Henry VII - Other Threats Flashcards
What were Henry’s 3 aims in terms of foreign policy?
- Avoid attack from foreign powers while he was weak, poor, and insecure at home
- Minimise/deal with any assistance that may be given by other countries to his rivals
- Maintain healthy trade (especially with Burgundy)
- Promote his dynasty and get them accepted as equals with European royalty
What 3 key foreign threats did Henry VII face?
The Brittany Crisis 1487-92
Scotland
The Castillian Succession Crisis 1504-6
What was the Brittany Crisis of 1487-92?
France wanted to take over Brittany. Anne of Brittany was forced to marry Charles VIII of France in 1491.
At first Henry agreed to send troops to maintain Breton independence, but following the marriage of Anne and Charles he realised he faced the risk of full-on war with France!
How did Henry deal with the Brittany Crisis?
Tactically sent an army over to france at the end of the campaigning season in October 1942 when France was preoccupied with winning land in Italy and saw the English army as an annoyance.
The French agreed in the Treaty of Etaples to pay England £5000 a year to leave and also promised not to help Perkin Warbeck
Why was Scotland the biggest foreign threat to England in Henry VII’s reign?
Shared an island with England
Had the ‘Auld Alliance’ with France
Could be used as a launchpad for invasion and could harbour the Tudors’ enemies
How did Henry deal with the Scottish threat?
Prepared a huge invasion force BUT had to divert them to deal with the Cornish Rebellion
Instead, the two kings, Henry VII and James IV, made the truce of Ayton which later turned into an alliance and involved the marriage of Henry’s daughter Margaret to James
This did not, however, completely resolve tensions and border raids continued
When was the League of Cambrai formed?
1508
What implications did the League of Cambrai have for Henry and England?
Alliance between major European powers, including France, Spain, and the Holy Roman Empire
Initially appeared as though England had been left isolated and could have been a significant threat to Henry
BUT their focus was on Italy and they weren’t concerned with England
Why did Henry need the support of the nobility?
During the 15th Century, some nobles had become ‘overmighty’ - we’re richer than the king and were in de facto control of large areas of the country
Henry himself was a noble who had seized power - if he had done this, what was to stop someone else from doing it back to him?
In the absence of a police force, Henry needed nobles to maintain law and order in the regions of England and Wales
Many noble families had died out in the Wars of the Roses, but ‘super nobles’ still existed eg. the Percy family and the Staffords
How did Henry deal with potential threat from nobles?
‘Carrot and stick’ policy:
Rewarded good behaviour and loyalty, for example having helped Henry in the Battle of Bosworth or other good service, with patronage. More significant honours given out was making nobles Knights of the Garter or even a member of the Great Council
Sanctions for bad behaviour included:
- Confiscations of land under acts of attainder
- Bonds and recognisances
- Feudal dues
- Limitations on retaining
When did Arthur die and why was this a threat to the monarchy?
April 1502
Meant the survival of the Tudor dynasty rested on the shoulders of Prince Henry
Jeopardised foreign relations with Spain as Catherine of Aragon was now not married to an heir to the English throne
When did Elizabeth of York die and why did this pose a threat to the monarchy?
February 1503
Removed some Yorkist loyalty to Henry VII as there was no longer a Yorkist Queen, and no hope of any more Yorkist/Lancastrian children
