Henry VII: Foreign Policy

Question 1

France

Answer 1

At the start of his reign HVII had a 1yr Truce, extended from 1486-89 whilst French king is in minority.

-Problem with Brittany for England, HVII felt he owed them for protection whilst he was in exile, France wanted to reclaim Brittany. Duke’s daughter Anne is forced to marry Charles, king of France.
HVII signed TREATY OF REDON with Brittany in 1489- promised to send 6000 archers to aid Bretons.
HVII had to back down, possibly betrayed Bretons, showed weakness.

-1492: HVII invades France, sent large army because French welcoming Warbeck, renewal 100yrs war.

1492: TREATY OF ETAPLES
-HVII paid off by French, £5,000 for 5yrs.
-No future wars with France
joins anti-french holy league with spain 1496

Question 2

Scotland

Answer 2

Friendly at first until James IV becomes king.

• HVII negotiates 9yr truce 1493 but then Scots welcome Warbeck 1495.
• HVII invades Scotland in 1496, Invasion fails, taxes to cover costs cause the Cornish Rising.

TREATY OF AYTON 1502:

• James IV wants to ally, tired of supporting Warbeck.
• JIV marries HVII eldest daughter, Marriage delayed but 7yr truce is negotiated.
• Renewed truce in 1499 & formal treaty in 1502
• Peace until HVIII invades France in 1513, still border raids.

Question 3

Spain

Answer 3

HVI wanted alliance with Ferdinand and Isabella, marriage negotiations began in 1488, led to the TREATY OF MEDINA DEL CAMPO 1489.

• Marriage conditional on Warbeck and Warwick’s deaths (Spain wants England Safe for daughter).
• 200,000 crowns dowry
• no harbouring rebels, aid each other against France.
  1501: Catherine and Arthur marry.

Treaty Breaks Down:

1502: Arthur dies, alliance in ruins, HVII son Henry to marry Catherine, married in 1509.
- Isabella dies in 1504, divisions in Spain causes Ferdinand to ally with France.
- Spain doesn’t pay 200,000 crown dowry for Henry’s marriage, they want HVII to return money for Arthur’s marriage because it wasn’t consummated.

HVII tries to create anti-spanish league of cambria but it becomes anti-venetian and spain join, henry is left out 1508

Question 4

Low Countries

Answer 4

Henry allies with Habsburgs in 1489 to stop French takeover of Brittany. Relations are strained when the HRE entertains Warbeck as Richard IV and backs Margaret of Burgundy.

1493: HVII imposes a trade ban, HRE counters this and it leads to a trade war.

TREATY OF MAGNUS INTERCERSUS 1496:

• England promised trade with Low Countries for 50yrs.
• No harbouring each other’s rebels.

HVII wants Habsburg/Spain/English Alliance:

• Phillip blown to England by storm
• TREATY OF WINDSOR 1505
• HVII lent Phillip £138,000 to help him claim Castile.

Treaties Lapsed with Phillip’s Death

Question 5

Ireland

Answer 5

England ruled the Pale, Richard of York had been lieutenant in 1450’s- Yorkist Powerbase. Fitzgerald of Kildare has huge power in Ireland and refused to come to England to advise HVII on Irish situation.

-Henry sends Richard Edgecombe to Ireland with 500 men.
-Kildare & Others refused to sign bonds for good behaviour but will acknowledge Henry as king.
-Kildare become deputy
Ponying’s Law: successful, Irish Parliament cannot be called without king’s permission. Ponying becomes new deputy.
-Kildare becomes deputy again from 1496 until end of the reign.