England's relations with Scotland and other foreign powers

Question 1

What were Henry’s aims in foreign policy?

Answer 1

To maintain good relations with European powers
To gain international recognition of the Tudor dynasty
To maintain national security
To defend English trading interests

Question 2

What happened in 1487 with Brittany and France?

Answer 2

The French invaded the Duchy of Brittany , the last independent area within France
The death of Duke Francis II of Brittany, without a male heir provided the excuse so France attempted to claim Brittainy and strip it of it’s independence (time when women couldn’t rule)

Question 3

what happened in 1489 with Brittany and France?

Answer 3

Henry summoned Parliament to grant him extraordinary revenue to raise an army against the French
Treaty of Redon- Henry agreed to support the claim of Duke Francis’ young daughter, Duchesse Anne (who would pay for a small English army to defend Brittainy) although he was conscious not to antagonise the French

Question 4

What happened in 1491 with France and Brittany?

Answer 4

6000 English volunteers were sent to Brittany but Anne (fearing the futility of prolonged resistance) surrendered to the French - it was arranged that Anne would marry Charles VIII of France, ending Breton independence

Question 5

What happened in 1492 with France and Brittany (Henry solving the issue of Anne’s surrender to France)?

Answer 5

Based on intelligence that Charles was more interested in invading Italy than fighting the English henry raised two parliamentary subsidies and invaded France with 26,000 men. The French rapidly sought peace

Question 6

What was signed in November 1492?

Answer 6

The Treaty of Etaples - Charles agreed that he would no longer assist any pretenders to the English throne - Henry also received a pension of 745,000 crowns paid in annual instalments of 50,000 a year as compensation for the expense of having a recruited an army for invasion - and this was 5% of Henry’s annual income
(Dynastic +national interests + increased finance )

Question 7

Why was the Netherlands important to the English?

Answer 7

Its’ ports were important for English trade- particularly cloth (particularly that of Antwerp and Bruges which came under Burgundy’s jurisdiction) so important for commercial reasons that there were good relationships

Question 8

Who had control of the Netherlands?

Answer 8

Had been under the control of Burgundy as Margaret of Burgundy had married Charles who died in 1477 so she ruled as protector while the dukes Title passed onto Maximillian who became the HRE in 1493 so placed his son Philip (Duke Philip IV) in control of the area - Margaret was the leading upholder of the Yorkist cause)

Question 9

What was the problem with the Netherlands and who controls them?

Answer 9

Margaret, Maximillian and Philip supported the pretenders to Henry’s throne (Simnel and Warbeck) so relationships deteriorated

Question 10

What did Henry do in 1493 following Margaret’s support of Perkin Warbeck?

Answer 10

Broke trade relations with Burgundy as he was more concerned with securing the dynasty than protecting the commercial interests of London, however this did harm both the English and Flemish economies
(brought his objectives of securing dynasty and encouraging trade into conflict with eachother - the decision was unpopular with London and east-coast merchants who’s interests were sacrificed )

Question 11

What did Henry VII and Philip IV agree in 1496?

Answer 11

The intercursus magnus which ended the trade embargo, restoring normal trading relations and Margaret recognised Henry’s position as King (after Warbeck left Burgundy this was signed)

Question 12

Who died in 1503?

Answer 12

Margaret of Burgundy

Question 13

What happened in 1506 (B)?

Answer 13

Philip and his wife Juana were blown into the English coast as they set out for Spain following Isabella’s death in 1504 - they stayed for three months and agreed two treaties

Question 14

What two treaties did Philip and Henry agree in 1506?

Answer 14

Treaty of Windsor - Henry recognised Philip’s claim to Castile (and recognised him + Juana as rulers of it) and they both promised to assist eachother against rebels
A trade treaty was also agreed (became known as Intercursus Malus) it was over generous to England (demanding a stronger trading position of English Merchants in the Netherlands)

Question 15

What further agreements were made between Philip and Henry?

Answer 15

Philip handed over the Yorkist Earl of Suffolk who had been sheltering in Burgundy (Henry then imprisoned him in the tower)
A marriage was arranged between Henry (widowed) and Philip’s sister Margaret duchess of Savoy but this came to nothing

Question 16

Why was the trade treaty between Henry and Philip never implemented?

Answer 16

Philip died in September 1506 and the new Burgundian governor disapproved of the treaty

Question 17

What treaty was signed in 1507 between England and Burgundy?

Answer 17

A third treaty reverting to the terms of the first intercursus magnus

Question 18

In 1508 how was Henry diplomatically isolated?

Answer 18

By not being signatory to the League of Cambrai which was formed by the HRE, France, Spain and the Papacy

Question 19

What was signed in 1489 with Spain? (F+I)

Answer 19

The treaty of Medina del Campo agreed a marriage alliance between Catherine of Aragon (F+I’s youngest daughter) and Arthur, they agreed not to harbour rebels or pretenders and the two monarchs offered mutual protection in the event of an attack

Question 20

What took place in 1501?(Spain\0

Answer 20

Marriage between Arthur and Catherine

Question 21

Who died in 1502 and why was this a problem?

Answer 21

Arthur - made Henry anxious to propose a new marriage between Catherine and Arthur’s younger brother Henry , a treaty was signed in 1503 and the marriage planned for 1506

Question 22

Who died in 1504 and so what did Henry support (S)?

Answer 22

Isabella died so Henry supported Juana’s claim to Castile

Question 23

What happened in 1506 - Spain?

Answer 23

Philip’s death led Ferdinand to deprive his daughter Joanna of her inheritance. The marriage between Catherine and Henry was jeopardised and didn’t take place until June 1509 after Henry VII’s death

Question 24

Between 1485 and 1495 what were English relations with Scotland like?

Answer 24

Tense but for the first few years of H’s reign they remained relatively friendly

Question 25

What did James IV of Scotland do between 1495 and 1496?

Answer 25

Supported the pretender Perkin Warbeck (he stayed for two years at Scottish court and received not only a pension but an aristocratic marriage to the King’s cousin, Lady Catherine Gordon) and provided a small army to invade England in 1496- war was threatened

Question 26

When did Scotland and England make a truce and what was it called?

Answer 26

1497 - Treaty of Ayton (became a full peace treaty in 1502) as the Cornish rebellion of this year shook Henry and made it evident it was in the interests of both E and S to secure am immediate truce (few miles North of the English border stronghold of Berwick upon tweed)

Question 27

What happened in 1501-1503 regarding Scotland?

Answer 27

It was agreed that James IV should marry Henry’s daughter Margaret
In 1502 this was sanctioned by a formal peace treaty (The Treaty of Perpetual Peace) and the marriage took place in 1503
The improvement in relations lasted until the end of H’s reign (successful in ensuring security of the dynasty)

Question 28

Who rules Ireland?

Answer 28

Henry rules only part of the ‘pale land’ around Dublin and the rest was ruled by independent chieftains from the descendants of the Anglo-Norman barons who had settled there in the 12 century (most important = Fitzgerald’s and Butlers)

Question 29

Who was the Earl of Kildare (Lord deputy of Ireland) and why was he a threat to Henry?

Answer 29

The leader of the Fitzgerald’s/ Geraldine’s

Due to his Yorkist sympathies. He crowned Lambert Simnel king of Ireland in 1486 and supported Perkin Warbeck in 1491

Question 30

What was Henry’s response to Kildare’s actions?

Answer 30

Instead of relying on the established Irish aristocracy, who were cheap but unreliable, he attempted the most costly approach of rule of the ‘pale’ through an Englishman, backed by armed forces
He appointed his infant son (Henry) as Lieutenant of Ireland and appointed with Sir Edward Ponyings as his deputy

Question 31

What did Edward Ponyings then do and was he successful?

Answer 31

Initially successful in establishing royal authority by means of the threat of force and bribery
He got the Irish Parliament to pass the ‘Ponyings’ law’ of 1495 which declared that Irish Parliament needed the approval of the English monarch before it could pass laws(also attempted to implement English law in Ireland)
He also tried to subdue the Irish by force

Question 32

What was Kildare later persuaded to do and what were the consequences?

Answer 32

Persuaded to abandon the Yorkist cause (having decided there was no benefit in supporting it) and was reinstated in 1495
He served Henry loyally and secured the submission of various Irish Chieftains
By 1500 Henry had established a reasonable level of control and cheap authority over Ireland
Although H was fortunate that Kildare proved so amenable, the fact Kildare was able to use his office to rebuild his family fortunes made him eager to support his former enemy

Question 33

Who were Henry’s four children who survived childhood?

Answer 33

Arthur, Margaret, Henry, Mary

Question 34

Despite the marriage alliance of Arthur and Catherine of Aragon what caused instability to the dynasty?

Answer 34

Arthur’s unexpected death in 1502 (he had had the education of the Prince and was set up with his own court in Shropshire)
Making Henry heir, raising the issue of what would happen if the king died when Henry was still a child - further complicated by Yorkist claimant (earl of Suffolk) gaining influence again

Question 35

For what three main reasons did Arthur’s death cause instability to the dynasty?

Answer 35

The new heir, Prince Henry, was still a child
The Yorkists had a powerful claimant in the Earl of Suffolk
Henry VII’s health was deteriorating

Question 36

What happened in 1504 causing further instability?

Answer 36

Henry’s wife Elizabeth of York died, shortly after giving birth to Katherine (who also died), meaning no more children

Question 37

Who was imprisoned during this insecure period but why was this not enough?

Answer 37

Earl of Suffolk was imprisoned in 1506 (after Philip and Juana had to take refuge in England and agreed to hand him over) but the survival of the succession rested on the acceptance of Ministers of prince Henry

Question 38

When did Henry VII die?

Answer 38

Health deteriorated rapidly from Feb 1506 and he died 21st of April 1509

Question 39

What happened when Henry died?

Answer 39

At first no accouncement was made One faction led by Richard fox and Richard Weston (his friend from the privy chamber) and supported by Margaret Beaufort sought to manipulate the terms of the succession to their advantage and position themselves around the new king
Kings death announced on 23rd April and the following day any troublemakers, including Empson and Dudley were arrested, symbolising new regime

Question 40

What were the two reasons for Henry wanting to raise an army against the French in 1489 and help Brittany?

Answer 40

His sense of obligation to the Bretons

His fear that direct French control of Brittainy could increase a potential French threat against England

Question 41

What did Henry try to strengthen at the same time as the treaty of Redon in 1489 and how?

Answer 41

His position by an alliance with Maximillian (the HRE- elect) - A widower, Maximillian had contracted a marriage-by-proxy (one or both the individuals being untied is not physically present, usually represented by another person) with Anne so had no desire for the Duchy of Brittainy to fall into French hands

Question 42

Why did Anne’s marriage to Charles VIII put Henry in a difficult position?

Answer 42

The English army was stranded in Brittainy and it meant that Maximillian lost interest in the matter
Situation made worse by Perkin Warbeck seeking French backing for his claim to the English throne

Question 43

What were the problems with Medina del Campo (1489) ?

Answer 43

Arrangements for the royal marriage did not go smoothly
Ferdinand proved reluctant to allow the royal marriage to go ahead as long as Henry’s dynastic stability remained a threat to Perkin Warbeck
The two monarchs argued over the size of Catherine’s dowry
Details of marriage finally agreed in 1499

Question 44

How did the death of Arthur complicate Henry’s relations with Ferdinand?

Answer 44

He immediately suggested that Catherine should marry his second son, Prince Henry but Ferdinand was reluctant to agree (he had little need for an English alliance and the marriage would require a papal dispensation, which could be arranged, but at a price
In 1504 Henry lost his enthusiasm for the marriage when the death of I made F a less significant political figure and during the following succession struggle between F and Juana (I’s sister), Henry chose to support Juana
Juana and her husband Philip of Burgundy set sail for Spain in Jan 1506 but forced to take refuge in England when their ship wrecked at sea

Question 45

Why did Philip of Burgundy’s death soon after his arrival in Spain prove disastrous for Henry?

Answer 45

Juana (in her grief) was described by her father Ferdinand as having gone mad
This gave Ferdinand the opportunity once more to become regent of Castile
Left Henry diplomatically isolated as once again he had been diplomatically outsmarted by a major European monarch
Ferdinand ensured that the marriage between Prince Henry and Catherine would not take place in Henry VII’s lifetime

Question 46

What were the outcomes of James IV encouraging Warbeck to enter England with an army?

Answer 46

The army was small and spent little time in England as it received no support from the people of Northumberland and quickly retreated back over the party when they got word that an English force was making its way north from Newcastle
The attempt at invasion lead to Henry raising a larger army to launch an invasion of Scotland (had important political repercussions- prompted tax rebellion next year

Question 47

What were Anglo-Scottish relations like from 1498 onwards and what was the outcome?

Answer 47

They were significantly improved and because of this, James no longer had any diplomatic use for Warbeck who had become tiresome, Warbeck was executed in 1499

Question 48

What was Henry’s problem with the strategy of using Ponyings and what was the outcome?

Answer 48

It was too expensive and the financial problems were made worse when Warbeck returned to Ireland in 1495 and amassed a force which besieged the town of Waterford
Henry (who was short of money due to threat of invasion from the Scots) was forced to recall Ponyings and once again had to depend on the cheap option of using Kildare as his deputy

Question 49

Before Henry VII’s death who was there a growing split between and who were there still fears about?

Answer 49

Those officials who were particularly associated with the Council Learned (Empson and Dudley) and some of Henry’s other advisors ( especially Bishop Fox and Sir Thomas Lovell) who were looking to position themselves effectively for when Henry’s health failed
Still fears about Suffolk and his brother (Richard de la Pole), also fears Duke of Buckingham, descendant of Edward III might attempt to seize the throne

Question 50

What was the importance of marriage alliances?

Answer 50

All monarchs did it to enhance their power and influence but particularly important to Henry help bring about dynastic security e.g. alliance with Spain through Catherine marriage and Margaret + James marriage
In Henry VIII reign, Henry VIIs daughter Mary would marry Louis XII, king of France to ensure peaceful relations
Henry also attempted to re-enter marriage market after death of E with Castile, Aragon, France and the HRE alliances all considered but came to nothing (partly as princesses reluctant to marry H and party as H lost interest in remarriage)

Question 51

Was Henry’s FP successful?

Answer 51

Mainly avoided expensive wars
After the death of E and A - he was able to manipulate the international situation to enhance his security
Luck played a role in diplomatic affairs e.g. the death of Isabella of Castile in 1504 led to Henry being dangerously isolated but he responded skilfully to changing circumstances
Achieved aim of dynastic security