Treaty of Joinville
Encyclopedia
The Treaty of Joinville was signed in secret in December 31, 1584 by the French Catholic League
, led by France's first family of Catholic nobles, the Guises
, and Habsburg
Spain. In this treaty, Philip II
, King of Spain, agreed to finance the Catholic League. The aim of the treaty was to form a Catholic alliance against Protestant forces, notably Elizabeth I of England, in response to the potential succession to the French throne of Henry III of Navarre, at this point a Protestant.
In reality, there was little concerted effort on the part of either signatory to act against Elizabeth, as the Catholic League's position in France deteriorated as Henry IV gained support. However, Elizabeth was so disturbed by the nightmare scenario of a Catholic alliance between France and Spain against England, the prospect of which had been remote given the prolonged Habsburg-Valois conflict, that she for the first time endorsed direct military intervention in the Spanish Netherlands. This Spanish territory was in the process of an uprising against Spanish rule; the Spanish response was a crackdown under a hard-line military governor, the Duke of Parma.
Elizabeth's decision represented a complete reversal of her previous policy, which was not to support rebels in circumstances where they were rebelling against legitimate authority. Given that she in turn might have become vulnerable to revolts from English Catholics, this U-turn illustrated just how much the Treaty of Joinville alarmed her.
As a direct consequence, Elizabeth signed the Treaty of Nonsuch
with the United Provinces
in 1585, financing an expedition to the Netherlands, led by Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester
of between seven and eight thousand soldiers. This was the catalyst for the war between England and Spain which climaxed in the launch of the Spanish Armada
in 1588.
Catholic League (French)
The Catholic League of France, sometimes referred to by contemporary Roman Catholics as the Holy League, a major player in the French Wars of Religion, was formed by Duke Henry of Guise in 1576...
, led by France's first family of Catholic nobles, the Guises
House of Guise
The House of Guise was a French ducal family, partly responsible for the French Wars of Religion.The Guises were Catholic, and Henry Guise wanted to end growing Calvinist influence...
, and Habsburg
Habsburg
The House of Habsburg , also found as Hapsburg, and also known as House of Austria is one of the most important royal houses of Europe and is best known for being an origin of all of the formally elected Holy Roman Emperors between 1438 and 1740, as well as rulers of the Austrian Empire and...
Spain. In this treaty, Philip II
Philip II of Spain
Philip II was King of Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and, while married to Mary I, King of England and Ireland. He was lord of the Seventeen Provinces from 1556 until 1581, holding various titles for the individual territories such as duke or count....
, King of Spain, agreed to finance the Catholic League. The aim of the treaty was to form a Catholic alliance against Protestant forces, notably Elizabeth I of England, in response to the potential succession to the French throne of Henry III of Navarre, at this point a Protestant.
In reality, there was little concerted effort on the part of either signatory to act against Elizabeth, as the Catholic League's position in France deteriorated as Henry IV gained support. However, Elizabeth was so disturbed by the nightmare scenario of a Catholic alliance between France and Spain against England, the prospect of which had been remote given the prolonged Habsburg-Valois conflict, that she for the first time endorsed direct military intervention in the Spanish Netherlands. This Spanish territory was in the process of an uprising against Spanish rule; the Spanish response was a crackdown under a hard-line military governor, the Duke of Parma.
Elizabeth's decision represented a complete reversal of her previous policy, which was not to support rebels in circumstances where they were rebelling against legitimate authority. Given that she in turn might have become vulnerable to revolts from English Catholics, this U-turn illustrated just how much the Treaty of Joinville alarmed her.
As a direct consequence, Elizabeth signed the Treaty of Nonsuch
Treaty of Nonsuch
The Treaty of Nonsuch was signed by Elizabeth I of England and the Netherlands on 10 August 1585 at Nonsuch Palace in Surrey.-Background:The treaty was provoked by the signing of the Treaty of Joinville in 1584 between Philip II of Spain and the Catholic League in France in which Philip II promised...
with the United Provinces
Dutch Republic
The Dutch Republic — officially known as the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands , the Republic of the United Netherlands, or the Republic of the Seven United Provinces — was a republic in Europe existing from 1581 to 1795, preceding the Batavian Republic and ultimately...
in 1585, financing an expedition to the Netherlands, led by Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester
Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester
Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester, KG was an English nobleman and the favourite and close friend of Elizabeth I from her first year on the throne until his death...
of between seven and eight thousand soldiers. This was the catalyst for the war between England and Spain which climaxed in the launch of the Spanish Armada
Spanish Armada
This article refers to the Battle of Gravelines, for the modern navy of Spain, see Spanish NavyThe Spanish Armada was the Spanish fleet that sailed against England under the command of the Duke of Medina Sidonia in 1588, with the intention of overthrowing Elizabeth I of England to stop English...
in 1588.