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[[File:Maria Stuart Execution.jpg|thumbnail|left|280px|Figure 1. Mary Queen of Scots execution reflected the final outcome of a major plot against Elizabeth I. This plot led to the creation of the first organized espionage network in England.]]
Spying has existed since early historical societies in the Middle East, China, and southeast Europe. However, spy services are generally a later development, where groups of government individuals and ultimately agencies within government became responsible for external and internal spying. England, one of the first countries to have a formal spy service, greatly professionalized spying and made it one of the birthplaces of what ultimately became modern espionage.
====Early History====The rise of espionage or spying services could be traced to the Catholic and Protestant conflicts of the 16th and 17th centuries in Europe. In England, there was both a fear of a Catholic invasion and attempt to take the English throne as well as a desire to shape events in Europe, particularly in the Netherlands. Under the reign of Elizabeth I (1558-1603), one of the first official spymasters in English history arose in the figure of Francis Walsingham, who was also the Secretary of State for Elizabeth I. Another key person was William Cecil. Together, these two helped form what was called the Bond of Association, which was a document, and effectively a foundation document, for a network of spies that devoted themselves to the protection Elizabeth I after the Throckmorton Plot.<ref>For more on the Elizabethan spy network, see: Steve Arman, Simon Bird, Malcolm Wilkinson, & Rosemary Rees (eds.) (2002) <i>Reformation and rebellion 1485 - 1750</i>. Headstart in history series ed.: Rosemary Rees ; 22002. 1. publ. Oxford, Heinemann.</ref>.
The rise of espionage or spying services could be traced Throckmorton Plot was a plot by English Catholics to the Catholic murder Elizabeth I and Protestant conflicts place Mary Queen of Scots on the 16th and 17th centuries in Europethrone (Figure 1). In EnglandWhile the plot failed, there was both a fear of a Catholic invasion and attempt to take it made the English throne and a desire aides nearest to shape events in Europe, particularly the Netherlands. Under the reign of Elizabeth I (1558-1603)realize that England would continue to face external threat, one of the first official spymasters in English history arose in the figure form of Francis WalsinghamSpain in particular, and internal descent from Catholics who was also the Secretary of State for Elizabeth Iwanted to put a Catholic monarch back in power. Another key person What was William Cecil. Together, these two helped form what was called significant about the Bond of Association, which is it committed a network of people to ensure any plot against the Protestant monarch would be attacked even if the reigning monarch was a documentkilled. This, and effectively a foundation documentin effect, for a network put the interest of the Protestant state ahead of spies any individual, even if that devoted themselves individual had a valid claim to protection Elizabeth I after the Throckmorton Plotthrone. Any potential killers were to be effectively killed at all costs.<ref>For more on the Elizabethan spy networkBond Association, see: Steve Arman, Simon Bird, Malcolm Wilkinson, J. A. Wagner & Rosemary Rees Susan Walters Schmid (eds.) (20022012) <i>Reformation and rebellion 1485 - 1750Encyclopedia of Tudor England</i>. Headstart in history series edSanta Barbara, Calif, ABC-CLIO, pg.: Rosemary Rees ; 22002. 1. publ. Oxford, Heinemann143.</ref>.
The Throckmorton Plot was Walsingham realized that to defeat future plots, tactics would have to include having a plot by English Catholics to murder Elizabeth I vast network of spies across England (and place Mary Queen later Scotland after the accession of Scots on the throneJames I). While the plot failed, it maid the aides nearest Spies had to Elizabeth realize that England would continue be able to face external threatdecipher coded letters, find hidden ink in the form of Spain letters, search hiding spaces in particularhomes, and internal descent from Catholics who wanted infiltrate Catholic groups to put a Catholic monarch back in power. What was significant about the Bond of Association is it committed a network of people know what they were up to ensure any plot against the Protestant monarch would be attacked even if the reigning monarch was killed. This, in In effect, put this created not only among the interest of earliest espionage networks but also the Protestant first surveillance state ahead of any individual with that monitored its people at a claim on thronevast scale. Any potential killers were It also recruited many normal people to be effectively killed at all costscarry out mundane, everyday espionage in many different towns and municipalities across England.<ref>For more on Walsingham's surveillance network and the Bond Associationskills involved for these early spies, see: J. Haynes, A. Wagner & Susan Walters Schmid (eds.) (20122007) <i>Encyclopedia of Tudor EnglandWalsingham: Elizabethan spymaster & statesman</i>. Santa Barbara, CalifStroud, ABC-CLIOGloucestershire, pg. 143Sutton.</ref>
Walsingham realized that to defeat future plots tactics would have to include having a vast network of spies across ====Later Development====[[File:John Thurloe from NPG detail.jpg|thumbnail|left|250px|Figure 2. John Thurloe professionalized spy networks in England (and later Scotland after the accession of James I)English Civil War. Spies had ]]After the English Civil war in the 1650s, Oliver Cromwell realized there needed to be able to decipher coded lettersgreater control of the postal service, find hidden ink which became the primary way in letterwhich many plots were orchestrated. Thus, the Post Office, search hiding spaces in homesunder John Thurloe, and infiltrate Catholic groups to know what they were up increased letter surveillance tohelp uncover plots against Cromwell. In effect, this created not only among This development by Thurloe also included the earliest espionage networks but known usage of mathematicians as dedicated, state-sponsored code breakers, where Thurloe employed mathematicians from Oxford, such as John Wallis, to decipher conspiracies (Figure 2). This was also a period where a form of 'fake news' was instigated by the first surveillance state that monitored it's people at a vast scaleby controlling the flow of information in mass media. It also recruited many normal people While the state increased its efforts in trying to carry out mundaneinfiltrate various groups, including Catholics and potential conspirators, everyday espionage the state attempted to mislead in many different towns some news so as to help disrupt potential threats and municipalities across Englandability to organize for hostile groups. The press, at times, could be used as a coded messaging system to conspirators.<ref>For more on WalsinghamCrowell's surveillance network use of spies and particularly spying on the skills involved for these early spiesPost Office, see: HaynesSmith, AG. (20072011) <i>WalsinghamRoyalist agents, conspirators and spies: Elizabethan spymaster & statesmantheir role in the British Civil Wars, 1640-1660</i>. StroudFarnham, Surrey ; Burlington, GloucestershireVT, SuttonAshgate. </ref>
==Later Development==Espionage, domestically and abroad, continued to be controlled by a spymaster often in the service of the monarch, that is after the monarchy was restored after the death of Cromwell. Well after Thurloe, a central spymaster, often the Secretary of State, would control both domestic and foreign spy networks. After the threat of Catholic invasion subsided, spies began to be used more against the threats to the emerging British Empire. Namely, this was France before and during the Napoleonic wars. Throughout the 19th century, espionage continued to mostly use the structure developed in the 17th century. This meant there was increasingly high burden on a single figure in government responsible for domestic and foreign spies. As the British Empire expanded, so to did the needs of the British espionage services.<ref>For more on the development of spies particularly in the Napoleonic wars, see: Sparrow, E. (1999) <i>Secret service: British agents in France, 1792-1815</i>. Woodbridge, Suffolk, UK ; Rochester, NY, USA, Boydell Press.</ref>
After ====British Espionage Services====The increasing complexities of the English Civil war 19th century and British entanglement in international affairs as the 1650s, Oliver Cromwell realized there British Empire expanded demonstrated a new structure was needed to be greater control of manage the postal servicegovernment's espionage services. ThusIn 1909, the Post Office Security Service (MI5) and Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) were created with the realization two agencies were needed to manage domestic (MI5) and foreign intelligence (MI6) gathering. At this point, under John Thurloethe emerging power of Germany became the biggest foreign threat, increased letter surveillance to help uncover plots against Cromwell. This while civil unrest over inequality and poor conditions meant that MI5 was also among the earliest known usage very active in thwarting rebellion and rise of mathematicians as code breakers, where Thurloe employed mathematicians from Oxford, new ideas such as John WallisCommunism. However, to decipher conspiracies. This it was also a period the events of World War I where a form of 'fake news" was instigated by both these services saw great expansion and began to mature to the state by controlling the flow of information in mass mediasystems we know them today. While Even before the state increased its efforts in trying to infiltrate various groups, including Catholics and potential conspiratorswar, there was much tension over the state attempted to mislead in some news so as to help disrupt potential threat increasing naval arms race between Britain and ability Germany that led to organize for hostile groups.<ref>For more on Crowell's use many accusations of spies and particularly spying on the Post Officeespionage against Germany, see: Smith, G. (2011) <i>Royalist agents, conspirators and spies: their role in the British Civil Wars, 1640-1660</i>. Farnham, Surrey ; Burlingtonwith at least one case where a true plot was, VTindeed, Ashgateuncovered.</ref>
EspionageDuring World War I, domestically approximately 120 spies served Germany and abroadwere sent or assigned to Britain, continued to be controlled by a spymaster often in the service of which 65 were caught and the monarch, remainder failed to send significant intelligence. This demonstrated that is after the monarchy was restored after the death new structure of Cromwell. Well after Thurloe, a central spymaster, often dividing the Secertary of State, would control both domestic external and foreign internal spy networksagencies was a relatively workable model that made it easier for one head to focus on. After By the threat end of Catholic invasion subsidedWorld War I, spies began the new threat and more significant threat was seen to be used Communism and the rise of the Soviet Union.<ref>For more against on the threats to the emerging development of MI5 and MI6, see: Thomas, G. (2009) <i>Secret wars: one hundred years of British Empireintelligence inside MI5 and MI6</i>. Namely1st ed. New York, this Thomas Dunne Books.</ref> While MI5 was France before active in keeping Germany and during other threats away from harming Britain, MI6 worked to cultivate its spies in the Napoleonic warscontinent. Throughout the 19th centuryThe development of many spies in Belgium, in particular, espionage continued allowed Britain to mostly use gain a lot of quality intelligence from Germany during the structure developed in course of the 17th centurywar. This meant there network was increasingly high burden on a single figure known as ‘La Dame Blanche, where everything from monitoring train movements to troop movements and reports about battlefield losses were obtained from the spy networks primary area of operations in government responsible for domestic and foreign spiesBelgium.<ref>For more on the development of spies particularly in the Napoleonic wars‘La Dame Blanche, see: SparrowRichelson, EJ. (19991997) <i>Secret serviceA century of spies: British agents intelligence in France, 1792-1815the twentieth century</i>. WoodbridgeOxford paperpacks. New York, SuffolkOxford Univ. Press, UK ; Rochester, NY, USA, Boydell Presspg. 23.</ref>
==British Espionage Services==The increasing complexities of the 19th century and British entanglement in international affairs as the British Empire expanded demonstrated a new structure was needed After World War II, military clandestine warfare began to manage the government's espionage services. In 1909be absorbed into MI6, the Security Service that is Special Operations Executive (MI5SOE) and Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) were created , integrated with the realization two agencies were needed to manage domestic (MI5) and foreign intelligence (MI6) gathering. At this point, The Cold War period also saw the emerging power of Germany became US Central Intelligence Agency form close working relationships. While MI5 attempted to keep the biggest foreign threatSoviet Union off balance in its spying attempts, while civil unrest over inequality and poor conditions meant that MI5 was also very active in thwarting rebellion. Howevermany other threats emerged, it was including the events of World War I were both these services saw great expansion. Even before the war, there was much tension over Irish Republication Army during the increasing naval arms race between Britain Troubles and Germany that led to many accusations of industrial espionage by Germany, with at least one case a true plot was, indeed, uncoveredstates. During World War IFor the most part, approximately 120 spies served Germany and were sent or assitgned to Britain, of which 65 were caught and had relatively greater success than the remainder failed to send significant intelligence. This demonstrated that the new structure of dividing United States in the external and internal spy agencies was a relatively workable model. By the end of World Cold War I, the new threat was seen to be Communism and rise of the Soviet Unionin preventing important secrets from being discovered.<ref>For more on the development of MI5 and MI6Cold War espionage, see: ThomasTrahair, R.C.S. & Miller, GR.L. (20092012) <i>Secret wars: one hundred years Encyclopedia of British intelligence inside MI5 Cold War espionage, spies, and MI6secret operations</i>. 1st ed. New York, Thomas Dunne BooksEnigma.</ref>
While MI5 was active ====Conclusion====Modern espionage in keeping Germany England and other threats away from harming Britain, MI6 worked to cultivate eventually the United Kingdom has its spies roots in the continent16th century Tutor England during a period of great conflict between Catholic and Protestant states. The development of This period produced many spies in Belgium, in particular, allowed Britain plots and internal and external threats that led to gain a lot of quality intelligence from Germany during the course development of the warfirst organized spy networks. This network was known These networks increased in their effectiveness in the 17th century as ‘La Dame Blancheespionage became more professionalized. However, where everything from monitoring train movements it was the reforms that led to troop movements and reports about battlefield losses were obtained from the spy networks primary area creation of operations MI5 and MI6 that has given us modern British espionage. The structure created in Belgium.<ref>For more on the ‘La Dame Blanche, see: Richelson, J. (1997) <i>A early 20th century of spies: intelligence has largely stayed in the twentieth century</i>. Oxford paperpacks. New Yorktact, Oxford Univ. Press, pg. 23although modifications continue to be made today.</ref>
==Conclusion==References====<references/>
Modern espionage in England has its roots in 16th century Tutor England during a period of great conflict between Catholic and Protestant states. This period produced many plots and internal and external threats that led to the development the first organized spy networks. These networks increased in their effectiveness in the 17th century as espionage became more professionalized. However, it was the reforms that led to the creation of MI5 and MI6 that has given us modern [[Category:Wikis]] [[Category:Political History]] [[Category:Military History]] [[Category:British espionage. The structure created in the early 20th century has largely stayed in tact, although modifications continue to be made today.History]]
==References=={{Contributors}}
