Henry 8th/ Wolsey foreign policy Flashcards
Henry’s foreign policy aims
- Glory
- demonstrate that England was a major European power
- To assert his claim to the French throne
- To end any threat from Scotland
- To secure his dynasty
Was there a war in 1510?
Henry wanted a war in 1510, but his fathers old advisors, Archbishop Warham and Bishop Fox tricked him into renewing the truce with France.
1512
In 1512, Henry finally got his way and sent an army with the intention of taking Acquitaine.
- The army was short on supplies
- Ferdinand, who was Henry’s ally, used Henry’s troops as a distraction in order to seize lands he wanted in the Pyrenees.
- They arrived back in England at the end of the campaign season having achieved nothing.
June 1513
Henry led an army of 30,000 men across the channel to Calais in June 1513.
What did Henry and the army achieve on June 1513?
- Included the Battle of Spurs
- resulted in the capture of Therouanne and Tournai
- as well the capture of some French nobles.
- This was a minor victory, but the English made it sound important.
What was the Battle of Flodden?
When James IV took advantage of Henry’s presence in France to launch an invasion of England.
What was the result of the Battle of Flodden?
The Earl of Surrey led a smaller army to a huge victory against the Scots, killing most of the Scots and James IV himself. James V was only a child and Henry’s sister, Margaret was regent. This was a huge success.
How much did Henry spend between 1511 and 1513?
Between 1511 and 1513, Henry spent £960,000. This compared to a yearly income of only £110,00
What was the Anglo-French Treaty?
- Included Leo X (new pope), Ferdinand (Spain), Maximillian (Holy Roman Empire): All wanted peace and Henry couldn’t afford to carry out war against France, he was forced to make peace.
- The French promised to pay the rest of the French pension (which H7 negotiated)
- Henry’s sister, Mary, married Louis XII.
- When weighed against the cost of a war, this was a very modest outcome.
What did Henry’s sister do soon after the treaty because of Louis XII’s death? What impact did this have on Henry?
She remarried to the Duke of Suffolk.
- This was an embarrassment to Henry and it also meant that he could not use her in the marriage market.
What did the new king of France want to do to Margaret’s government in Scotland? How was Wolsey involved in this?
- Francis I, the new king, wanted to overthrow Margaret’s government in Scotland by sending the Duk of Albany.
- Wolsey paid a secret subsidy to Maximillian to fight the French, but Maximillian took the money and sided with the French.
What was the anti-French league and who made it? Why did this fail and what did the failure do?
Wolsey tried to make an anti-French league but this failed as Ferdinand died and was replaced by Charles (Spain).
- (Spain, France and the HRE) made a treaty called The Peace of Cambrai which left England isolated and humiliated.
What three things did the Treaty of London 1518 do?
- Leo X (the pope) wanted to call a crusade against the Turks, but Wolsey took over and modified the plans to suit himself.
- Wolsey did not allow Campeggio to enter the country until his position of Papal Legate was confirmed.
- This treaty guaranteed non0aggression between the major powers, ensured that any aggressor would be attacked by all the other states.
What did the Treaty of London 1518 ensure?
It ensured that England would not be isolated in Europe, brought great prestige to England as the 20 foremost nations of Europe attended, Tournai was given back to France in return for a French pension, Henry’s daughter, Mary, was betrothed to the Dauphin and the Duke of Albany was kept out of Scotland.
Field of the Cloth of Gold (1518)
Over 3000 important people from England and France met for feasts and tournaments. Wolsey impressed in organising the creation of royal pavilions, wine fountains etc. This was highly expensive and achieved little/nothing, though it did enhance English prestige.
