Henry VII Foreign policy Flashcards
What were Henry’s main aims?
Securing his throne and dynasty; avoid wasting money and increase instability
Overall, Henry’s foreign policy can be described as…
Defensive and reactionary
Second to national security was…
improving England’s economic condition
What was Henry’s immediate aims post usurpation? How did he achieve these aims?
Was to secure peace and stability; achieved through peaceful and diplomatic foreign policy
What are the three time periods Henry’s foreign policy can be seperated into?
- 1485-1493
- 1493-1502
- 1503-1509
What treaties and agreements were signed by Henry in the opening years of his reign?
1 year treaty with France (supported claim to throne); removal of restricitons on trade with France
Commercial treaty with Brittany 1486
3 year Scottish treaty 1486
HRE Maximilian extended Edward IV’s treaty in 48
Does this suggest a successful foreign policy?
Yes as it gave economic benifits and limited major threats
Who died in 1488, giving Henry more security?
James III in Scotland. This brought 15 year old James IV to the throne
Describe the Bretton Crisis
France wanted absorb Brittany into its kingdom by marriage from Charles VIII to the Duke’s daughter. Brittany then refused and France invaded.
Duke asks for help - problem as both France and Brittany had supported Henry. Henry first attempted to find a peaceful solution - failure
Treaty of Redon then signed with Brittany, supporting them with a mere 6000 troops (sign he wanted to avoid being dragged into war)
How was Brittany then left isolated?
the HRE and Spain both made peace with France in 1489 (despite Medina Del Campo). Brittany was left weak and isolated
What action did Henry take in 1492
He asserted his claim to the French throne (rite of passage) with the biggest English invasion force of the century, with 15,000 troops. They invaded at the very end of campaiging season; France was concentrated on Italy. This may have been seen as a nuisance to France, so they seatled for a treaty
What was the Anglo-French 1492 treaty called and what did it do?
The Treaty of Etaples.
Brittany was absorbed
No aid was given to English rebels (Warbeck)
Annual pension of 50,000 Crowns (£5000, 5% of royal income)
Can the Treaty of Etaples been seen as a success?
Yes. Although Brittnay was lost, Henry had gained great financial benifits, and a key line of support was removed from Warbeck
Although, Maximilian was cut out of the treaty and angered, and people will have been fustrated at high taxes for an essentially non-war
Relations were strained with Scotland (Auld Alliance) after the Breton crisis; what did Henry do to prevent instability on the border?
Supported a coup which brought pro England Earl of Angus to power; A 9 year truce was then signed with Scotland in 1493
What treaty was signed with Spain in 1489?
Treaty of Medina Del Campo
What did the Medina del Campo do?
Arthur and Catherine would marry, dowry of £40,000 payed in insatllments
Trade between the two countries would be increased (revenue £33,000 to £40,000 in reign)
Common policy regarding France; if either country was at war with France, the other would intervene (war between France and Spain was likely in the Pyraneas)
Why was Medina del Campo important?
Henry had gained recognition from a major foriegn power, granting greater security
There were economic gains - yet Henry could not tap into the newfound recources in the New World
What organisation of countries was established in 1495, and was England invited?
The League of Venice, No
The League of Venice was revamped to what orginisation in 1496?
The Holy League; England was invited - Ferdinand of Aragon was worried that England would support France. A sign England’s international stature was growing
Why can England be seen as being in a strong position in 1496
They were in the Holy League, negated the influence of the Auld Alliance, and continued trade with France
Who came of age in 1495?
James IV, Scotland
Who arrived in Scotland in 1495?
Perkin Warbeck, preparations for invasion in 1496
Why did the Scottish invasion in 1496 not come to a fruition/not successful
Failure to gather English support on the border. This suggests that the stability Henry had brought was popular.
James IV feared that the invasion in 1496 would provoke the English; what treaty was then signed?
The Truce of Ayton was signed in 1497; made treaty after Warbeck’s execution in 1499
It was the first time peace had been made between the two countries since 1328; Henry’s daughter married James IV in 1503
Did the Truce of Ayton prevent tension between England & Scotland
Not all tension was abandoned; raids on the boarder continued
How did Perkin Warbeck affect trade with Burgundy?
Trade with Burgundy was important becuse of the cloth trade with Antwerp. Yet because of Margaret of Burgundy’s support for Warbeck, Henry placed an embargo on trade through the region 1493-96
Which treaty ended the embargo on trade through Burgundy?
Magnus Intercursus
What was trade with Venice important for?
Trade route for cloth to Florence
Venetians placed tarrifs on English trade, how did Henry respond?
Henry restricted the sale of wool in Italy
Which scandanavian countries did Henry sign treaties with
Norway and Denmark - for fishing
Why was the period between 1492 and 1502 seen as a succees for Henry ?
Relationships with the powers were strong or improvinng, there were increases in trade, and the major threat in Perkin Warbeck ws nulified
Which Spanish monarch died in 1504, changing the international system?
Isabella of Castile, sparking a Spanish succession crisis untill 1506 and ended the Dutch, Spanish, and English anti-French relationship
The Hanseatic League supported which pretender to the throne?
Edmund de la Pole, Earl of Suffolk
Henry restored Edward IV’s privileges to which league in in 1504?
Hanseatic league, as he didn’t want to provoke them because they backed the Earl of Suffolk
Why was there conflict over Castile after Isabella’s death?
Isabella had left Castille to her daughter Joanna, who was married to Philip of Burgundy. But Ferdinand claimed it as his own
The Earl of Suffolk was being given refuge by whom?
Philip of Burgundy; hence why Henry did not wish to anger Burgundy during the Spanish succession crisis
Why was it important to Henry that Aragon and Castile remained united?
Because if they weren’t then Prince Henry’s marriage to Catherine would not bring as much benifit
After attempting to sit on the fence, who did Henry eventually side with during the Spanish succession crisis?
Philip of Burdundy, he lended money to him for his expedition to Spain. Ferdinand looked to support from Louis XII of France.
How did Henry atagonise Ferdiand?
Arguments over Catherine’s dowry with Prince Henry- Henry relied on the large sum of money and wanted to extract as much as possible
During Philip of Burgundy’s sailing to Spain, Henry was given what stroke of luck?
Philip was shipwrecked on the coast of the English Channel. He was then effectively imprisoned.
While effectively imprisoned in England, Philip of Burgundy signed which treaty?
It became known in the Netherlands as the Malus Intercursus: The Wicked Treaty, as it was far harsher than the original Magnus Intercursus
What were the conditions of the Malus Intercursus?
Philip would hand over the Earl of Suffolk
Proccess of Prince Henry marrying Philip’s sister began
English granted completely free trade in Burgundy, but Burgundies would have to pay duties on English Cloth outlined in Magnus Intercursus
When was the Magnus Intercursus restored?
1507
How did the Spanish Succession crisis resolve itself?
Despite Philip and Joanna recieving a warm welcome in Castile, Philip died in Septmeber 1506. Ferdinand retook Castile and Maximilian’s grandson Charles took of the Regency of Burgundy
After Philip of Burgundy’s death in Septmeber 1506, why did an Anglo-Spanish marriage look like an appealing prospect?
Spain was once again united, and Henry wanted to improve relations with Spain as he was worried apart French agression into Burgundy. This never came to fruition
Henry changed tack and abandoned Spain; what alliances did he set up and how?
An Anglo-French-Burgudian alliance. He married his daughter Mary to Charles of Ghent, he then offered marry his neice to Louis XII
Do these moves seem desperate?
Yes. Henry was nearing the end of his reign and became increasingly anxious. He appears desperate to find a foreign alliance to ensure the Tudor dynasty
An anti-Venetian league was created at the same moment Henry achieved an anti-Spanish alliance. What was it called; how did it embaress England
The League of Cambrai. England was not invited and because Louis didn’t want to antagonise Frace (they shared a common enemny in the Venetians) the anti-Spanish alliance broke down
What was England exposed as after the League of Cambrai embarresment?
weak fiscally, militarily, and politcally on the world stage
Overall, was Henry’s foriegn policy a success?
Yes. Despite embarressments at the end of his reign, Henry had the diplomatic skill to prevent tension becoming too high to the point were they risked the stability of his dynasty. He made economic gains which increased England’s wealth and standing on the world stage, which layed a strong foundation for Henry VIII to squander
