Elizabeth supported the Duke of Anjou's bid to rule the Low Countries to remove Spanish forces, secure English trade, and protect Dutch Protestants.
Elizabeth pursued a complex diplomatic strategy involving the French Catholic Duke of Anjou to replace Philip II in the Low Countries, aiming to remove Parma's army, restore vital trade links, and secure religious freedoms. ✦ AI generated
Dominic Sandbrook · The Rest Is History · 2026-08-06 · original ↗
starts at this moment · 34:45
And actually having him establish his rule successfully in the Low Countries would secure a host of English objectives. So, it would result in the removal of Parma and his terrifying Spanish army. I mean, that would be brilliant. It would also restore trade links between the Low Countries and England, and it's been one of the themes of the rest of this history over years that England's trade links with the Low Countries in the Middle Ages and in the 16th century are crucial. The wool that goes to Bruges and Ghent and above all Antwerp really, really matters. And of course, there's the whole kind of Gaza thing, the fact that Protestants in England and Protestants in the Low Countries, there's a natural sympathy between them, and therefore securing freedom of worship for the Protestants, which the Duke of Anjou has guaranteed, would be an absolute win for them.
verbatim transcript · starts at 34:45
34:45Spain is. >> Yeah. >> And actually having him establish his rule successfully in the Low Countries would secure a host of English objectives. So, it would result in the removal of Parma and his terrifying Spanish army. I mean, that would be brilliant. It would also restore trade links between the Low Countries and England, and it's been one of the themes of the rest of this history over years
35:08that England's trade links with the Low Countries in the Middle Ages and in the 16th century are crucial. The wool that goes to Bruges and Ghent and above all Antwerp >> Yeah. >> really, really matters. And of course, there's the the whole kind of Gaza thing, the fact that Protestants in England and Protestants in the Low Countries, there's a natural sympathy between them, and therefore securing freedom of worship for the Protestants,
35:30which the Duke of Anjou has guaranteed, would be an absolute win for them. And so, this is why, you know, Elizabeth had been courting Anjou. It's why she co-opted uh Marshal Mont to to to knight Drake. She's signaling to both sides in the Low Countries her support for Anjou as king in Philip's place. And also, of course, she is you know, as we said, she's bunging the
35:52Dutch rebels a whole load of cash as well that has come from from Drake's void round the world. So, if only this can work out, it'll be brilliant for Elizabeth in, you know, in all kinds of strategic ways. It would be a victory. Unfortunately for her, it does not work out. And what will prove to be her last engagement is actually doomed. Because even as Anjou arrives in the Low