England's Relations With Other Foreign Powers

Question 1

When did the Hundred Years War take place from-to? Who was it between? - Foreign Relations

Answer 1

Conflict which ebbed and flowed between 1337-1453. Between France and England.

Question 2

What were Henry’s main reasons for pursuing a peaceful foreign policy? (3) - Foreign Relations

Answer 2

Henry’s main reason for pursuing a peaceful foreign policy was to maintain national security, ensure the recognition of the Tudor Dynasty and defend English trading interests.

Question 3

When did the French invasion of Brittany begin? Why did Henry feel he needed to be involved in this? - Foreign Relations

Answer 3

The French invasion of Brittany began in 1487, with Henry involving England as he felt an obligation to the Bretons after he spent time at their court and that any invasion of Brittany may have presented a direct threat of invasion of England by France.

Question 4

When was the Treaty of Redon agreed? Who between? What did this agree? - Foreign Relations

Answer 4

The Treaty of Redon was agreed in 1489 between England and Brittany to agree for a small English militia to defend Brittany from total French invasion.

Question 5

How was Emperor Maximilian of the HRE involved in the French invasion of Brittany? - Foreign Relations

Answer 5

Emperor Maximilian had conducted a marriage-by-proxy to Duchess Anne of Brittany, meaning that he clearly didn’t want Brittany to fall under French control.

Question 6

Who was the ruler of Brittany? How had this person become ruler? - Foreign Relations

Answer 6

Brittany was, at the time, ruled by Anne, Duchess of Brittany. She had come to power following her father’s death, with her being her father’s only heir.

Question 7

What turn of events left Henry’s English army isolated in Brittany? - Foreign Relations

Answer 7

Henry’s English army was left marooned in Brittany after Duchess Anne decided to marry Charles VIII of France, deciding it was pointless to engage in prolonged conflict.

Question 8

How did Henry manipulate the French, leading to financial gain? - Foreign Relations

Answer 8

Henry launched an invasion of France in 1492 when France was gearing up for an invasion of Italy. Rightly assuming that France would seek a peaceful solution to allow this, France negotiated a £5,000/year pension for Henry to compensate him for military costs.

Question 9

What Treaty resolved the English Invasion of France? When was this signed? What 2 things did this negotiate for Henry’s benefit? - Foreign Relations

Answer 9

The Treaty of Etaples resolved the English invasion of France. Signed in 1492, this negotiated a £5000/year pension for Henry to compensate military costs. Also forced Charles VIII to withdraw support for Perkin Warbeck.

Question 10

Where did the majority of England’s trade come between? How was this important to Henry’s attitude to foreign policy? - Foreign Policy

Answer 10

The majority of England’s trade was in the form of exports through Burgundian ports such as Antwerp and Bruges. This meant it was important for positive commercial ties and good relationships between the two.

Question 11

What complicated relations between England and Burgundy? - Foreign Policy

Answer 11

The fact that Margaret of Burgundy, sister of Richard III, was a hugely powerful figure in Burgundy complicated relations. Margaret offered hospitality and patronage to Warbeck and Simnel to try to damage Henry’s authority.

Question 12

What actions did Henry take to punish the Burgundians for their patronage and hospitality to pretenders to the throne and other claimants? When? - Foreign Policy

Answer 12

In 1493, Henry decided to place an embargo on trade between the two nations, meaning that England’s major exports were stopped as a result of these restrictions.

Question 13

When was the Intercursus Magnus agreed? Who between? What did this agree? - Foreign Policy

Answer 13

The Intercursus Magnus was agreed in 1496 by England and Burgundy following Warbeck leaving Burgundy. This normalised trading relations between the two.

Question 14

What treaty agreed the Intercursus Malus? WHEN? What did this aim to do? Why was this not successful? - Foreign Policy

Answer 14

The Treaty of Windsor agreed that English merchants in the Netherlands would have advantageous trading positions over Burgundian merchants. Agreed in 1506. However, never came into practice and trade continued on basis of Intercursus Magnus.

Question 15

Which Yorkist claimant was handed over to Henry as a result of the Treaty of Windsor? How did this benefit Henry? - Foreign Policy

Answer 15

The Treaty of Windsor (1506) agreed that the Earl of Suffolk, Edmund de la Pole, would be handed over to Henry. This consolidated Henry’s position as King of England as it reduced external threat to his throne.

Question 16

When was the Treaty of Medina del Campo signed? What did it agree? Which Spanish Monarchs agreed it? - Foreign Policy

Answer 16

The Treaty of Medina de Campo was signed in 1489 by Ferdinand and Isabella. Agreed mutual protection between ENG and SPA, agreed neither nation would harbour rebels or pretenders and also for a marriage alliance between Prince Arthur and Catherine of Aragon. Also agreed low customs duties on trade between the two.

Question 17

What issues were there with the details of the Treaty of Medina del Campo and its implementation? - Foreign Policy

Answer 17

Arrangements in terms of the royal marriage were difficult to ratify, with Ferdinand reluctant to allow Catherine to marry Arthur whilst Warbeck was a threat to the throne. Additionally, the size of the dowry was disputed.

Question 18

When were Catherine and Arthur eventually married? What happened a year later? - Foreign Policy

Answer 18

Catherine and Arthur were married in 1501, however, Arthur died in 1502, complicating Henry’s foreign relations.

Question 19

What Spanish political event completely changed Henry’s foreign policy in 1504? - Foreign Policy

Answer 19

Isabella, wife of Ferdinand died, and the throne was seized by Ferdinand’s daughter, Juana, and her husband, Philip of Burgundy. Henry decided to support JUANA AND PHILIP, angering Ferdinand.

Question 20

What coincidental circumstances led to the agreement of the Treaty of Windsor? When? - Foreign Policy

Answer 20

In January 1506, Juana and Philip were shipwrecked in England, and took refuge at Henry’s court. During this time, Henry agreed the Treaty of Windsor.

Question 21

What was agreed by the Treaty of Windsor in terms of Burgundy and Spain? - Foreign Policy

Answer 21

B - Agreed the Intercursus Malus. Overturned the Earl of Suffolk to Henry’s control. Agreed a marriage between Henry and Philip’s sister which never materialised.
S - Henry agreed to formally recognise Juana and Philip as the rulers of Spain, strengthening their claim to the Spanish throne.

Question 22

Why was Henry’s decision to support Philip and Juana not overly successful? When did this error come to light? - Foreign Policy

Answer 22

Philip died later in 1506, with Ferdinand again seizing the throne and angry about Henry supporting Juana and Philip 2 years previously in their bid to originally seize the throne from him.

Question 23

What impacts did Ferdinand’s return to the throne in 1506 have on Henry’s foreign policy? - Foreign Policy

Answer 23

Henry was left diplomatically isolated from Spain having opposed Ferdinand in the previous fight for the Spanish throne. Ferdinand also blocked the marriage between Prince Henry and Catherine of Aragon so that it wouldn’t happen in Henry VII’s lifetime.

Question 24

How did the actions of James IV anger Henry VII in 1495? - Foreign Policy

Answer 24

James IV offered hospitality to Perkin Warbeck at his court, as well as a marriage to James’ cousin.

Question 25

When did James encourage Warbeck to invade England? What impacts/repercussions did this have on Henry? - Foreign Policy

Answer 25

James encouraged Warbeck to invade England in 1496 with the help of a small force, although unsuccessfully. Henry retaliated by launching an invasion of Scotland, financed by extraordinary revenue. This contributed to the Cornish Rebellion of 1497.

Question 26

When did the Cornish rebellion occur? - Foreign Policy

Answer 26

The Cornish Rebellion happened in 1497.

Question 27

What happened to Anglo-Scottish relations from 1498 onwards? What was a result of this? - Foreign Policy

Answer 27

The relations between the 2 states improved significantly. A result of improved Anglo-Scottish relations was that the Treaty of Perpetual Peace was agreed in 1502, agreeing for Henry’s daughter, Princess Margaret to marry James IV, securing a political alliance.

Question 28

When was the Treaty of Perpetual Peace signed? - Foreign Policy

Answer 28

The Treaty of Perpetual Peace was signed in 1502.

Question 29

Who was in charge of the Governance of Ireland? Why was this individual feared by Henry VII? - Foreign Policy

Answer 29

Ireland was governed by the Earl of Kildare, known as the ‘Uncrowned King of Ireland.’ He was feared by Henry as he had Yorkist sympathies, even supporting Perkin Warbeck and Lambert Simnel.

Question 30

How was the Earl of Kildare’s Yorkist sympathies made the most obvious? When? - Foreign Policy

Answer 30

The Earl of Kildare was very blatant with his Yorkist sympathies by crowning Lambert Simnel, then pretending to be the Earl of Warwick (a Yorkist claimant) as King of Ireland.
CROWNED IN 1487.

Question 31

How did Henry retaliate against Kildare’s growing threat? - Foreign Policy

Answer 31

Henry stopped relying on the Irish aristocracy to rule Ireland, instead appointing his infant son, Prince Henry as Lieutenant of Ireland.

Question 32

Who was Prince Henry’s deputy in Ireland? What is his most notable legal achievement to consolidate English rule in Ireland? When was this achieved? - Foreign Policy

Answer 32

Prince Henry’s deputy in Ireland was Sir Edward Poynings. Ponyings forced the Irish Parliament to pass “Poynings’ Law” in 1495, which stated that the Irish Parliament could pass no law without English approval.

Question 33

Who did Henry later entrust to rule Ireland? Why was this eventually unsustainable for Henry? - Foreign Policy

Answer 33

Henry decided to withdraw control of Ireland from the Earl of Kildare and enforce law through Prince Henry and a supplied force of troops.
This policy eventually became too expensive to continue to pursue in light of the Scottish invasion of England in 1496.

Question 34

Following the abandonment of ‘Rule of the Pale,’ what policy did Henry use to govern Ireland? Why was this successful? - Foreign Policy

Answer 34

After ‘Rule of the Pale’ was abandoned in 1496 (and Poynings was recalled), Henry reverted to using the Earl of Kildare to rule Ireland. This was more successful now as Kildare had no benefit of supporting Yorkists, so loyally served Henry.

Question 35

What benefits were gifted to Prince Arthur as heir to the throne? - Foreign Policy

Answer 35

Arthur received an education thought fitting of a Prince in foreign languages, classics, music, religion and in the methods of court. Also given his OWN COURT AT LUDLOW.

Question 36

When did Henry VII die? How was his death politically dealt with? - Foreign Policy

Answer 36

Henry VII died on 23rd April 1509.
Margaret Beaufort, Bishop Fox and Richard Weston were keen to distance themselves from Henry’s harsh regime and position themselves around Henry VIII. Empson and Dudley were not and subsequently arrested.