Henry VII: Foreign Policy - Spain

Question 1

What was Spain like during the reign of Henry VII?

Answer 1

• Major power in Europe
• Marriage of Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabella of Castille in 1469, brought the two kingdoms together from 1479
• This created the appearance of a unified country
• Aragon was, however, a far less significant state than Castile

Question 2

What were the Navigation Acts and how did they affect Anglo-Spanish relations?

Answer 2

• The Navigation Acts were passed during 1485-6
• This act banned the use of foreign ships if any English ships were available when loading or importing goods
• These changes were Henry’s attempts to sustain the English market, but negatively affected Anglo-Spanish relations
• Spain retaliated and forbade the export of goods from Spain in foreign ships if Spanish ships were available

Question 3

The Treaty of Medina del Campo

Answer 3

• Henry wanted to strengthen his links with the new power in Europe and worked hard to secure the Treaty of Medina del Campo in 1489
• It provided Henry with recognition on the international stage and valuable security. Its terms included that:
  1 Ferdinand and Henry VII agreed mutual support to defend their countries against any enemy, and assurance that neither king would make any peace, alliance or treaty with France without the other’s agreement
  2 Neither country would assist or harbour rebels or pretenders
  3 Princess Catherine of Aragon would marry Prince Arthur of England
• Navigation Acts were also dismantled and English goods were allowed to be exported from Spanish ships in Spain
• This led to a rise in income from custom revenue from £33,000 in 1485 to £40,000 in 1509

Question 4

The Marriage of Catherine of Aragon and Prince Arthur

Answer 4

• Catherine and Prince Arthur were married in 1501, but the latter’s death in 1502 immediately endangered the Anglo-Spanish alliance
• Henry proposed that, instead, Catherine should marry Prince Henry. Ferdinand resisted, holding out for better terms because he did not need the English alliance at a time when Spanish relations with France were improving
• By 1503, however, Franco-Spanish relations had again deteriorated and so Ferdinand accepted the proposal.

Question 5

How did the death of Isabella of Castile affect Anglo-Spanish relations?

Answer 5

• Isabella died in 1504 and Anglo-Spanish relations deteriorated
• Isabella’s death opened up the Castilian succession question
• Henry realised that Ferdinand was no longer the immense European power he had been as King of united Spain
• He tried to retract Prince Henry’s betrothal to Catherine
• Tudor then chose to back Philip of Burgundy against Ferdinand’s claim in the Castilian succession crisis

Question 6

What did Ferdinand do following Henry’s opposition?

Answer 6

• As a result of such diplomatic fluctuation, Ferdinand signed the Treaty of Blois with France in 1505
• In 1506, Ferdinand married Louis XII’s niece
• After Philip’s death in 1506, Ferdinand reclaimed the upper hand, emerging as the sole ruler of united Spain and strong with his French alliance
• Spain no longer needed English support