Henry VII Foreign Policy Flashcards
Brittany - French foreign policy
Henry had been in exile with Brittany in his youth, but was close to the Duke of Brittany. Brittany was an area of France that still had its independence from the French state.
When Charles VIII invaded Brittany in 1487. Henry felt he had to take action as a show of power to Charles VIII, and as a show of support to Anne, Duchess of Brittany. However, he had to do this without losing the battle or spending huge amounts of money.
He invaded France in October 1492 with only 26000 men, mostly provided by Anne - they crossed the Channel and laid siege in Boulogne.
Treaty of Etaples - French foreign policy
Charles was eager to get rid of Henry VII as there was greater glory to be won in Italy - November 1492, Treaty of Etaples signed, just nine days after Henry stepped on French turf.
Charles promised to give no further aid to English rebels such as Warbeck , and to pay for Henry’s costs of intervening in Brittany, totalling to £5000, 5% of Henrys annual income.
However, the independence of Brittany was gone forever, and the south side of the channel was now in French hands.
Trade links with France
1485, the Navigation Act forbade transportation of Gascony wine to England in non-English ships.
1487, France imposed restrictions due to English support for Breton independence.
1492, Treaty of Etaples reduced restrictions.
1495, France removed restrictions in return for English neutrality in the Italian Wars.
Medina Del Campo 1489 - Spanish foreign policy
Spain and England were rivals, but were willing to settle differences over attitudes towards the French.
1488, Henry suggested a betrothal between his eldest son, Prince Arthur and Ferdinand’s, Catherine of Aragon.
Treaty of Madina Del Campo signed in March 1489. Ferdinand agreed to Henrys demands about the size of Catherine’s dowry, and promised not to help any rebels.
Attitudes towards French - Spanish foreign policy
Agreed that if either country found itself at war with France, the other would intervene immediately.
Spains objective was to reconquest the Pyrenean territories of Cerdagne and Rousillion, and in return promised Henry help regaining Aquitaine and Normandy.
By 1493, the Spain had achieved their aim in the Pyrenees, but did little to help Henry accomplish his aims - Henry didn’t mind as he was recognised by one of the leading royal families in Europe and continued his pro-spanish policy.
Trade links with Spain
1489, Treaty of Medina Del Campo allowed equal trading rights from merchants for both countries, and fixed custom duties which favoured English traders.
1494, Navigation Act imposed on Spain had a damaging effect on English / Spain trades.
Relations of Burgundy
Henry wanted to secure trading routes with Burgundy and to stop them harbouring Yorkist rebels.
Henry was widowed in 1503 and wanted to marry the daughter of the HRE and sister of Philip, Margaret, which angered Ferdinand who also wanted to remarry.
As a result, Archduke Philip agreed not to harbour Yorkists and allowed Henry Tudor to marry his sister. However, Henry angered the Spanish by forming an alliance with their rivals, Burgundy.
Trade links with Burgundy
Wool trade was the most important for England, and Antwerp, Burgundy was the most important cloth trade centre in Europe.
1487, commercial agreement with Burgundy for a one year trade.
1493, ban on English traders using Burgundy due to Maximilians support for Yorkist pretender, Warbeck.
1496, Intercorsus Magnus signed with Philip when he withdrew support for Warbeck, and English traders began trading with all parts of Burgundy, except Flanders.
Truce of Ayton - Scottish foreign policy
James IV signed a peace truce with Henry in 1488, however, he angered Henry by accepting Warbeck into his court - James even married his cousin, Margaret Boyd, to Warbeck.
Henry arranged peace with Scotland with the Truce of Ayton of 1497, the first major treaty with Scotland since 1328. Henry sealed the treaty by agreeing a marriage between his daughter Margaret and James.
However, Scotland kept their pact with France as a security measure.
