Breton Crisis Flashcards
What was Henry’s initial approach to the Breton Crisis?
Henry did not rush towards war due to the danger of annoying France and a lack of funds. Instead, he opened negotiations with France while secretly allowing English troops to assist the Bretons.
What actions did Henry take when his initial maneuvers failed?
He sought support at home and abroad for a short campaign, summoning Parliament for a grant of £100,000 to finance a small force.
How many troops did Henry’s army consist of when it crossed the Channel in April 1489?
Estimates suggest between 3,000 and 6,000 men.
What was Henry’s stance when his army crossed into Brittany?
He made it clear to the French that he was only acting in defense of Brittany, with no intention to re-open English claims to French lands.
What was the French response to Henry’s actions during the crisis?
The French showed their displeasure by receiving the pretender Perkin Warbeck at court and increasing their troop presence in Brittany.
What significant risk did Henry take in the final stages of the war?
He led a larger force of 12,000 troops into Brittany, betting that France did not want a long conflict.
What were the terms of the Treaty of Etaples (1492)?
Henry’s army left France in return for a payment of 745,000 crowns and an agreement by the French King not to support Henry’s enemies.
What was the overall outcome of the Breton Crisis for Henry VII?
It was seen as a successful baptism of fire, maintaining England’s friendship with France and ensuring military intervention was brief.
What was a significant drawback of the Breton Crisis for England?
England’s armies did not win any main engagements, and Brittany remained a satellite of France, ultimately absorbed in 1532.
Lead up to the Breton Crisis
Relations with France were initially friendly because Henry’s fight for the throne had been encouraged by the French court. However, he had also depended on Brittany (which was semi-independent from French rule) for sanctuary during his fourteen-year exile. This put Henry in a difficult position when France moved to absorb Brittany between 1488 and 1492. He faced a serious problem because an accepted view of national security included the belief that the coastline across the Channel should not be held by just one power. If France gained control of Brittany the south coast of England would be in a militarily weaker position; Calais (the last surviving outpost of England’s medieval empire in France) would be more vulnerable; and trade could be disrupted. These considerations made the ‘Breton Crisis’ of 1488-92 the major foreign policy problem of Henry’s reign, and the only time he committed troops outside the British Isles.
