Spanish Ambassador, worsening the already strained relationship between the countries.
The build up of tension finally led to Philip’s decision to launch the Armada after Drake attack more Spanish ships within Philip’s territory. Therefore both countries had responsibility in the outbreak of war. There were also outside factors such as the decline of French threat which made the alliance less valuable and war more likely. Both countries acted in provocative ways, however England did not directly interfere within Spain, whereas Philip tried on more than one occasion to support attempts to replace Elizabeth. Hence it can be said Spain was to be blamed to a significant extent for the outbreak of war.
