Henry VII - Foreign Policy Flashcards
1
Q
Initial relations with Brittany and France
A
- Independent Duchy of Brittany had provided refuge for Henry in 1471 - important area for England as it was desired by France in order to give them total control of the Channel coast
-France had given financial aid for Henry’s invasion in 1485 - support for Brittany may antagonise French - dangerous as France financially and militarily stronger - France = traditional enemy following 100 Yrs War but situation more dangerous due to Auld Alliance
2
Q
Initial relations with Scotland
A
- Scotland = much smaller pop. + financial income than England but Auld Alliance with France meant it could be attacked on two flanks simultaneously
- raids across the border common - forced England to keep expensive military bases with troops at Berwick and Carlisle
3
Q
Initial relations with Spain
A
- New major power in Europe but priorities were to drive the Moors out of Granada - accomplished in 1492, and to secure northern border with France by securing claims to Naples
- meant Spain more likely to be in conflict with France than England
4
Q
Initial relations with Burgundy
A
- important trade area for England
- Margaret (sister of Edward IV and Richard III) married Duke of Burgundy + offered base for Yorkist claimants and their supporters
5
Q
Initial relations with Holy Roman Empire
A
- Empire covered much of central Europe and composed of different states
- acquired Burgundy in 1497 when Maximilian married Mary of Burgundy
- claims to lands in Italy - site of major conflict in this period
6
Q
Initial relations with Italy
A
- Did not exist as a country in 1485 = collection of states
- rulers of France, Spain and the Empire all had claims of land
- Outbreak of Italian wars in 1494 diverted European attention away from Northern Europe to the Mediterranean - made Henry’s position less vulnerable
7
Q
What were the aims of Henry VII’s foreign policy?
A
- National security
- Secure the Tudor dynasty
- Strengthen financial position
8
Q
What was the Breton Crisis?
A
- regent of France proposed marrying her brother, Charles VIII, to daughter and heir of ageing Duke of Brittany, ignoring existing arrangement between the Duke’s daughter and Maximilian
- regent sent a force into Brittany 1488 to enforce this aim
- provoked response from Maximilian + Ferdinand = sent troops to aid Brittany
- Brittany asked England for help
9
Q
What problems did the Breton Crisis create?
A
- in security interests of England to stop whole Channel coast coming under French control, but France gave Henry financial aid to take throne in 1485
- Henry attempted to negotiate but Bretons refused + were defeated by French army
- death of Duke of Brittany - daughter Anne promptly seized by French
- England not strong enough to take on France alone
10
Q
How successful was Henry’s response to the Breton Crisis?
A
- Henry renewed treaty with Maximilian followed by Treaty of Redon with Brittany in Feb 1489 - agreed to send 6000 men, paid for by Bretons - argued that small number of men sign of Henry’s unwillingness to enter conflicts/could be that Henry hoped for re conquest of Normandy and Guyenne but Bretons limited number of men he could send
- Maximilian + Spain made peace with France
- Dec 1491 Brittany accepted defeat - Anne of Brittany marries Charles VIII
- Leaves Henry in difficult spot - had gone to war to protect Brittany and had failed
- France had control of entire Channel coast - could launch invasion
- considerable sum of money wasted to fund war
11
Q
Henry VII invasion of France
A
- wanted to assert traditional claim over French throne
- invasion crossed Channel in Oct 1492 - campaigning season almost over - any conflict would be short
- Nov 3 - Charles signed Treaty of Étaples:
- give no aid to English rebels - particularly Warbeck
- pay the arrears of the Treaty of Picquigny
- pay most of Henry’s expenses to Brittany
12
Q
How successful was Henry’s invasion of France in 1492?
A
- resulted in an annual pension of around £5000
- Charles promised not to aid Perkin Warbeck
- financial benefits = 5% royal income
13
Q
What was the Treaty of Venice/ the Holy League?
A
- League of Venice = established in 1495 with aim of driving France out of Italy - Henry initially excluded from this - outside England’s usual sphere of activity
- revamped as Holy League in 1496 - England invited to join
14
Q
To what extent was the Holy League successful foreign policy?
A
- Ferdinand concerned that excluding England dangerous as she would support France - showed England’s position in Europe was changing
- Henry allowed to join on condition that England not bound to got to war with France - shows England’s importance in European affairs
- Henry secured trade agreement with France but maintained friendship with League
- preserved improved relation with France after treaty of Etaples but also negated Auld Alliance
15
Q
How/why did Henry avoid conflict with Scotland?
A
- Scots favoured him over Richard III who had supported raids into Scotland = resulted in 3 year truce in July 148
- 1488 = assassination of J3 after Battle of Sauchiburn, fought against Scot noble rebels - heir J4 only 15 - conflict unlikely(however regents = unfriendly + Henry’s support for Brittany against France tightened Auld All.)
- H7 lessened hostility = maintained contact with Scottish nobility led by Earl of Angus(pro Anglo-Scot cooperation) + sheltered ousted Scottish nobles + aided successful overthrowing of anti-English regents in 1492
- coup = Earl of Angus back in power = 9 yr truce signed in 1493
16
Q
How did conflict with Scotland arise in 1495?
A
- 1495 = J4 came of age - wanted to fight traditional enemy, aided by arrival of Perkin Warbeck in July 1495 - married to J4s cousin Lady Catherine Gordon + given military support for invasion in Sept 1496
17
Q
Why was peace with Scotland maintained after the Warbeck invasion?
A
- No support in England so invasion failed, James realised Warbeck = not valuable
- James feared Parliament votes were gearing up for attack against Scotland, which would be highly damaging
- fears meant he didn’t use Cornish rising to launch further attacks but agreed to the Truce of Ayton in 1497
18
Q
What was the Truce of Ayton and how effective was it?
A
- signed between England and Scotland in 1497 and became full treaty with Warbeck’s execution in 1499
- significant achievement for Henry = hadn’t been peace treaty since 1328
- reinforced by marriage of Henry’s daughter Margaret to James 4 in Aug 1503 - recognition of Tudor dynasty by a another European power
- avoided full-scale war for rest of Henry’s reign
- Scotland didn’t abandon Auld All. + border raids continued
- James’ expansion of navy increased tension in H7’s later yrs - northern border not secure
19
Q
Relations between Spain and England leading to the Treaty of Medina del Campo
A
- marriage between Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabella of Castile in 1469 united the two Spanish kingdoms = new European power - Henry wanted to strengthen links with them
- made easier as both had common enemy in France
- 1488 Henry suggested marriage between son Arthur and Ferd. + Isabella’s daughter Catherine of Aragon(both infants)
- March 1489 = Treaty of Medina del Campo signed = Henry’s most significant foreign policy achievement
20
Q
Terms of the Treaty of Medina del Campo
A
- Arthur and Catherine would marry
- Catherine’s dowry would be £40,000 + paid to Henry in instalments
- Spain wouldn’t help any English rebels
- would be benefits for English trade with Spain
- if either country was at war with France, the other would intervene immediately
21
Q
How did the death of Isabella of Castile in Nov. 1504 affect Henry’s foreign policy?
A
- caused succession crisis until 1506 + ended anti-French alliance with England, Spain + Netherlands
- Isabella left Castile to daughter Joanna, wife of Archduke Philip of Burgundy(heir to Holy Roman Empire), but husband Ferdinand unwilling to give up more prosperous Castile for Aragon only
- problem = Henry wanted to preserve trade links with Dutch + not antagonise Philip/his father(currently sheltering Yorkist claimant Earl of Suffolk)
- Henry also concerned about preserving trade links with Spain
- if Castile came under Burgundian influence, marriage between H8 + Cath. Of Aragon = less valuable as Aragon not as influential as whole of Spain
22
Q
How did the alliance between Ferdinand of Aragon and Louis XII of France affect Henry’s foreign policy?
A
- Ferdinand sought Louis’ help to reclaim Castile from Joanna and Philip of Burgundy
- Prompted Philip to sail for Castile + forced England into closer relationship with Burgundy - Henry lent Philip money
- Spain + England alliance deteriorating = Henry considering marriage to Philip’s sister Margaret of Savoy + antagonised Ferdinand by keeping Catherine’s dowry
- bad weather drove Philip onto English coast and forced him to sign treaty that was advantageous to England
23
Q
What were the terms of the Anglo-Burgundian treaty after Philip was driven ashore?
A
- Yorkist claimant Earl of Suffolk(currently being sheltered in Burgundy) would be handed over to England
- Prince Henry(H8) would marry Philip’s sister
24
Q
How did Philip of Burgundy’s death in April 1506 affect Henry’s relationship with Spain + Burgundy?
A
- enabled Ferdinand to retake Castile, Maximilian took over regency of Burgundy + Joanna had a breakdown
- marriage between H8 + Cath of Aragon now more appealing
- Henry feared France would exploit weak regency rule in Burgundy so attempted to restore links to Spain with own marriage to Joanna - didn’t work - Ferdinand refused to Henry’s marriage proposal
25
Q
Henry’s foreign policy with Spain and Burgundy by the end of his rule
A
- abandoned attempts to restore Anglo-Spanish-Burgundian alliance in 1508 + tried for an agreement
- revoked Magnus Intercursus concession to speed up marrying daughter Mary to Charles of Gehnt + try and win Burgundian support
- succeeded in arranging marriage agreement between Archduke Charles(son of Joanna + Phillip) + daughter Mary
- offered son to niece of Louis XII to further embarrass Spain
- Louis didn’t want to antagonise Spain + reached agreement with Ferdinand - became 1508 League of Cambrai = England excluded + isolated
26
Q
English trade with Burgundy
A
- main focus on English trade due to cloth trade through Antwerp
- England’s share the same, despite Magnus Intercursus in 1496
- placed embargo on trade with Burgundy = 1493-1496, due to Margaret of Burgundy’s support for Perkin Warbeck - ended by Magnus Intercursus
- negotiated favourable Malus Intercursus in 1506 - very unpopular with Burgundy, Magnus Intercursus restored by 1507
27
Q
What were the terms of the 1506 Malus Intercursus?
A
- trade with Burgundy would be free
- Philip would not impose duties on sale of English cloth
- Philip would not exclude English cloth from his lands
- Philip’s subjects still had to pay duties outlined in Magnus Intercursus
28
Q
What were the Navigation Acts of 1485-86
A
- prohibited English traders from sending goods in foreign ships if English ships were available
- limited foreign control of English goods - angered Spain who retaliated and forbade export of goods from Spain in foreign ships if Spanish ships were available
- restrictions ended by Medina del Campo
29
Q
How successful was Henry’s trade with the Baltic?
A
- area dominated by Hanseatic League, which had gained considerable privileges from Edward IV in 1471 after helping him regain the throne
- Henry tried to limit this e.g. Navigation Acts and trying to get direct access to northern trade by signing treaties with Denmark (1489) and Norway (1490)
- Henry forced to return to original settlement in 1504
- most likely for dynastic reasons - concerned Hanse would support Yorkist Earl of Suffolk
