To what extent had Elizabeth achieved stable relations with foreign powers by 1571? (45)

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To what extent had Elizabeth achieved stable relations with foreign powers by 1571? (45)

When Elizabeth came onto the throne in 1558, she established her foreign policy aims very quickly due to the uneasiness there was in the realms after Mary's reign. The newly crowned and Protestant Queen meant that ties that had been formed with Catholic countries under Mary were to be under threat, and Elizabeth did not want any trouble. Her foreign policy aims were to maintain the peace and to aim to build stronger alliances with England's allies. The country was in no state to fund a war, or provide men into armies, and Elizabeth wanted no trouble so early into her reign. These were indeed smart aims, however, overall by 1571 it can be argued that she failed to achieve this aims to a certain extent - whilst there were no major wars, she failed to keep the peace with France and Spain especially, which would prove to cause her in the future a great deal of stress.

The immediate issue with foreign relations for Elizabeth was the issue of Spain. Mary I, the former Queen and Elizabeth's sister was married to Philip