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
Who formed the League of Cognac of 1526 and why was it made?
- Pope
- France
- England
- Some Italien states
- aim to free Italy from Charles
Outline the key event that happened in 1527
- Charles’ army marched on Rome from Milan to support one of his allies
- the attack was successful but Bourbon was killed
- the army was unpaid and uncontrolled so sacked Rome
Who was leading Charles’ army in the 1527 attack on Rome?
- Duke of Bourbon
As Charles was so shocked at the sack of Rome, who did he try to blame it on?
- Pope and Francis for instigating these events
When did Francis lead his forces into Italy and besiege Naples?
1528
In Francis’ 1528 attack on Naples, who supported him from the sea?
- Genoese fleet led by Doria
Why did Doria choose to switch to Charles’ side?
- Francis treated them badly
Why was the support of the Genoese fleet so good for Charles? How did Charles maintain Doria as a helpful ally?
- communications were easier between Spain and Naples
- easy access to loans from Genoese bankers
- made him grand admiral of the imperial fleet
Why were the French forced to break their siege on Naples in 1528?
- lost support of the Genoese fleet
- plague hit their army
When was the Battle of Landriano and who was decisively defeated? Why was it only at this point that Spain and France were prepared to make peace?
1529, French army defeated
- both sides had exhausted their resources in this further fighting
Who came out best in the 1529 Peace of Cambrai and how?
- Charles: he gave up the duchy of Burgundy
- Francis: gave up claims to Naples, Milan, Artois and Flanders
- this secured Habsburg control in Italy
How was the Peace of Cambrai cemented?
- the marriage of Francis to Charles’ sister Eleanor and a large sum of money paid for the release of Francis’ sons from Spain
How did the situation for Charles and Francis change after the Peace of Cambrai? (not necessarily as a result of the Peace of Cambrai though)
- cities in Italy became more heavily fortified which made them less open to direct assault
- fewer Italian cities were prepared to support Francis
How did Charles cement his position in Milan?
- Charles’ niece married the ruler of Milan (Christina of Denmark to Sforza)
In 1536, what is an example of a reactionary action Charles took?
- Charles invaded Provence in retaliation against Francis’ unprovoked attack on ally, Duke of Savoy
