Foreign relations (9) Flashcards
What did Henry VIII reign begin with?
A conflict in interests between the king and some of the councillors whom he had inherited from his farther.
What did his councillors settle?
A continuation of peace and negotiated the renewal of the Treaty of Etaples in 1510.
Although the councillors settled the renewal of the Treaty of Etaples what did Henry have in mind?
Henry sent Christopher Bainbridge, Archbishop of York, to Rome to persuade the Pope Julius II, to enter an alliance against the French. This brought together the creation of the Holy League, which joined England, Spain, the Holy Roman Empire, Venice and the Papacy in an anti-French alliance.
What did Henry do in 1512?
Henry sent a substantial army of 10,000 men to southwest France under the command of the Marquis of Dorset. However it achieved nothing, and was used by Ferdinand as a diversion tactic while he successfully conquered Navarre.
What did Henry do in 1513?
Henry himself led a force to northeastern France. This was successfully not only in winning the “Battle of the Spurs” but also in capturing the town of Therouanne and Tournai.
What was more of a concern to Henry?
Anglo-Scottish conflict at the Battle of Flodden in September 1513.
Describe what happened at the Battle of Flodden?
King James IV had crossed the border with a substantial force, but was defeated by a smaller English army hurriedly put together and capably led by the veteran soldier, the Earl of Surrey. James himself was killed in battle, along with much of the Scottish nobility.
What was the result of the Battle of Flodden?
It left the Scottish throne in the hands of James V.
What were the disadvantages of the Battle of Flodden? (4)
1) The war was very costly and Henry was forced to liquidate assets inherited from his farther to pay for it.
2) In a return of the problems of 1489, there were rumblings about the taxation in Yorkshire, which only narrowly failed to turn into a full-scale revolt.
3) The renegotiated French pension was lost.
4) Tournai was eventually sold back to the French for rather less than the English had paid to repair its defences after the siege.
What was contemplated in 1514?
A further campaign but was quickly abandoned once Ferdinand and Maximilian each made a separate peace with France. This was left to Wolsey to pick up the pieces, which he did with considerable skill, recovering the Etaples pension and securing a marriage alliance between Henry’s younger sister, Mary, and the much older king of France, Louis XII.
Give 3 example that can be made about the basis of policy making at this time.
1) England remained a relatively minor power and could not really compete on level terms with the major powers of France and Spain.
2) Henry significantly overestimated English power. Wolsey then had to frame the details of foreign policy based on that false assumption.
3) The “alud alliance” between France and Scotland remained strong. Consequently, when England and France were on amicable terms there tended to be few issues with Anglo-Scottish relations. Clashes between England and France almost always led to increased tension between England and France.
What had happened to Henry financially by the end of 1514?
He had run out of money to continue a warlike foreign policy.
What were the consequences with Henry running out of money to continue a warlike foreign policy? (2)
1) He was unable to exploit the weakness of Scotland following the death of James IV at Flodden.
2) He sought peace with France, the settlement being reinforced by the marriage of his younger sister Mary to the French king, Louis XII. The marriage, however was short-lived.
