Chapter 3: Foreign Policy

Question 1

What did Henry wish to ensure through foreign policy?

Answer 1

He wanted to maintain positive relations to ensure:
•national security
•recognition of the Tudor dynasty
•defence of English trading interests

Question 2

What were the two reasons as to why Henry summoned Parliament to grant him extraordinary revenue to raise an army against the French?

Answer 2

1) His sense of obligation to the Bretons

2) His fear that direct French control of Brittany could increase a potential French threat to England

Question 3

What was the Treaty of Redon (Feb 1489)?

Answer 3

The treat stated that:
• Duchess Anne would pay for a small english army to defend Brittany from the french threat
•Henry tried to strengthen bond with the Holy Roman empire and contracted a marriage by proxy with Maximilian and Duchess Anne
(Ann had no desire therefore for the Duchy of Brittany fell into french hands)

Question 4

The english relations with scotland

Answer 4

• only country at the time to share a border with England
• Cross border lawlessness was a way of life
• was explicitly anti-english as they were apart of the ‘auld alliance’ with france

Question 5

English relations with France

Answer 5

• France wanted to bring duchies like Brittany and Burgundy more directly under French rule
• This had important implications for wider European relations
• England and France shared a long hostility which also included the Hundred Years war, 1337 to 1453

Question 6

Relations with the Holy Roman Empire

Answer 6

• Was a loose federation of 300 states, mostly now apart of Germany
• Maximilian was elected 1486 and became emperor in 1493

Question 7

Relations with Ireland

Answer 7

• There was no separate Irish state

* ’Lord of Ireland’ was granted by the Pope to the King of England in the 12th century

Question 8

Relations with Burgundy

Answer 8

• medieval power of the Duchy of Burgundy had been broken with the death of Duke Charles the Bold in 1477
• Was then resumed by the French crown
• Maximilian then got the title of Duke of Burgundy

Question 9

Relations with Spain

Answer 9

• Marriage of Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabella of Castile in 1469 bought unity to Spain
• The death of Isabella meant that Ferdinand involved conflict to keep his control over Castile
• This impacted Henry’s foreign policy