Henry VII's foreign policy

Question 1

How did Henry VII promote trade?

Answer 1

• 1485 Navigation Acts: English merchants were to use English ships instead of foreign ships
• 1496 Magnus Intercursus: important trade deal with Burgundy

Question 2

What is the significance of Henry VII’s relationship with Scotland?

Answer 2

• England made a truce with Scotland in 1486
• In 1495 Perkin Warbeck was welcomed by King James IV and offered the marriage of the Kings cousin
• After the disastrous invasion joint invasion by Warbeck and James IV, Henry and James IV signed the truce of Ayton which later became the Treaty of Perpetual Peace in 1502
• In 1503 there was a marriage alliance between, Henry’s daughter Margaret and James IV

Question 3

What is the significance of Henry VII’s relationship with France?

Answer 3

• In 1489, Henry signed the Treaty of Redon with Brittany in order to protect Brittany against France, France later annexed Brittany which led to the Breton crisis
• 1492 Treaty of Etaples ended the Briton crisis gave Henry an annual income and made sure France would not shelter any English rebels - Perkin Warbeck
• 1496, Henry VII joined the Holy League, an alliance of France’s rivals in the continuing Italian Wars, but England remained neutral in the fighting

Question 4

What is the significance of Henry VIII’s relationship with Burgundy?

Answer 4

• Richard III’s sister Margaret of Burgundy hated Henry VII and supported Yorkist opposition and pretenders throughout the period
• Margaret supported Perkin Warbeck until 1496, when Henry signed the Magnus Intercursus with Philip, Duke of Burgundy

Question 5

What were the terms of the Treaty of Medina del Campo?

Answer 5

• England and Spain wouldn’t sign treaties with France before consulting each other
• There would be equal trading rights for each others merchants
• Prince Arthur would marry Catherine of Aragon to cement the alliance (1501)

Question 6

What caused Henry VII’s relationship with Spain to decline?

Answer 6

• Prince Arthurs death (1502): broke the marriage alliance with Spain
• Henry VII refused to allow Catherine of Aragon or her dowry to return to Spain
• The relationship after Elizabeth of Castile’s death in 1504 up until the end of Henry’s reign in 1509