France

Question 1

What were the 10 key events in English foreign policy towards France?

(Chronological order and dates)

Answer 1

1. Anglo-French truce 1486(-89)

Breton Crisis 1487-92

2. Anti-French Alliance of 1489
3. Treaty of Rhedon 1489
4. Treaty of Dordrecht 1489
5. Treaty of Medina del Campo 1489
6. Invasion Fleet of France Sept 1492
7. Treaty of Etaples Dec 1492
8. Joined Holy League 1496
9. League of Cambrai 1508

^{Look at that - 4 of them happened specifically in 1489!}

Question 2

What events lead to the Breton Crisis?

Answer 2

• Charles VIII becomes king of France and sister Anne acts as regent
• Anne sets sights on Brittany
• Duke Francis of Brittany wants independence but old and no male heirs
• Anne proposes marriage of Charles to Francis’ eldest daughter Anne of Brittany
• BUT she is already promised to Maximilian
• 1848 Anne sends forces to Brittany, kills Francis, seizes other Anne
• In response Spain and HRE send troops to Brittany’s defense

Question 3

What was the dilemma (4 parts) for Henry regarding the Breton Crisis?

Answer 3

1. If France occupied Brittany they would have control of English Channel, would easily be able to invade England.
2. However, France has supported Henry in years of exile and in his struggle to become king, so owed alliance there. Also on friendly (ish) terms - 1 year that became 3 year truce
3. Also did not want to upset France as a powerful and potentailly hostile next-door-neighbour.
4. Also kind of owed Brittany allegiance because had harboured him in exile

Question 4

How did Henry try to appease the French while also aiding own interests in and pressure from Brittany?

Did it help?

Answer 4

Sent 500 unofficial men to defend Brittany and claim they had ‘nothing to do with him!’

No, not really

Question 5

Who was the Anti-French Alliance of 1489 signed between?

(4)

Answer 5

1. England
2. Brittany
3. Burgundy
4. Spain

Question 6

Who was the Treaty of Redon between?

Answer 6

Anne of Brittany and Henry VII

Question 7

What was the Treaty of Redon?

Answer 7

For Henry to send 6,000 troops to Brittany

Paid for by Anne

Question 8

Who signed the Treaty Dordrecht?

Answer 8

Maximillian (HRE) and Henry VII

Question 9

What was the Treaty Dordrecht?

Answer 9

That the Holy Roman Empire and England would send 3,000 troops each to Brittany

Question 10

What happened to the Treaty Dordrecht?

Answer 10

Never materialised:

Maximillian breaks word and makes peace with Charles VIII in July 1489

Question 11

Who signed the Treaty of Medina del Campo?

Answer 11

England and Spain

Question 12

What was the Treaty of Medina del Campo, and what were its clauses?

Answer 12

An anti-French alliance

1. Marriage of Catherine and Arthur - dowry 200,000 crowns
2. To go to war with France to recover lost territories (of Normandy and Aquitaine for England)
3. Tarrifs dropped
4. Spain would not help any English rebels

Question 13

Which of Henry’s aims did the Treaty of Medina del Campo serve (in order of impact)

Answer 13

1. National security - rebels
2. Recognition of Tudor dynasty
3. Trade/ money

Question 14

What events triggered Henry’s invasion of France? And when?

Answer 14

1. December 1491: Anne of Brittany married Charles VIII - Brittany lost
2. France supporting Warbeck

Question 15

How many men did Henry send out for the French invasion of 1492?

Answer 15

26,000

Question 16

Why is it significant that Henry sent out troops mid-September?

Answer 16

Towards end of fighting season, so tactical as would mean France bound to make peace quickly ^{(winter is coming)}

A short conflict = less expensive! _{(Henry’s broke, and insular)}

Question 17

Why did Henry decide to invade France at all when one of his aims was specifically to ‘avoid war at all costs’?

Answer 17

To keep credibility - needed his people’s support, so had to be a strong king, to relent to traditional enemy, and besides had been saving up for one anyway

Question 18

How long did the invasion of France last?

Answer 18

Less than 2 months - ended November 3 with the Peace of Etaples

^{(ratified in December with the Treaty of Etaples)}

Question 19

Why could it be argued that even though Henry went to war, he was successful in his aims?

Answer 19

Got the Traty of Etaples out of it

Question 20

What was the Treaty of Etaples?

Answer 20

1. England got 50,000 crowns from France per annum ^{_{(5% of annual income)}}

2 France would not aid any rebels against Henry

3. England would remove all troops from France bar Callais _{^{(so france could focus on Italian states)}}

Question 21

What aims did the Treaty of Etaples acheive?

Answer 21

1. Recognition of Tudor dynasty
2. Allies
3. National security _{^{(no more Warbeck worries from France)}}
4. Finance
5. Peace

^{So basically a whole lot of <strong>national security</strong> - Henry’s most important aim!}

Question 22

Who was the Holy League between (6), and who was it against?

Answer 22

Between:

1. The Pope
2. Ferdinand of Spain
3. Venice
4. Milan
5. Max of HRE
6. England

Against:

France

Question 23

What condition did Henry join the Holy League on, and why?

Answer 23

That he didn’t have to go to war with France

Aim was to avoid war - BUT could gain allies and recognition this way without angering France ^{(they were cool with it)}

Question 24

What is the evidence that France were cool with England joining the anti-French Holy League?

Answer 24

Henry managed to secure a good trade agreement with France at that time

Question 25

What did Henry hope the League of Cambrai would be?

Answer 25

An anti-Spanish alliance

Question 26

What did the League of Cambrai end up being?

Why?

Answer 26

An anti-Venician alliance between France and Spain WITHOUT Henry

Because Louis XII believed it to be too risky to annoy the Spanish - neighbours

Question 27

State the two opposite viewpoints on the League of Cambrai and Henry’s foreign policy

Answer 27

Negative: England isolated - not part of close alliance or have much influence in foreign affairs

Positive: Not a threat to England, and gave them freedom

Question 28

What other advantage did good relations with France have for England?

Answer 28

Meant better relations with Scotland - Auld Alliance