3 - Foreign Policy Flashcards
Did Henry VII have a defensive or attacking foreign policy?
Defensive
(‘Throughout his reign Henry VII’s foreign policy was defensive’ - John Guy)
Trying to maintain peace with foreign powers not wage war
(‘He was more inclined to peace than war’ - Polydore Vergil)
What were Henry VII’s main foreign policy aims?
Henry VII Sought Real Power
- SECURITY (England was a minor power + he was vulnerable)
- RECOGNITION (From superpowers: France, Spain, HRE)
- PROSPERITY (Through trade + pensions)
What are the foreign powers we need to consider (listed in order of increasing power)?
- Ireland
- Scotland
- Brittany
- Burgundy
- Spain
- Holy Roman Empire
- France
What was Brittany + who was ruling it at start of Henry VII’s reign?
- A fiefdom (area of feudal rule) in France
- Ruled by Duke Francis II
What were the main aspects of Henry VII’s foreign policy in Brittany + France?
- Truce (1485-1489)
- Anti-French Alliance (1489) + Treaty of Redon (1489) + Breton Crisis (1487-91)
- Treaty of Etaples (1492)
- The Holy League (1496)
- League of Cambrai (1508)
When was the Breton Crisis?
1487-1491
What was the Breton Crisis?
- France wanted to absorb the Duchy of Brittany, but Brittany wanted to remain independent
- Duke Francis died in 1488, leaving only female heir Duchess Anne, providing opportunity for French to seize power
Who became the leader of Burgundy after Duke Francis II died in 1488?
Duchess Anne
Who was the leader of France at the start of Henry VII’s reign?
Charles VIII
What was Henry VII’s approach to the Breton Crisis?
Wanted to support Brittany in remaining independent
Why did Henry VII want to support Brittany in the Breton Crisis?
- To repay them from harbouring him during exile
- To decrease the power/threat of the French (as they would then control all of channel border apart from Calais)
- To please other foreign powers supporting Brittany
Which foreign powers backed Brittany during the Breton Crisis?
- England/Henry VII
- Spain/King Ferdinand (wanted to reduce French power)
- Holy Roman Empire/Maximilian I (married to Anne by-proxy in 1490)
(Brittany, England, Spain, HRE - Signed 1489 Anti-French Alliance)
What is marriage-by-proxy?
Marriage when one or both of the partners are not present
How did Henry VII support Brittany during the Breton Crisis?
Treaty of Redon (1489)
- Between Henry VII + Duchess Anne (Brittany)
- Henry VII: would send 6000 troops to defend Brittany against French
- Duchess Anne: would pay Henry
What was the result of the Breton Crisis?
- In 1491 Anne surrendered to the French + married Charles VIII
- Brittany no longer had independence
- English troops marooned in Brittany
- Maximilian lost his marriage-by-proxy
Why did Duchess Anne surrender to Charles VIII in the Breton Crisis?
Feared the outcome of persistent resistance to the French
What did Henry VII do after the Breton Crisis regarding relations with France? Why?
- In 1492 he invaded France (Bolougne) with 26,000 men
- Knew that Charles VIII was preoccupied with Italy, so would seek peace
What was the result of the 1492 French invasion?
Treaty of Etaples (1492)
- Between Henry VII + Charles VIII (France)
- Henry VII: would withdraw troops from Brittany + France
- Charles VIII: would refund invasion (annual pension of 50,000 crowns - as in 1475 Treaty of Picquigny)+ would stop harbouring pretenders (Warbeck)
What countries did Henry VII immediately sign truces with upon his accession?
France: 1485, 1 year truce, extended to 1489
Scotland: 1486, 3 year truce to 1489
Was Henry VII’s foreign policy regarding Brittany + France successful?
- Initial failure: despite having truce with France, this was only temporary + Henry immediately ruined relations by joining the Anti-French Alliance (1489) + supporting Brittany in the Breton Crisis, which wasn’t even successful
- Became successful after 1492: gained security from France + pension via Treaty of Etaples, never had issues with France after 1492 (despite joining 1496 Holy League)
- At very end of reign: slight threat from not being included in League of Cambrai superpower alliance (1508)
Why did Henry VII have some doubts about supporting Brittany in the Breton Crisis?
- Had a truce with France until 1489
- Brittany was in the weaker position
- France were very powerful, potential for diplomatic isolation if he upset them
What was the Holy League? When was it? How did it affect England’s relationship with France?
Holy League (1496)
- Alliance of France’s rivals during the Italian Wars
- Despite joining it, England remained neutral in the Italian Wars
- Did not negatively affect England’s stable relationship with France
What was the League of Cambrai? When was it? How did it affect England’s relationship with France, Spain + Holy Roman Empire?
League of Cambrai (1508)
- Between: Papacy (Pope Julius II), HRE (Maximilian I), France (Louis XII), Spain (Ferdinand)
- Alliance
- Henry was excluded
- Suggested that although he didn’t have a bad relationship with any powers (other than Spain), he wasn’t completely secure + unthreatened
What were the main aspects of Henry VII’s foreign policy in Burgundy, the Netherlands + the Holy Roman Empire?
- Trade embargo (1493-6)
- Intercursus Magnus (1496)
- Treaty of Windsor + Intercursus Malus (1506)
- League of Cambrai (1508)
Who was the leader of Burgundy, Netherlands + Holy Roman Empire at start of Henry VII’s reign?
Burgundy + Netherlands: Under control of Margaret of Burgundy (after Charles the Bold died in 1477), protected by Maximilian I (married Margaret’s stepdaughter Mary of Burgundy in 1477)
Holy Roman Empire: Under control of Maximilian I after he was elected in 1486
What was the Holy Roman Empire?
Loose federation of approx 300 states (in modern Germany) controlled by the elected Holy Roman Emperor
From what family was the Holy Roman Empire almost always from?
Habsburg dynasty (Austrian family)
Who was Maximilian I?
- Part of Habsburg dynasty
- Married Mary of Burgundy (1477), gaining lots of responsibility for Burgundy + Netherlands
- Elected Holy Roman Emperor (1486)
- Became Holy Roman Emperor (1493)
- Gave away his power over Burgundy + Netherlands to son Phillip (1494)
Who was Phillip of Burgundy?
- Son of Maximilian I
- Given control of Burgundy + Netherlands (1494)
- Married Joanna of Castile (1496) so he became Phillip of Castile
- Died 1506
Who was in control of Burgundy, Netherlands + Holy Roman Empire at end of Henry VII’s reign?
Burgundy + Netherlands: Control passed to Phillip in 1494
Holy Roman Empire: Continued to be controlled by Maximilian I
Who was Margaret of Burgundy?
- Married to Charles the Bold (Duke of Burgundy)
- Became leader of Burgundy after his death in 1477
- Yorkist (sister of Ed IV + R.III) (harboured pretenders)
Why did Burgundy not like the French?
France wanted to annex Burgundy
What was the Trade Embargo with Burgundy (1493-6) + why did it happen?
Trade embargo with Burgundy (1493-6)
- England would not trade with Burgundy
- Henry VII wanted to cut off Margaret of Burgundy’s support for pretenders that was threatening his domestic security