Henry VII foreign policy successes and failures

Question 1

most significant success of Henry’s foreign policy?

Answer 1

Ending the threat of rival claimants to the thrown
- positive relations with Yorkist sympathiser
❗️perkin warbeck had large amount of support inc Margaret of Burgundy + French + Scottish kings ➡️ threat eliminated in 1499 tp,
❗️Treaty of Etaples 1492 Henry’s army left france and charles withdrew support from Warbeck 745,000 crowns + agreement not to support Henry’s enemies
❗️eliminated support from Kildares (crowned Simnel king) Poynings law 1495 to establish royal authority, able to form alliance with earl ff Kildare who was loyal and monitored Ireland for the rest of H reign

Question 2

another success of Henry’s foreign policy? (2)

Answer 2

defended national and dynastic interests
❗️treaty of Redon, feb 1489 6000 troops only actually sent 3000 troops
❗️ treaty of Medina del campo, march 1489 Henry and Spain agreed to go to war against France to recover lost territories (solidifying alliance + secured marriage of Arthur and Catherine)
❗️treaty of etaples 1492, Henrys army left France with payment of 745,000 crowns and agreement to not support Henry’s enemies

Question 3

another success of Henry’s foreign policy? (3)

Answer 3

increasing/securing trade
- bulk of Englands exports came though the Netherlands but relations deteriorated as Maximilian and Philip offered Warbeck hospitality
❗️1495 Henry put a trade embargo on but it never became fully operational and by the following year trade had been restored by intercursus Magnus 1496
❗️Castilian crisis caused the treaty of winsdor ensuring a new trade agreement of intercursus malus 1506
- Treaty of Medina Del Campo strengthened England’s recognition with great european powers such as HRE which opened up new places to trade
- England joined the League of Venice ➡️major success as it was a league with great powers incl. Spain and HRE which previously isolated from

Question 4

most significant failure of foreign policy?

Answer 4

Largely reliant on distractions made elsewhere
- whole focus of Europes attention shifted with Frances’ invasion of Italy in 1494 (good for H as offered distraction from warlocks threat)
- League of cambrai 1508 distracted from Henry’s isolation due to Philips unexpected death

Question 5

another significant failure of foreign policy?(2)

Answer 5

was only able to stabilise not secure the boarder region
- threatening as France could use the boarder region to attack
- James III died and truce no longer
- nobles in charge were hostile to Henry
- James IV marriage to Margaret seen as means to weaken Auld
❗️Relations worsened in 1496/97 when James IV gave shelter to Warbeck + royal welcome as well as military support for his failed invasion attempt in 1469/97
BUT
But relations improved in 1502 when the Treaty of perpetual peace was signed, marriage alliance of Henry’s daughter Maragret to James was finalised

Question 6

another significant failure of foreign policy?

Answer 6

Longevity of foreign threats (eg giving support to pretenders )