3) Henry VIII and Wolsey foreign policy till 1529 Flashcards
- aims and policies in foreign affairs to 1529, Wolsey’s role in foreign affairs
What were Henry’s aims of foreign policy?
- Military glory/ conquer France
- Secure succession/ have a son
What were Wolsey’s foriegn policy aims?
- Deliver Henry’s wishes
- Maintain peace in Europe
- Hold balance of power in Europe (arbiter of Europe)
- Personal prestige/ get promoted within church
Who were Henry’s major rivals at this point
Francis I of France
(Henry wanted France)
What did Henry do for foreign policy in 1509?
Henry comes to the throne and marries catherine of Aragon
What happened in 1510?
The peace treaty with France was renewed
What happened in 1511?
The holy league was created and England join
What was the Holy league?
Where England, Spain and HRE joined together against the French, and aimed to stop them advancing into Italy
What happened in 1512?
The first french war (known as the war of the league of Cambrai or the war of the holy league)
What happened in 1513?
- The battle of Spurs (called that as the French ran away on their horses). Henry beseiged Therouanne and captured Tournai
- Battle of Flodden
What was the battle of Flodden?
- Happened whilst Henry was away in France
- Scotland invaded England under the Auld alliance
- Earl of Surrey led the English army
- over 10,000 scots killed including James IV and 33 nobels
- Henry’s sister margaret now acted as regent for infant son James V
- Removed scottish threat for many years
How did Henry view the battle of Spurs?
As a great success as he was able to take a part of France (even though they were poor towns with not much to offer)
What were the events of Henry’s first french war?
1512: Henry aimed to take Aquitaine (SW France prev. ruled by England) with help from Spain. Army sent to N. Spain for campaign but Ferdinand used this as a distraction so he could seize lands from France.
1513: Henry invaded area around Calais.Wolsey organised expedition (despite opposition from other ministers), raised money and supplied army. Henry led campaign, but french avoided battle so little and slow progress was made. Henry took Therouanne (which he gave to Maximilian who burned it down), then besieged Tournai in battle of Spurs- used for propaganda, supported by capture of French nobles.
Campaign exhausted English finances and Ferdinand and Maximilian made separate peace with louis XII so Henry unable to invade France, and forced into peace policy.
What were the terms of the peace policy between Henry and Louis XII?
- France to pay arrears of French pension (negotiated by Henry VII), 1 million crowns
- Henry keeps conquests
- Mary I (Henry’s sister) to marry Louis XII
How much did Henry spend on the first French war?
£960,000 compared to his £110,000 annual income
When and why did the first french war end?
1514, Henry ran out of money and couldn’t afford to keep fighting. Also forced into peace policy due to ferdinand and maximilian making peace with Louis XII
What happened in 1514?
- First french war ends
- Spain and the HRE make separate peace with France
- 1514 Franco- English treaty
What were the terms of the 1514 Franco- English treaty?
- Marriage of Louis XII (French king before Francis I) to Mary (Henry’s sister)
- French pension
- English keep conquests
What was henry’s main aim of foreign policy from 1509-1514?
Military glory and attempting to conquer france
What happened in 1515?
- Louis XII dies
- Francis wins ar Marignano
- Charles and Maximilian make peace with France
What happens in 1518?
The Treaty of London was signed
What was the treaty of London?
Most important achievement of Henry’s foreign policy. The pope wanted a universal truce between the christian nations of Europe to fight turkey. Wolsey invities 20 more nations, and gets them all to sign the treaty in London. England seen as the arbiter of Europe.
Wolsey hijacks papal initiative to raise troops to fight Turks and make it into international peace treaty.
Wolsey returned Tournai to France as part of deal in return for 600,000 crowns and proposed marriage between Francis’ son and infant Mary I
Agreement undermined by election of Charles as HRE in 1519: shifted the balance of power dramatically and forced Wolsey to work harder to maintain England’s position as Arbiter of Europe
Done because Henry has no money, balance of power
What happened in 1520?
- Charles V was elected as the HRE
- The Field of Cloth of Gold
What was the Field of the Cloth of gold?
Francis and Charles eager to secure England as ally before war broke out.
In June a great festival occured, mainly organised by Wolsey, where Francis I and Henry met near Calais and was meant to show peace and celebrations of the relationship between France and England
Gave Henry glory and honour without going to war- although achieved little of diplomatic value
Cost a years income
Underminded the treaty of Bruges 1521 between england and Spain
Wolsey attempts to avoid war but is dragged into French was 1523
what was Henry’s aim from 1515-1520 for foreign policy?
Diplomacy- making peace with other nations
What happened in 1521?
The secret treaty of Bruges
What was the secret treaty of Bruges?
A secret treaty signed between Spain and England during the italian war against France
Wolsey agreed with charles to invade France unless France made peace with Charles, followed by an agreement for Mary I (Henry’s daughter) to marry Charles.
What happened in 1522?
Henry’s second French war began
When does the second french war end?
1525
what happened in 1525?
- Charles wins at the battle of Pavia
- Henry’s second french war ends
- Anglo-treaty of the more
What happened at the battle of Pavia?
A battle between Charles V and Francis I where Charles V wins and captures Francis I. Charles no longer wishes to give aid to Henry as he didn’t help at the battle, creating a poor relationship between them. (Charles also ends the marriage treaty with Mary I, as no longer needed support from England)
How successful was Henry’s second French war?
Not successful at all, didn’t capture any of France and wasted a load of money
All money Henry gained as peace maker was lost, along with a years sallary £400,000
What was the Anglo-French treaty of the more?
Henry has no allies left so Wolsey is forced to become allies with france.
* Henry gave up claim to French throne in return for annual pension of £20,000 per year
More was a house that Wolsey owned
What happened in 1526?
The League of Cognac
What was the league of Cognac?
Aimed to drive the imperial army out of Italy. England not pact of the pact but named ‘protector’ of the league and agreed to subsidise.
Wolsey persuaded an anti-Charles alliance
What happened in 1527?
- April- Treaty of Westminster
- May- Charles captures Pope Clement VII (the sack of Rome)
- August- Treaty of Amiens- Anglo- French vs the Empire
What was the treaty of Westminster?
- Cemented Mary’s marriage agreements
- Made peace between France and England
- France and England agree to put joint pressure on Charles
- England would help France in negotitions to secure the release of the sons of Francis I, held hostage by Charles V
- Increased the annual french pension to Henry
What happened in the sack of Rome?
May 1527, Due to a lot of fighting in Italy imperial troops end up in Rome and ransack it, and take the Pope captive in the Vatican. Charles V (HRE) held the Pope hostage and as Charles was Chatherine of Aragon’s nephew he forced Pope Clement VII to not grant Henry the divorce from catherine of Aragon that he wanted
What was the treaty of Amiens?
Signed August 1527 it was a commercial treaty between England and France that put an embargo on goods from the netherlands until the Pope was released. The treaty also married Mary I to Henri, the second son of Francis I
What happened in 1529?
The treaty of Cambrai
What was the treaty of Cambrai?
France and the HRE make peace
When did Henry focus on war with france?
What periods of his foreign policy?
1509-1514
1521-1529
When did Henry mainly focus on diplomacy within his foreign policy?
1515-1520
