Henry VII: Relations with Foreign Powers

Question 1

Brittany and France

Answer 1

1. The French invaded Brittany in 1487 and it looked as if they were going to take full control of them.
2. Henry VII was alarmed and increased taxation to raise an army against the French (if France gained control of Brittany, they would be a greater threat to England).
3. England and Brittany agreed to the Treaty of Redon (1489), which stated that Brittany would pay for a small English army to protect them from France.
4. The English army went to Brittany but Anne, fearing defeat, had already married Charles VIII (which was a betrayal of England’s trust).
5. Henry then tactically launched an attack on France in 1492, to which they quickly sought a peace settlement (Henry had been informed that the French were more interested in launching an attack on Italy at this point).
6. At the signing of the Treaty of Etaples, Charles VIII withdrew his support from Perkin Warbeck and agreed to compensate the English for the trouble of having to raise an army for Brittany.

Question 2

Burgundy, the Netherlands and the Holy Roman Empire

Answer 2

1. Relations between England and Burgundy deteriorated as a result of the hospitality that Phillip and Maximilian offered to Perkin Warbeck.
2. Henry placed a trade embargo on Burgundy. This put two of his main foreign policy objectives into conflict: dynastic security and trade. It also made him unpopular in areas reliant on trade.
3. Relations improved after Warbeck left Burgundy and Henry and Maximillian were able to agree to the Intercursus Malus which brought the trade embargo to an end.

Question 3

Spain

Answer 3

1. The Treaty of Medina Del Campo (stated that Spain and England would offer mutual protection in the event of an attack, neither country would harbour rebels and an arranged marriage between Arthur, Prince of Wales, and Catherine, Princess of Aragon).
2. Ferdinand, Catherine’s father, was reluctant for the marriage to go ahead while Henry’s position was still being threatened by Perkin Warbeck, and the two monarchs argued over the details of the wedding.
3. The marriage took place but, when Arthur died and Henry immediately suggested the marriage of his other son, Henry, Ferdinand was reluctant. Henry also lost interest when Ferdinand’s wife, Isabella, died and made him less of an important political figure.
4. Henry then chose to place his support with Ferdinand’s daughter, Juana, in her cause and signed the Treaty of Windsor with her and her husband, Phillip of Burgundy (which caused the Intercursus Malus and the return of the Earl of Suffolk).
5. When Juana’s husband died, she was described by her father, Ferdinand, as mad and was therefore unfit to rule. Ferdinand became regent of Castile (the lands that Juana once had control of) and had outsmarted Henry, leaving him isolated.

Question 4

Scotland

Answer 4

1. When James IV became of age, he offered Perkin Warbeck hospitality (giving him not only a pension but an aristocratic marriage too) and encouraged him to cross the border of England).
2. Warbeck’s army was small and spent little time in England but it encouraged Henry to raise a larger army and invade Scotland.
3. The raise in taxation sparked the Cornish Rebellion which shook Henry and made it clear that a truce was needed.
4. The truce was signed and James IV no longer had a need for Warbeck. Warbeck was executed in 1499.
5. It was agreed that James should marry Henry’s daughter, Princess Margaret. The wedding took place in 1503.

Question 5

Ireland

Answer 5

1. Henry’s influence over Ireland only extended as far as the Pale. The Earl of Kildare, leader of Ireland, was feared by Henry as he had many Yorkist sympathisers.
2. Kildare’s actions forced Henry into using an Englishman to rule Ireland backed by armed forces and appointing his son, Henry, as lieutenant of Ireland.
3. Poynings, Henry’s deputy, was initially successful through the use of threats and bribery but it proved too expensive for Henry after the threat of invasion from the Scots and when Perkin Warbeck returned to Ireland in 1495, Henry had to use Kildare as deputy again.
4. By this point, Kildare had lost enthusiasm in supporting the Yorkist cause and decided to serve Henry loyally. By 1500, Henry had secured some authority over Ireland.

Question 6

1487

Answer 6

French invasion of Brittany

Question 7

1488

Answer 7

Anglo-French truce

Question 8

1489

Answer 8

• Treaty of Redon between England and Brittany
• Treaty of Medina Del Campo between England and Spain

Question 9

1492

Answer 9

• England invades France
• Treaty of Etaples between England and France

Question 10

1496

Answer 10

• Magus Intercursus
• Scotland invades England

Question 11

1497

Answer 11

Truce of Ayton between Scotland and England (after the Cornish Rebellion)

Question 12

1501

Answer 12

Marriage of Prince Arthur and Catherine of Aragon

Question 13

1502

Answer 13

Death of Prince Arthur

Question 14

1503

Answer 14

Marriage of Princess Margaret to James IV of Scotland

Question 15

1504

Answer 15

Death of Queen Isabella of Castile

Question 16

1506

Answer 16

• Philip of Burgundy and Juana of Castile in England
• Malus Intercursus
• Death of Phillip of Burgundy