Henry VII's foreign policy 1485 - 1509 Flashcards
How secure was England in the late fifteenth century?
England weakened by 100 Years’ War:
Independent Duchy of Brittany had provided Henry with refuge when he had fled England in 1471 which meant that not all the Channel coast was in French hands.
However, France had also given Henry significant financial aid for his invasion in 1485, and support for the Bretons might antagonise the French which was dangerous for Henry as the French had the largest and most professional army in Europe, and was financially much stronger than England. France also allied to Scotland – ‘Auld Alliance’ meant that England could be attacked on two flanks simultaneously. Raids across the border were common and it meant expensive border garrisons at Berwick and Carlisle.
How secure was England in the late fifteenth century in relations to the rest of Europe?
New power in Europe, and priorities were to drive the Moors out of Granada (1492), secure their northern border with France, and secure the claims of Ferdinand in Naples. More likely to come into contact with France than England, and might even see England as a useful ally.
Burgundy was the most important trading area. Margaret of Burgundy was a magnet for disaffected Yorkists, but direct action there was complicated by trade issue.
Holy Roman Empire: Power of the Emperor was limited, although Frederick III (1448-93) and Maximilian (1493-1519) did much to strengthen it. Empire acquired Burgundy in 1477 when Maximilian married Mary of Burgundy – therefore it took on greater importance in terms of its relationship with England.
Italy: Most important states were Milan, Venice, Florence, Naples and the Papal States. Rulers of France, Spain and the Empire all had claims to land there, and the outbreak of the Italian Wars in 1494 diverted European attention away from Northern Europe to the Mediterranean and made Henry’s position less vulnerable.
What were Henry’s aims?
His foreign policy was subordinate to ensuring the obedience of his subjects and his attempts to achieve internal security. Internal weakness was made worse by the support given by external powers to his enemies, notably Burgundy.
- One of his main aims was to secure his throne from domestic and foreign threats. As a usurper, he also wanted dynastic recognition from other European powers.
- Weakness at the start of his reign was more acute, especially financially, which led him to adopt a more defensive foreign policy and avoid war if at all possible, as there was the threat of invasion from other claimants, but also from France and Scotland.
- Economic goals: He wanted to maintain the cloth trade with Burgundy and develop closer trading relations with other nations, Spain. However, this was secondary to national security, and Henry suspended the cloth trade when B supported Warbeck.
How was England weak at the start of Henry’s rule?
Dynastic threats and their impacts
Some European rulers might exploit his weakness to undermine him, or, as with Margaret of Burgundy, to restore the Yorkist line. As a consequence, Henry wanted to improve relations with the major powers and gain allies to discourage attacks. Therefore he sought alliances with a number of foreign powers in order to gain protection, recognition and guarantees that they would not support any claimants to the throne, marriage alliances were commonly used to this effect.
Weak financial position and its impact
Avoidance of war was a major financial aim. While the royal coffers lack funds, Henry sought to avoid war as much as possible. In particular, he wanted to avoid war with France, not only as it was allied to Scotland, but also because it was much stronger financially
Economic goals
He wanted to maintain the cloth trade with Burgundy and develop closer trading relations with other nations, such as Spain. However, this was secondary to national security, and Henry suspended the cloth trade with Burgundy when it supported Warbeck.
What were S.B Chrimes’ three phases to Henry’s foreign policy?
o 1485-92 – a period when Henry followed a policy of diplomacy to secure the throne
o 1493-1502 – a period when peace with Scotland was eventually secured and Henry’s position seemed stronger and more successful
o 1503-1509: a period when Henry’s position weakened and Henry became more isolated
How did Henry consolidate support?
Actions in first three years of reign designed to give him time to consolidate his position, his preferred policy was the truce as it was temporary, could be extended and did not tie him down to any long-term promise or commitment, i.e., France – French were willing to negotiate a one-year truce as they had helped finance his seizure of the throne, and the French regent, Anne of Beaujeau, believed that H7 was unlikely to survive more than a year, but when he did the truce was extended until 1489.
Similarly with Scotland, July 1486 he persuaded James III to agree to a 3-year truce. Assassination of James III in 1488 at the battle of Sauchieburn and accession of 15-year-old James IV disrupted relations but the truce held; in some ways he was more secure as James IV was so young and unlikely to lead troops into battle.
Brittany, was more a trading partner than a threat, which is why he negotiated a longer term treaty rather than a temporary truce; Brittany had also supported him in exile from 1471. Treaty signed in 1486 was more commercial than political and involved favourable trade agreements.
H7 had no chance of sealing an alliance with Burgundy as long as Margaret was influential.
In the HRE, Maximilian (the heir) renewed the truce for a year (1487).
Failed in primary goal of avoiding war, as Simnel invasion (supported by MoB) showed his weakness
Position of Brittany in 1488-89
Brittany was also threatened by France, but unlike Burgundy, it was small, weak and nowhere near as wealthy. The regent of France proposed marrying her brother, Charles VIII, to the daughter and heir of the ageing Duke of Brittany (the Duke had already arranged for Anne to marry Maximilian).
H7 saw it as future ally against France – control of the English Channel was vital to his security.
Treaty of Redon, 1489
Brittany promised to pay the cost of the 6000 men which H7 had sent them in April 1489
Failure for Henry because:
Left France in control of the southern Channel where they could potentially launch an invasion
He had gone to war to protect Brittany but failed
He had raised money to fund a war (and seen a rebellion in Yorkshire) which had not been fought
He had said he would fight the French but hadn’t – credibility dented
Treaty of Étaples, 1492
- H7’s intervention in Brittany had angered the French – they retaliated by supporting Warbeck, H7 therefore declared war on France. He did so at the end of the campaigning season so that the campaign would be short. Oct 1492, a large, well-equipped army of 26,000 landed in Calais from where they moved to besiege Boulogne. H7 did not want war, but he needed to convince the French that he was serious.
He was gambling on the fact that the French wanted peace too, and 9 days after setting foot in France, Charles VIII offered to negotiate – It is likely that H7’s agents had informed him of Charles VIII’s intentions to make war in Italy, so that an English army in France was a distraction the French could have done without.
At Bosworth and Stoke H7 had proved his courage and fulfilled the expectations of kingship in battle; at Étaples, he showed himself to be a shrewd and capable negotiator.
Terms of the Treaty of Étaples?
o French promised to give no further aid to rebels, esp. Warbeck
o They had to pay the cost of transporting H7’s army back to England
o They had to pay pension arrears dating back to Treaty of Picquigny (1475) - £5000 a year – 5% of H7’s total income
