Henry VII: Foreign Policy - Burgundy

Question 1

What was Burgundy like during the reign of Henry VII?

Answer 1

• The Duchy of Burgundy passed to the Hapsburgs in 1477 after the death of Duke Charles the Bold
• However, the French King aimed to annexe the duchy making it a point of Franco-Hapsburg contention
• It consisted mainly of the commercially-important areas now known as Belgium and the Netherlands

Question 2

What were Anglo-Burgundian relations like?

Answer 2

• Anglo-Burgundian relations under Tudor were difficult
• Margaret of Burgundy was Tudor’s implacable opponent; she constantly conspired against Henry
• Maximilian also plotted against Henry when it suited him

Question 3

How was Burgundy involved in the Simnel Rebellion?

Answer 3

• In 1487, Margaret of Burgundy sent 2000 German mercenaries to aid the Simnel Rebellion

Question 4

How was Burgundy involved in the Warbeck Plot?

Answer 4

• In 1493, Perkin Warbeck is received at Burgundian court
• In the same year, Philip, the son of Maximilian of Hapsburg and Mary of Burgundy, takes over direct rule of Burgundy while Maximilian inherited the title Holy Roman Emperor

Question 5

How did Henry VII react to Burgundy’s support of Warbeck?

Answer 5

• Henry wrote to Philip protesting about Margaret’s continued support for Perkin Warbeck but Philip ignored his letter
• Henry retaliated by banishing Burgundian merchants from England and put an embargo on English trade with Burgundy that lasted until 1496

Question 6

When did Warbeck leave Burgundy and what diplomatic changes were made made as a result?

Answer 6

• In 1495, Warbeck leaves Burgundy and diplomatic relations improve
• Henry and Philip had both suffered from the commercial restrictions of the embargo and agreed in Intercursus Magnus (the Great Settlement) in 1496 to remove trade barriers

Question 7

What were the terms of the Intercursus Magnus?

Answer 7

• It allowed English merchants to trade freely with all parts of Burgundy except Flanders

Question 8

What were the effects of the Intercursus Magnus?

Answer 8

• The Intercursus Magnus resumed friendly relations and trade between the two countries
• This aided Henry’s popularity in the City of London and amongst the merchants of East Anglia
• In the 15th century, England began to dominate the cloth industry - one of their major export regions was Burgundy
• By 1509, English merchants were shipping more than half the cloth exported to Europe
• Overall, 60 per cent more cloth was being exported to Europe in 1509 than had been at the beginning of Henry’s reign (1485)

Question 9

How did the death of Isabella of Castile affect Anglo-Burgundian relationships?

Answer 9

• Isabella of Castile died in 1504
• Henry had to make a difficult decision – whether to back Philip or Ferdinand’s claims in the disputed succession to Castile
• Philip of Burgundy was married to Ferdinand and Isabella’s daughter, Joanna of Castile
• Ferdinand was married to the late Isabella of Castile

Question 10

Who did Henry support after the death of Isabella of Castile?

Answer 10

• Henry gambled and chose to back Philip for several reasons
  1 Henry wanted to protect English trade with Burgundy
  2 Henry saw an opportunity to negotiate an advantageous marriage for Prince Henry to Philip’s daughter Eleanor
  3 Maximilian was sheltering the leading Yorkist pretender Edmund de la Pole, Duke of Suffolk. Henry hoped to gain custody of Suffolk by backing Philip

Question 11

What happened after Henry showed support for Philip of Burgundy?

Answer 11

• In 1506, Philip died unexpectedly, Joanna allegedly went mad, Ferdinand resumed control of Castile and therefore took control of the whole of Spain
• Maximilian assumed regency of Burgundy for his young grandson Charles
• Henry was now isolated in Europe with the only benefit being that Suffolk was already in his custody

Question 12

How was Henry’s relationship with Maximilian following the death of Philip?

Answer 12

• Henry’s relations with Maximilian remained good because both continued to fear the power of France, especially after the French reconciliation with Spain
• Henry abandoned the controversial Intercursus Malus (1504), which was a trade agreement that provided favourable terms for the English
• Shows Henry reverting to traditional English foreign policy - safeguarding good relations with the natural ally Burgundy
• Discussions of a proposed marriage between Princess Mary and Maximilian’s grandson, Charles, were further evidence of this policy reversal
• In this, Henry demonstrated foresight, because the Archduke Charles would soon be the most powerful ruler in Europe

Question 13

How were Anglo-Burgundian relations at the end of Henry VII’s reign?

Answer 13

• At the end of the reign, Anglo-Burgundian relations were still not entirely secure - Henry was never confident that he had Maximilian’s continued support
• This was made clear in 1508 when Maximilian signed the Treaty of Cambrai with the Kings of France and Spain
• The Treaty was a military alliance against Venice, part of the continuing Italian Wars, and therefore did not involve Henry
• It can be argued that the distraction of war against Venice gave Henry some peace at the end; however, there was danger that the focus of the alliance might move to an anti-Tudor position
• England’s security depended on strong allies in Europe and these were conspicuously absent in the years 1508 to 1509