Sir Walter Raleigh (AQA GCSE History): Revision Notes
Sir Walter Raleigh
Introduction
Sir Walter Raleigh emerged as one of the most significant figures during Elizabeth I's reign, serving as both an influential courtier and pioneering explorer. His life demonstrates the opportunities available to ambitious men during the Elizabethan era, as well as the dangers of falling from royal favour.
Raleigh's career exemplifies the social mobility possible in Elizabethan England, where military service and royal favour could elevate a man from modest origins to positions of great power and wealth.
Early life and rise to prominence
Walter Raleigh lived from around 1552 to 1618, spanning most of Elizabeth's reign. His path to prominence began through military service, which was a common route for young men seeking to advance their careers in Elizabethan society.
In 1580, Raleigh participated in a military campaign in Ireland, which proved to be a turning point in his fortunes. This expedition earned him significant royal support from Elizabeth I, who rewarded his service by granting him land in Ireland following the defeat of a local uprising. This demonstrates how military success could lead to both wealth and royal favour during this period.
Military campaigns in Ireland were particularly valuable for ambitious Englishmen because they offered opportunities to gain both combat experience and potentially lucrative land grants from successful campaigns against local uprisings.
The success in Ireland opened doors for Raleigh at court. By 1587, he had achieved the prestigious position of Captain of the Queen's Guard, representing the highest office available at court. This appointment showed the extent of Elizabeth's trust in him and positioned him as one of her most favoured courtiers.
The royal charter and colonisation plans
In 1584, Queen Elizabeth granted Raleigh a royal charter that would prove crucial to English exploration efforts. This seven-year charter gave him extraordinary powers, allowing him to explore, take control of, and govern any lands that were not already Christian or ruled by Christian princes. In exchange, Raleigh was required to provide the crown with one-fifth of all gold and silver discovered in these territories.
This charter system represented a revolutionary new approach to exploration, where the crown shared both the risks and potential rewards with private individuals. It enabled Elizabeth to expand English influence without directly funding expensive expeditions, while offering entrepreneurs like Raleigh the chance to gain enormous wealth and territory.
Expeditions to North America
Raleigh's most famous ventures involved attempts to establish English colonies in North America. His efforts focused on the area that would later become Virginia, named in honour of Elizabeth, the "Virgin Queen."
The Roanoke Expeditions: A Timeline of Attempts
1584: Raleigh organised an initial fact-finding expedition to assess the potential for colonisation. This reconnaissance mission identified Roanoke as a suitable location for settlement.
1585: Building on this success, he sent 107 settlers to establish a colony at Roanoke, Virginia.
1586: The first group of settlers returned to England, abandoning their settlement due to supply difficulties and conflicts with local populations.
1587: Undeterred, Raleigh organised another group of colonists who set sail for Roanoke.
1590: When English sailors arrived at the site, they discovered the colony had been completely abandoned with no trace of the settlers.
However, the colonisation efforts faced significant challenges. Tragically, when English sailors arrived at the site in 1590, they discovered the colony had been completely abandoned. The fate of these settlers remains one of history's great mysteries, and the failed colony became known as the "Lost Colony of Roanoke."
Despite these setbacks, no further serious colonisation attempts occurred until the early 17th century, showing how difficult and expensive these ventures were to sustain.
Other expeditions and adventures
Beyond North America, Raleigh pursued expeditions to South America, driven by the legendary search for El Dorado, the mythical "city of gold." In 1595, he led an expedition to the Orinoco river basin, hoping to discover this fabled treasure. His adventures also included attacks on Spanish shipping, including the capture of the merchant vessel "Mother of God" in the same year.
Between 1596 and 1597, Raleigh participated in military operations against Spanish territories, including the capture of Cadiz and raids on Spanish bases in the Azores. These activities reflected the ongoing conflict between England and Spain during this period.
Raleigh's attacks on Spanish shipping and territories were not merely acts of piracy, but part of England's broader strategy to challenge Spanish dominance in the Atlantic and gain access to New World wealth.
Even after Elizabeth's death, Raleigh continued his pursuit of El Dorado. In 1616, he led a second expedition to South America, but this venture ultimately led to his downfall when he attacked Spanish shipping against the new king's wishes.
Changing relationship with Elizabeth
Raleigh's relationship with Elizabeth I underwent dramatic changes during her reign. His early military successes in Ireland in 1580 established him as a royal favourite, leading to his appointment as Captain of the Queen's Guard and the granting of valuable Irish lands.
The Dangers of Court Life: Raleigh's Fall from Grace
However, his position became precarious in 1592 when he secretly married Elizabeth Throckmorton, one of the queen's maids of honour, without seeking royal permission. This breach of court protocol resulted in his temporary disgrace and imprisonment in the Tower of London, demonstrating how quickly royal favour could be withdrawn.
Raleigh managed to restore his position through continued military service, particularly his expeditions to Spain and South America. His successful capture of Cadiz in 1597 helped him regain Elizabeth's favour sufficiently that he was appointed Governor of Jersey in 1600, showing his rehabilitation was largely complete by the end of her reign.
Significance and impact
Raleigh's importance extends beyond his individual achievements to his role in establishing new patterns of exploration and colonisation. He pioneered the practice of encouraging private investment in overseas expeditions by attracting aristocrats and merchants to fund his ventures through a shareholder system.
This approach involved investors purchasing shares in expeditions, with profits distributed among shareholders according to their investment. This "joint stock company" model would later prove crucial to the success of companies like the Virginia Company and the Massachusetts Bay Company.
While Raleigh's immediate colonisation attempts failed, particularly at Roanoke, his efforts demonstrated the potential for English settlement in North America and influenced later, more successful colonial ventures.
His expeditions also changed how English governments approached colonisation. The combination of private investment and royal charter became a model for future colonial enterprises, reducing the financial burden on the crown while maintaining royal control over new territories.
Timeline of key events
- 1580: Participates in military expedition to Ireland, gaining royal favour
- 1584: Receives royal charter from Elizabeth I for exploration and colonisation
- 1585: Sends 107 settlers to establish Roanoke colony
- 1586: First Roanoke colonists return to England
- 1587: Appointed Captain of the Queen's Guard; new group of settlers sent to Roanoke
- 1590: English sailors find Roanoke abandoned - the "Lost Colony"
- 1592: Falls from favour due to secret marriage; imprisoned in Tower
- 1595: Leads expedition to Orinoco river basin searching for El Dorado; captures Spanish ship
- 1596-1597: Participates in capture of Cadiz and raids on Spanish bases
- 1600: Appointed Governor of Jersey, showing restored royal favour
- 1616: Leads second expedition to South America
- 1618: Executed for attacking Spanish shipping
Key Points to Remember:
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Military success opened doors: Raleigh's career began with military service in Ireland in 1580, which earned him Elizabeth's favour and valuable land grants.
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Royal charters enabled exploration: The 1584 charter system allowed private individuals to fund expeditions while sharing profits with the crown, creating a new model for colonisation.
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The Lost Colony of Roanoke: Despite multiple attempts, Raleigh's North American settlements failed, with the 1587 colony mysteriously disappearing by 1590.
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Court favour was fragile: Raleigh's secret marriage in 1592 led to imprisonment, showing how quickly royal favour could change in Elizabethan England.
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Joint stock companies encouraged investment: Raleigh's use of shareholders to fund expeditions established patterns that would influence later successful colonial ventures.