Chapter 2: Henry VII’s foreign policy Flashcards
How secure was England in England the late 15th century?
Look at relationship with different countries :
Brittany & France
Scotland
Spain
Burgundy
Holy Roman Empire
Italy
Brittany and France
Evidence = threat:
- France have largest and most professional army and are financially much stronger than England
- France = England’s traditional enemy after 100 year war & France = allied to Scotland
Evidence = not a threat:
- Duchy of Brittany had provided Henry with refuge when he fled England in 1471
- France had given financial aid for H invasion in 1485
Scotland
Evidence= threat
- ‘Auld Alliance’ -> allied with France (England could be attached simultaneously)
- raids across borders were common => England have to keep expensive military bases near border
Evidence = not threat
-smaller population and less financial income => nuisance rather than threat
Spain
Evidence = threat
-marriage of Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabella of Castile => united into an international power
Evidence = not a threat
-priorities with Moors in Granada (1492) and to secure Northern border with France by retaking land => Spain less likely to attach France (England = useful ally)
Burgundy
Evidence = threat:
- Margaret (sister of Edward VI and Richard III) had married Duke of Burgundy => offered base for Yorkist claimants to the throne
Holy Roman Empire
Evidence = threat
- large area of Europe
- links to Burgundy
Evidence = not a threat
-power of Empire was limited
Italy
Evidence = threat
-France, Spain and the Empire all had claims to land there
Evidence = not a threat
- collection of states -> no collective force
- Italian wars diverted European attention away from Henry -> less vulnerable
What factors influenced Henry’s foreign policy?
Factors;
threat of invasion
dynastic threats
weak financial position
Threat of invasion
Background:
- threat from internal claimant (usurper)
- threat from enemies of France and Scotland => could exploit H’s weak position to launch attack. F&S = joint invasion possible
What impact did it have on H’s position/aim/priorities?
-H had to focus on avoiding war on both N & S border => bigger focus on controlling those regions internally but also attempts to ally F&S/ make peace with them
-position only threatened if invasion happens but H aims to prevent invasion/ war through polices etc.
Dynastic threats
Background:
- H = usurper (fave internal threats)
- Some European rulers also try to exploit this weakness/ restore Yorkists line (e.g MofB supported Simnel)
Impact:
- H’s position = threatened -> aim to gain allies to discourage attacks to secure authority
- prevent European powers from supporting Yorkist claimants
- restore relationship with European powers (e.g Burgundy) to develop close ties (marriage alliances bet. his children and children of European rulers)
Weak financial position
Background:
-War= expensive (H avoid war - e.g with France who are financially stronger than England)
Impact:
- avoid war (costly) => make allies (not only prevent war but can borrow money from allies)
- maintain trade links
- avoid invasion => gain allies to discourage attaches
Main aims of H’s foreign policy
secure throne from domestic and foreign threats
gain recognition for Tudor dynasty from European powers (due to being a usurper) -> reduce dynastic threats
be defensive and avoid invasion in order to maintain allies to discourage attacks
build up financial resources in order to protect himself from possible invasion and install defensive measures
maintain trade links to improve economic position
How successful was H in achieving these aims in the early years of his reign?
National security:
- married Elizabeth of York (secure N borders)
- Lambert Simnel (challenge security and agreements made, support from Ireland, Burgundy)
Allies, avoid war, security:
- one year truce with France (extended to 1489)
- commercial treaty with Brittany in 1486
- three year truce with Scotland in 1486
- 1487 HRE heir Maximilian renew Edward IV’e treaty
National security & gaining allies successes in H’s FP
- Truce of Ayton 1497
- 1503 marriage between James IV and Margret Tudor
- 1486 3-year truce between England & Scotland (Scot&France = natural allies)
- > H VII reduce threat of invasion
- 1493: truce between England & Scotland for 9 years (pro-English Scottish nobility back into power)
- Treaty of Etaples
- Breton Crisis 1488
- Treaty of Rendon 1489
- Treaty of Medina del Campo (ally for 14 years)
- 1506 Treaty of Windsor
National security & gaining allies failures
1495 James IV comes of age (wanted to show dominance and planned to invade England with Warbeck -> 1496 Warbeck invades)
1488 looses Brittany and made coastline more vulnerable
Warbeck comes back with foreign support
1508 alliances with France and Burgundy which failed
League of Cambrai -> allies betray him
