Foreign policy Flashcards
H VII aims
Maintain good relations with European powers (allowing consolidate power in Eng), gain international recognition for Tudor dynasty, maintain national security, defend Eng trading interests
FP - Scotland
Only country shared border with Eng, often supp French against Eng = auld alliance, 1485-95 = Anglo-Scot relations tense. 1495-96 = James IV of Scot supp pretender Warbeck, provided small army to invade Eng in 1496, war threatened. 1497 = Eng, Scot sign Truce of Ayton, became Peace of Ayton in 1502 – 1st peace bet Eng, Scot since 1328. 1503 = J IV married H daughter Margaret Tudor to seal treaty = marriage alliance
FP - Ireland
H only rules the Pale of Dublin (land around Dublin), rest of Ireland ruled by independent chieftains/feudal lords = most powerful E of Kildare – threat to H as Yorkist sympathiser, crowned Simnel king of Ireland in 1486, supp Warbeck in 1491, consequently, H replaces him with Sir Ed Poynings as Lord Deputy of Ireland in 1494, passes Poynings Laws of 1495, declared Eng Parl overruled that of Ireland, Irish Parl needed approval on Eng Monarch before could pass laws. However, Kildare was persuaded to abandon Yorkist cause and was reinstated in 1496 (Parl summoned in 1498, Poynings recalled). Thereafter, Kildare served H loyally and secured the submission of various Irish chieftains. By 1500, H est a reasonable level of cont, Ireland remained in tranquil for remainder of H reign
FP - Brittany, France
1487 = the Fr invaded the Dutchy of Brittany, the last independent area in Fr, death of D Francis II of Brittany, without male heir, provided excuse. 1489 = T of Redon – H agreed to supp claim of D Francis’ young daughter, Duchess Anne, although H anxious to antagonise Fr. 1491 = 6k Eng ‘volunteers’ sent to Brittany but Anne surrendered to Fr; arranged she should marry Charles VIII of Fr, ending Breton independence. 1492 =, H raised 2 Parl subsidies (£181,500 – would anger Eng if not spent on war/H invested great deal of prestige, would loose credibility if pulled out although could be exploited by Yorkists getting Fr help), and so invaded with 26k men and laid siege to Boulogne, however C more concerned with invading Italy than fighting Eng so negotiated to sought peace = T of Etaples: C agreed no longer assist pretenders to Eng throne, H received £159k in annual instalments (around 5% H total annual income), if H remove Eng troops from Fr (except Calais); H strategy proved successful, defended national security and dynastic interest, imp financial position, ensured period of relative friendliness in Anglo-Fr relations, significant = H skilful diplomacy, financial gain, national security, pos deal with Fr
FP - Burgundy, Netherlands, HRE
The ports of Neths imp for Eng trade, part cloth (90% trade – cloth), however Neths under cont of Burgundy: M of B married the ruler, Charles the Bold, died in 1477, thereafter she ruled as protector, while Duke’s title passed to Maximilian, who became HRE in 1493 and, in turn, placed his son, Philip, in cont of areas as Duke Philip IV. M of B, Max, Phil supp pretenders to H throne, Simnel, Warbeck. 1493 = following M of B supp of Warbeck, H broke trade relations with Bur’dy (H more concerned with secure dynasty, than protect commercial interests of London, East-coast merchants), but trade embargo harmed both Eng and Flemish econs. 1496 = H and Philip agreed to the Intercurcus Magnus, ending trade embargo so re-est trade bet Eng and Bur (except Flanders), M of B recognised H position as king. 1503 = death of M of B. 1506 = Phil and wife (Jo, daughter of Fer and Is) blown into Eng coast as set out to Sp following Is death in 1504. H entertained them for 3 months (showing supp for Jo succession) and negotiated 2 treaties: T of Windsor = alliance bet H and Phil, hand over Ed de la Pole, H back Jo claim to Castile; Intercurcus Malus = trade treaty: ‘evil treaty’ Eng didn’t pay Bur trade taxes; further agreements = marriage alliance bet H (widowed 1503) and Phil sister, Margaret, Dowager Duchess of Savoy – though didn’t come to anything. However, Phil died in Sept, Intercurcus Malus not enforced by Margaret (too harsh) who became new Bur governor. 1508 = H diplomatically isolated by not being signatory to League of Cambrai, formed by HRE, Sp, Fr and Papacy
FP - Spain
Ruled by Ferdinand of Aragon, Isabella of Castille = powerful state with which H hoped to develop good relations (counterbalance Auld alliance). 1489 = T of Medina del Campo agreed (military alliance = mutual protection, not supp rebels/pretenders to throne to others throne; trade agreement set low custom rates for both countries offering exciting trade oppo to Eng; marriage alliance = bet K of A and A with K dowery 2x (200k ducats) what Fer wanted to pay, however Warbeck in the way of marriage negotiations so finally agreed in 1499 when Warbeck removed). 1494/8 = Fr invade Italy, Sp and HRE ask Eng to help, however H resists (too expensive, turned FP focus away from Eng). 1501 = marriage of K and A. 1502 = A died, H (anxious to retain K dowery) proposed new marriage bet K and H VIII – treaty signed in 1503, marriage planned for 1506. 1504 = Isabella of C died; H supp claim of Joanna to succeed in Castile (confirmed in stay in 1506). 1506 = Philip’s death led to Fer to deprive Jo of her inheritance, so Fer took control of Castile in 1506 – H backed wrong person, marriage bet K and A jeopardised and not take place until 1509, after H VII death
Summary
H FP aims were broadly to maintain good relations with Europe, with a view to strengthen the Tudor dynasty. In this he was largely successful = overcoming various setbacks to reach agreements with Fr, Bur, Sp, Scot and achieving certain level of security in Ireland. Agreements with Sp, Scot cemented with marriage alliances, ensuring by the end of his reign the Tudor dynasty seemed to have been accepted internationally
