2.9 Henry VIII's foreign policy Flashcards
What were Henry VIII’s aims at the beginning of his reign?
He wanted to be a glory king, like Henry VI, have equal powers on the European stage, assert authority through peace, and reclaim territory/kingship in France.
What were Henry VIII’s aims in the middle of his reign?
Defense of the realm, focusing on domestic problems like rebellions in England and issues in Ireland.
What were Henry VIII’s aims at the end of his reign?
He returned to aggression and glory after the break with Rome, resuming war with France.
What were relations with France, Spain, HRE, and Scotland like during Henry VIII’s reign?
Relative peace with France established by the Treaty of Etaples in 1492; Castillian crisis ruined relations with Spain; Treaty of Windsor implied goodwill with HRE; Treaty of P.P and Margaret’s marriage to James IV indicated good relations with Scotland.
Who were some key players during Henry VIII’s reign?
Francis I reigned as King of France from 1515-47; Ferdinand died in 1516, succeeded by Charles I, who became Holy Roman Emperor in 1519 as Charles V; James IV died in 1513, succeeded by James V.
What had Henry inherited at the beginning of his reign?
He inherited many of Henry VII’s councillors who favored the continuation of peace, renewed Etaples in 1510, and sought to become a warrior king by forming the Holy League in 1511.
In what ways was England relatively weak in the 1520s?
Governmental revenues were £110,000 compared to France’s £350,000 and HRE’s £560,000; population was 2.75m compared to France’s 15m and HRE’s 23m.
What were some successes against France during Henry VIII’s early reign?
The 1513 invasion resulted in the siege and surrender of Therouanne and Tournai; Henry led an army of 25,000 into Northern France, capturing two towns; his cavalry won the Battle of Spurs.
What were some failures against France during Henry VIII’s early reign?
The 1512 invasion was disastrous, as Ferdinand and Maximillian used Henry for their own advantage, and the towns acquired by the Holy League did not benefit Henry.
What happened in Scotland during Henry VIII’s early reign?
At the Battle of Flodden in 1513, King James IV was defeated by a smaller English army, resulting in his death and leaving the throne to James V.
Was 1513 a successful year for Henry VIII?
No, nothing was gained from 1513; the war was costly, leading to asset liquidation, tax rumblings, loss of the French pension, and Tournai was sold for less than hoped.
What treaties established peace in Europe during Henry VIII’s mid reign?
The Treaty of Noyon in 1516 established peace between Spain and France; the Treaty of Cambrai in 1517 established peace between HRE and France.
What did England’s economic position mean during Henry VIII’s mid reign?
Henry was unable to exploit Scotland’s weaknesses after James IV’s death and was forced to seek peace with France through a marriage alliance.
What were the consequences of foreign nobility’s deaths during Henry VIII’s mid reign?
Louis XII was replaced by Francis I, who sought an alliance with Ferdinand; Ferdinand’s death led to Charles I’s succession; the Duke of Albany became Scottish heir presumptive.
What was the Treaty of London?
Signed in 1518, it was a non-aggression pact between England, France, HRE, and Spain to present a united front against the Ottoman Turks.
What evidence of further diplomacy with France occurred during Henry VIII’s mid reign?
England agreed to return Tournai to France, and France agreed to keep Albany out of Scotland; the Field of the Cloth of Gold took place in 1520.
What was the Field of the Cloth of Gold?
A meeting between Henry VIII and Francis I in June 1520, featuring a fortnight-long jousting tournament, but it yielded no diplomatic value.
Was peace with France maintained during the Second French War?
Yes, the Treaty of Bruges was signed in 1521, forming a secret alliance between Spain and England.
What was Charles V focused on during the Second French War?
He concentrated on Northern Italy and recovering Milan, winning the Battle of La Bicocca in 1522.
Did Henry gain anything in 1523?
No, the Duke of Bourbon’s failure to gather support left Suffolk’s army in dismay, and Henry was abandoned by his allies.
What happened at the Battle of Pavia in 1525?
Francis I’s army was defeated, leading Henry to suggest a joint assault on France, which Charles V rejected.
What new alliances did Henry make after the Battle of Pavia?
Henry turned towards pro-French policy, forming the Treaty of More in August 1525 and joining the League of Cognac in May 1526.
What happened in 1527 that affected Henry’s position?
Henry decided to divorce Catherine of Aragon, which dominated English politics and weakened England’s European position.
How could the legal solution for Henry’s divorce have worked?
There were precedents for annulments, but Charles’ control over the Pope hindered this possibility.
How could the war with the Netherlands have worked for Henry?
It could have reinstated the Pope’s diplomatic independence, but public protests against trade suspension forced a truce.
How could the Battle of Landriano have worked for Henry?
A French victory could have forced Charles to agree to the annulment, but disease and defeat led to a peace settlement between Charles and the Pope.
How could the diplomatic solution have worked for Henry?
Pope Clement VII was initially open to an annulment, but Charles’ victory led to the withdrawal of the court to Rome.
What events showed Henry’s deteriorating relationship with Catherine of Aragon?
Henry Fitzroy was made Duke of Richmond; Henry and Anne agreed to marry; Wolsey was accused of praemunire; and Henry married Anne in secret.
What did Henry try to do in 1532 regarding alliances?
He attempted to make an alliance with France to pressure the Emperor, but it failed.
What were the immediate repercussions of Henry’s actions in 1532?
There were no short-term problems as Charles was focused on the Ottoman threat; Henry formed an alliance with the League of Schmalkalden.
Why was pressure on Henry reduced in 1536?
Catherine of Aragon died, and Anne Boleyn was executed, reopening the possibility of an alliance with Charles.
Why was the relief from pressure short-lived for Henry?
By 1538, Charles and Francis signed the Treaty of Nice, and the Pope published a Papal Bull deposing Henry.
Was the situation as bad as it seemed for Henry? What did he do in response?
It was not as bad as it appeared; Henry passed the Six Articles Act of 1539 and married Anne of Cleves to strengthen alliances.
What acts did Henry pass in relation to the Break with Rome between 1533-34?
Acts included the Act in Restraint of Appeals, Act of Succession, Act of Supremacy, Treason Act, and Act Annexing First Fruits and Tenths to the Crown.
Who was controlling Ireland during Henry VIII’s reign, and what happened in 1534?
Gerald Fitzgerald was dominant, but his dismissal in 1534 led to a major rebellion by his son, Thomas Fitzgerald.
How was Ireland made worse during Henry VIII’s reign?
Invasions by Gaelic nobles in 1539 complicated the Anglo-Irish relationship, leading to Ireland being established as a separate kingdom in 1541.
What occurred in Scotland in 1542 and 1543?
England led an invasion of Scotland in 1542.
What occurred in Ireland during Henry’s Late Reign?
In 1539, two Gaelic nobles, Con O’Neil and Manus O’Donnell, invaded the Pale. Henry regained control and established Ireland as a separate kingdom in 1541, granting some Irish lords peerage titles, but the Anglo-Irish relationship became more complex due to the separation with Rome.
What happened in Scotland in 1542?
England led a successful invasion of Scotland, culminating in the Battle of Solway Moss. James V died shortly after, leaving 1-week-old Mary, Queen of Scots (MQS) as his heir.
What diplomatic measures did Henry take regarding Scotland?
Henry aimed to marry Edward to MQS, with the support of the Earl of Arran for the ‘rough wooing’. The Treaty of Greenwich was signed in 1543.
Did Henry’s Scottish policy succeed?
No, there was widespread suspicion of the English. The Scots refused to bring MQS up in England, and Arran deserted the English cause. The Scottish Parliament refused to ratify the treaty.
What actions did Henry take in France in 1544?
Henry assembled a large army to invade France and marched onto Paris, but the army was confined to Calais, failing to capture Montreuil but managing to take Boulogne.
Why did French matters worsen for Henry?
The Holy Roman Emperor made peace with Francis I. In 1545, Francis sent troops to Scotland and a French force landed on the Isle of Wight. England was defeated at the Battle of Ancrum Moor, and Henry’s flagship, the Mary Rose, sank.
How did French foreign policy end for Henry?
France failed to recapture Boulogne, and no invasion of Northern England was launched. Peace was agreed in the Treaty of Ardes in 1546, allowing Henry to retain Boulogne until 1554 for 2 million, with a resumed French pension.
What were some key years related to Henry’s succession?
1516: Mary Tudor born. 1533: Elizabeth born. 1534: Succession Act declares Mary illegitimate & Liz heir. 1536: Succession Act repeals 1534 act. 1537: Birth of Prince Edward, heir apparent. 1544: Succession Act reinstates M&E in succession order. 1546: Henry’s will confirms the 1544 Succession Act.
