Foreign Policy 1529-1547

Question 1

Following the 1533 Break with Rome, how did Henry try to forge a Protestant foreign alliance? - Foreign Policy (1529-47)

Answer 1

Henry sought to forge an alliance with the League of Schmalkalden, a group of German princes who favoured Martin Luther’s Protestant principles.

Question 2

What 2 events in 1536 reduced pressure upon Henry? - Foreign Policy (1529-47)

Answer 2

In 1536, Catherine of Aragon died, creating the potential for the renewal of an alliance with Emperor Charles V. Furthermore, Charles and France began fighting again, meaning that Henry was no longer the focus of diplomatic events.

Question 3

What 2 events in 1538 reapplied pressure upon Henry? - Foreign Policy (1529-47)

Answer 3

In 1538, Charles and Francis signed the Treaty of Nice, which stopped their own fighting and agreed to sever connections to England. Furthermore, the pope issued a bull deposing Henry as the recognised king of Catholics in England.

Question 4

When did Henry marry Anne of Cleves? Why did he choose to do this? - Foreign Policy (1529-47)

Answer 4

Henry married Anne of Cleves in 1539, doing so in order to reduced his perceived isolation from other foreign powers. This therefore acted as an insurance policy to create foreign alliances.

Question 5

When was the Earl of Kildare dismissed from governing Ireland? What was the response of the Irish nobility to this event? - Foreign Policy (1529-47)

Answer 5

The Earl of Kildare was dismissed from his governance of Ireland in 1534, resulting in Kildare’s son leading a major rebellion which took effort and expense to suppress.

Question 6

How did the Gaelic Lords create problems for Henry’s governance of Ireland in 1539? What action did Henry take to retaliate against this? - Foreign Policy (1529-47)

Answer 6

The Gaelic Lords invaded the Pale in 1539, angry at Henry ruling Ireland through an Englishman. Henry attempted to pacify Ireland, and then created a separate kingdom which imposed English law and created counties.

Question 7

When did Henry attempt to invade Scotland for the first time in the 1540s? What battle was Henry successful in during this invasion? - Foreign Policy (1529-47)

Answer 7

Henry attempted to invade Scotland in 1542. Henry was victorious at Solway Moss.

Question 8

How was Scotland weakened during the 1542 invasion by Henry? How did Henry fail to capitalise upon this? - Foreign Policy (1529-47)

Answer 8

Henry’s assaults led to the death of James V, leaving the one week old Mary QoS as his heir. However, Henry failed to capitalise as he turned his military attentions to France, only pressuring Scotland diplomatically after this.

Question 9

When was the Treaty of Greenwich signed? What did this agree? What was its outcome? - Foreign Policy (1529-47)

Answer 9

The Treaty of Greenwich was signed in 1543, which betrothed Edward to Mary QoS. However, the Scottish Parliament refused to ratify the treaty and hence it was never approved.

Question 10

How can Henry be criticised for his policies towards Scotland? - Foreign Policy (1529-47)

Answer 10

Henry can be criticised for failing to continue military action in Scotland despite having the opportunity to do so, instead pursuing diplomatic methods and then retaliating poorly when they failed.

Question 11

When did Henry begin to invade France in the 1540s? What area of France did this attack concentrate on? - Foreign Policy (1529-47)

Answer 11

Henry began invading France in 1544, concentrating on the area around Calais and besieging Montreuil unsuccessfully, as well as capturing Boulogne.

Question 12

In what year did French troops strengthen Scotland and the Battle of Ancrum Moor take place? What was the outcome of this battle? - Foreign Policy (1529-47)

Answer 12

French support for Scotland and the Battle of Ancrum Moor took place in 1545, with Henry’s forces actually losing the Battle.

Question 13

In what year did Henry’s prized ship sink in the Solent? Which country did this? - Foreign Policy (1529-47)

Answer 13

Henry’s ‘Mary Rose’ was sunk in 1545 by the French in the Solent.

Question 14

When did Henry’s 1540s war with France come to a conclusion? What reason was there for this? - Foreign Policy (1529-47)

Answer 14

Henry’s war with France concluded in 1546, with both sides having insufficient funds to continue the conflict, a sign of Henry’s wasteful attitude to crown finances.

Question 15

When was the First Act of Succession Passed? What did this determine? - The Succession

Answer 15

The First Act of Succession was passed in 1534, determining that Elizabeth would be Henry’s successor and that Mary would be illegitimate.

Question 16

When was the Second Act of Succession passed? What did this determine? - The Succession

Answer 16

The Second Act of Succession was passed in 1536, declaring Elizabeth illegitimate and declaring that Henry could determine his own successor in the absence of an heir apparent.

Question 17

When was the Third Act of Succession passed? What did this determine? - The Succession

Answer 17

The Third Act of Succession was passed in 1543, determining Henry’s succession being from Edward to Mary to Elizabeth.

Question 18

When was the Battle of Ancrum Moor? What was the outcome of this? - Foreign Policy (1529-47)

Answer 18

The Battle of Ancrum Moor took place in 1545, with Scotland triumphing over England and causing a halt to the policy of English harrying of northern areas.

Question 19

What was the policy of the Rough Wooing? When did it take place from-until? - Foreign Policy (1529-47)

Answer 19

The policy of the Rough Wooing took place from 1542-1551, encapsulating the end of Henry’s reign and all of Somerset’s reign. It was a policy of heavy attacks on Scottish Land.