Treaty of London, 1604
Encyclopedia
The Treaty of London, signed on 18 August O.S. (28 August N.S.) 1604, concluded the nineteen-year Anglo-Spanish War
. The negotiations took place at Somerset House
in London
and are sometimes known as the Somerset House Conference.
After the death of Queen Elizabeth
in 1603, her successor James I
quickly sought to end the long and draining conflict. Philip III of Spain
, who also had inherited the war from his predecessor, Philip II
, warmly welcomed the offer and ordered the commencement of the difficult negotiations that followed.
The Anglo-Spanish War had been a complex and fluctuating conflict which also had connections with the Eighty Years' War
in the Netherlands
, the French Wars of Religion
, and the Nine Years' War
in Ireland
. The terms of the treaty were favourable to Spain
, as they brought to an end English support to the Dutch rebellion since the Treaty of Nonsuch
(1585), and the end of attacks upon Spanish sea trade. At the same time, the treaty amounted to an acknowledgement by Spain that its hopes of restoring Roman Catholicism in England were at an end. Following the signing of the treaty, England and Spain remained at peace until 1625
.
, rulers of the Habsburg Netherlands
.
Spanish delegation
Delegation of the Habsburg Netherlands
Anglo-Spanish War (1585)
The Anglo–Spanish War was an intermittent conflict between the kingdoms of Spain and England that was never formally declared. The war was punctuated by widely separated battles, and began with England's military expedition in 1585 to the Netherlands under the command of the Earl of Leicester in...
. The negotiations took place at Somerset House
Somerset House
Somerset House is a large building situated on the south side of the Strand in central London, England, overlooking the River Thames, just east of Waterloo Bridge. The central block of the Neoclassical building, the outstanding project of the architect Sir William Chambers, dates from 1776–96. It...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and are sometimes known as the Somerset House Conference.
After the death of Queen Elizabeth
Elizabeth I of England
Elizabeth I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. Sometimes called The Virgin Queen, Gloriana, or Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty...
in 1603, her successor James I
James I of England
James VI and I was King of Scots as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the English and Scottish crowns on 24 March 1603...
quickly sought to end the long and draining conflict. Philip III of Spain
Philip III of Spain
Philip III , also known as Philip the Pious, was the King of Spain and King of Portugal and the Algarves, where he ruled as Philip II , from 1598 until his death...
, who also had inherited the war from his predecessor, 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....
, warmly welcomed the offer and ordered the commencement of the difficult negotiations that followed.
The Anglo-Spanish War had been a complex and fluctuating conflict which also had connections with the Eighty Years' War
Dutch Revolt
The Dutch Revolt or the Revolt of the Netherlands This article adopts 1568 as the starting date of the war, as this was the year of the first battles between armies. However, since there is a long period of Protestant vs...
in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, the French Wars of Religion
French Wars of Religion
The French Wars of Religion is the name given to a period of civil infighting and military operations, primarily fought between French Catholics and Protestants . The conflict involved the factional disputes between the aristocratic houses of France, such as the House of Bourbon and House of Guise...
, and the Nine Years' War
Nine Years' War (Ireland)
The Nine Years' War or Tyrone's Rebellion took place in Ireland from 1594 to 1603. It was fought between the forces of Gaelic Irish chieftains Hugh O'Neill of Tír Eoghain, Hugh Roe O'Donnell of Tír Chonaill and their allies, against English rule in Ireland. The war was fought in all parts of the...
in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. The terms of the treaty were favourable to Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, as they brought to an end English support to the Dutch rebellion since 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...
(1585), and the end of attacks upon Spanish sea trade. At the same time, the treaty amounted to an acknowledgement by Spain that its hopes of restoring Roman Catholicism in England were at an end. Following the signing of the treaty, England and Spain remained at peace until 1625
Anglo-Spanish War (1625–1630)
The Anglo–Spanish War was fought by the Spain against the Kingdom of England and the United Provinces. The conflict formed part of the Eighty Years' War and the Thirty Years' War.-Background:...
.
English delegation
- Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of SalisburyRobert Cecil, 1st Earl of SalisburyRobert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, KG, PC was an English administrator and politician.-Life:He was the son of William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley and Mildred Cooke...
(1563-1612), Secretary of StateSecretary of State (England)In the Kingdom of England, the title of Secretary of State came into being near the end of the reign of Queen Elizabeth I , the usual title before that having been King's Clerk, King's Secretary, or Principal Secretary....
, James IJames I of EnglandJames VI and I was King of Scots as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the English and Scottish crowns on 24 March 1603...
's leading minister. - Charles Blount, 1st Earl of DevonshireCharles Blount, 1st Earl of DevonshireCharles Blount , 8th Baron Mountjoy and 1st Earl of Devonshire was an English nobleman and soldier who served as Lord Deputy of Ireland under Queen Elizabeth I, then as Lord Lieutenant under King James I.-Early life:...
(1563-1606), Soldier. - Thomas Sackville, 1st Earl of DorsetThomas Sackville, 1st Earl of DorsetThomas Sackville, 1st Earl of Dorset was an English statesman, poet, dramatist and Freemason. He was the son of Richard Sackville, a cousin to Anne Boleyn. He was a Member of Parliament and Lord High Treasurer.-Biography:...
(1536-1608), Poet and Lord Treasurer. - Henry Howard, 1st Earl of NorthamptonHenry Howard, 1st Earl of NorthamptonHenry Howard, 1st Earl of Northampton was a significant English aristocrat and courtier. He was suspect as a crypto-Catholic throughout his life, and went through periods of royal disfavour, in which his reputation suffered greatly. He was distinguished for learning, artistic culture and his...
(1540-1614), Lord Warden of the Cinque PortsLord Warden of the Cinque PortsThe Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports is a ceremonial official in the United Kingdom. The post dates from at least the 12th century but may be older. The Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports was originally in charge of the Cinque Ports, a group of five port towns on the southeast coast of England...
. - Charles Howard, 1st Earl of NottinghamCharles Howard, 1st Earl of NottinghamCharles Howard, 1st Earl of Nottingham , known as Howard of Effingham, was an English statesman and Lord High Admiral under Elizabeth I and James I...
(1536-1624), Lord High AdmiralAdmiraltyThe Admiralty was formerly the authority in the Kingdom of England, and later in the United Kingdom, responsible for the command of the Royal Navy...
.
Habsburg delegations
The English negotiated with two delegations, one representing the King of Spain, the other the Archdukes Albert and IsabellaInfanta Isabella Clara Eugenia of Spain
Isabella Clara Eugenia of Austria was sovereign of the Spanish Netherlands in the Low Countries and the north of modern France, together with her husband Albert. In some sources, she is referred to as Clara Isabella Eugenia...
, rulers of the Habsburg Netherlands
Habsburg Netherlands
The Habsburg Netherlands was a geo-political entity covering the whole of the Low Countries from 1482 to 1556/1581 and solely the Southern Netherlands from 1581 to 1794...
.
Spanish delegation
- Juan Fernández de Velasco, 5th Duke of FríasJuan Fernández de Velasco, 5th Duke of FriasJuan Fernández de Velasco, 5th Duke of Frías was a Spanish nobleman and diplomat.Juan Fernández de Velasco was the son of Íñigo Fernández de Velasco; and of Maria Angela de Aragón y Guzmán El Bueno. He inherited his father's title of Constable of Castile, and was present at the signing of the...
, Constable of Castile. - Juan de TassisJuan de Tassis y Peralta, 2nd Count of VillamedianaDon Juan de Tassis y Peralta, 2nd Count of Villamediana, , was a Spanish poet. In Spain he is simply known as Conde de Villamediana....
, Count of Villa Mediana. - Alessandro Robida, Senator of Milan.
Delegation of the Habsburg Netherlands
- Charles de Ligne, prince-count of Arenberg,
- Jean RichardotJean RichardotJean Grusset dict Richardot, knight was a statesman and diplomat from the Franche-Comté, who held high political office during the Dutch Revolt and played an important role in restoring Habsburg rule in the Southern Netherlands....
, President of the Brussels Privy Council. - Louis Verreyken, Audiencier of Brussels.