Charles and Foreign Policy (1) Flashcards
Did Charles feel any need to centralise or unite his lands? Provide some evidence
- no, he viewed them as a collection of individual states owing him allegiance
- correspondence with regents indicates his respect for the authority of local elites and preference for governing dominions individually
In Charles’ role as the Holy Roman Emperor, what did he have to do?
- defend the Catholic faith
- bring peace to the Christian countries of Europe
- lead a crusade against Islam
Aside from being the HRE, what else was Charles’ aim in foreign policy? What was his key strategy?
- protect and extend the lands ruled by his family esp. regaining the Burgundian lands lost to France
- key strategy = make marriage alliances of family members
Why did Naples require constant protection?
- France had persistent ambitions - they held Milan
What were the reasons for the French-Spanish rivalry between Francois and Charles?
- personal rivalry between them
- 1516: Charles defeated Francis in the contest to become HRE
- Francis had a claim to Naples (under Spanish control)
- Milan was important to both (under French control)
Why was Francis particularly worried about Charles becoming HRE?
- France was encircled by Habsburg territory
Why was Milan important to Charles?
- it was a key strategic point enabling good communication between HRE and Naples and between lands in Austria and Spain
What happened with Navarre during Charles’ reign?
- Navarre had been promised to the French as part of the Treaty of Noyon
- this was postponed due to Navarre’s positions on Spanish borders
- the French took the opportunity of the comuneros revolt to enter Navarre
- once the revolt was dealt with, Charles drove him out of Navarre
What consequence did Chievres’ death in 1521 have on policy in Italy?
- he supported peaceful relations with France but his replacement (Gattinara) supported the idea of removing French influence from Italy
What consequence did the changing of the Pope to Clement VII have on Charles’ policy in Italy?
- he became concerned with Charles’ rising power in Italy
- formed an alliance with France, Venice and Florence
- enabled France to retake Milan
What key development in the conflict occurred in 1525?
- Charles’ army defeated the French outside Milan (The Battle of Pavia)
Who was Charles’ army led by?
Lannoy
How did weaponry improvements contribute to the success of Charles in the Battle of Pavia? How does this fit in with the nature of fighting in this period as a whole?
- the Habsburg army made effective use of arquebuse
- huge investment in armies and weapons and developments in military technology
- rulers recruiting increased numbers of mercenaries
While Francis I was taken captive, what did he agree with Charles in what treaty?
- to renounce claims in Italy and Netherlands
- give up Burgundian lands
- Treaty of Madrid
Although the Treaty of Madrid was agreed, how was Francis able to renounce the terms as soon as he got home?
- no firm measures were taken to force him to keep the conditions, Charles relied on Francis’ word only