foreign policy 1540-47 Flashcards
What were the differences between Henry’s foreign policy in the 1530s to the 1540s?
- 1530s, Henrys foreign policy had focused on minimising the response of European powers to the break from Rome
- 1540s, Henry returned to a more aggressive foreign policy by launching attacks on both Scotland and France
How was Scotland a bigger threat in 1538?
James V had intensified the potential threat his country posed by pursuing an actively pro-French policy, in 1538 marrying Mary Guise, a relative of the French King
Who was Mary Guise?
She was apart of a strong catholic family, and the people of Scotland were not catholic
married James V of Scotland
What happened at the Battle of Solway Moss?
England invaded Scotland in 1542 and had immediate success with James V dying soon after hearing of the defeat leaving his heir as his one week old daughter Mary
very vulnerable position
Why did Henry not take advantage of Scotland’s vulnerable position?
Henry could have launched a full scale invasion which would have had little resistance, but he was more concerned with invading France seeking military glory,
so he was prepared to secure his Scottish objectives diplomatically
What was rough wooing?
Henry wanted to marry his son Edward to Mary, Queen of Scots but there was widespread suspicion of English intentions and the Scots refused to allow Henry’s request that Mary be brought to England
What was the Treaty of Greenwich?
that the children were formally betrothed by the treaty in 1543 but the Scottish Parliament refused to ratify it
What did Henry do in retaliation to his rejection of the marriage alliance?
Henry was furious and ordered raids on Edinburgh, Leith and St Andrews led by the Earl of Hertford
Why did the Scottish policy fail? (3)
- Henry neglected the opportunity to secure his policy by military force when he had the opportunity in 1542
- he failed to listen to the warning of hostility to his intentions
- When he ordered troops into Scotland, it was simply with no strategic objectives and just made matters worse
What facilitated Henry’s invasion of France during this period? and what was the agreement
His alliance with the HRE Charles
- Both sides promised to invade France within 2 years, Henry was desperate for military glory despite his health problems and the advice of his councillors not to go
What was a reality of the agreement?
There was little thought of strategic objectives and even Henry realised that it was unlikely that he would march on Paris as he agreed to in his alliance with Charles
What did Henry do after realising his alliance with Charles wouldn’t benefit him?
The English army confined itself to the vicinity of Calais, besieging Montreuil unsuccessfully but capturing Boulogne
What happened in 1545 that made things worse?
(5)
- Charles had had enough of the conflict and had made a separate peace with Francis
- Francis I sent troops to Scotland to enforce a possible invasion of England from across the Scottish border
- the English were defeated at the Battle of Ancrum Moor
- A separate French force landed in the Isle of Wight
- Henry’s flagship the Mary Rose sank in the Solent
What happened after 1545?
The French failed to recapture Boulogne and the invasion of northern England never happened, in the end, both sides were happy to sue for peace as neither could continue the conflict
When was peace agreed?
1546
