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.
