Henry VII's foreign policy Flashcards
what are Henry VII’s 3 foreign policy aims ?
National security
securing the dynasty
financial gain & trade
why did H7 need to focus on national security?
Britain was very vulnerable to attack under a new king & H7 had little money to fight any wars if they occured. H7 needed allies for protection and not go to war - peace policy
how was H7 successful in national security?
#removed Yorkist support; medina del campo, treaty of Étaples and malus intercursus were all treaties signed which removed foreign support #He didn't have any enemies at the end of his reign - even if he was isolated # signed treaties early in reign with powerful countries; Redon, Dordecht & Medina #Prioritises national security; trade embargo over Yorkist support
how wasn’t H7 successful in national security?
#Foreign countries support yorkists (simnel & Warbeck) #invaded france & support wrong side in war (pro brittany) # diplomatically isolated after league of Cambrai
can H7 invading France be seen as advantageous even though it jeopodised national security?
yes; it led to the signing of the treaty of Étaples in which he recieved a yearly pension of £5000 & the french promised not to support Yorkists
why did H7 need to focus on securing the tudor dynasty?
under a new king England was vulnerable to attack & he wanted to secure his dynasty so needed to be recognised as a legitimate power
how wast H7 successful in securing the tudor dynasty?
#Marries his son off to royal (Spanish) family - Medinal del Campo # Marries sister to Scottish king #Removes Yorkist threats
how wasn’t H7 successful in securing the tudor dynasty?
#when his wife dies he fails to find new one - proposals fall through stopping alliances #foreign support of coups
why did H7 need to focus on financial gains & trade?
England was very poor when H7 takes throne - needs money to be able to defend itself
how was H7 successful in securing the financial gain & trade?
#Includes trade deals in important treaties; Medina, Étaples #under Étaples gets £5000 p/a (=5% of revenue) #gets first dry dock in Europe # New Danish trade links #Dowry of in Medina #Custom duties increase
how wasn’t H7 successful in securing the financial gain & trade
#doesn't improve trade shares in Burgundy #loses trade route when french won the Breton crisis # doesn't get access to new world # spends money in war - causes rebellion at home
Name the major events in the French-Anglo relationship
Breton crisis
invasion of France
treaty of Étaples
league of Cambrai
What happened in the Breton crisis?
1) France propose marriage b/w their heir & heir of Brittany (let them take control); send troops to enforce aim.
2) Duke of Brittany asks for help; H7 sends unnofficial army with apology to French
3) H7 signs treaties (Redon, Dordrecht & Medina del Campo) in which he offers Brittany troops; countries then back out
4) Brittany surrenders
What was the risk of a war with France & why did H7 go to war against France?
France was bigger financially - England was still weak & vulnerable
H7 raised lots of money to fund Breton war & invested credibility in & fighting the French; couldn’t back out without losing this credibility
1) How did the English invasion of France turn out & why?
2) How did H7 try & reduce the risk of disaster?
1) France signed the Treaty of Étaples with England
France was interested in invading Italian wars & saw England as a distraction & offered them peace to get rid of them.
2) H7 invaded at the end of the campaigning season meaning any conflict there could be would be short lived
What were the terms of the Treaty of Étaples?
France won’t support Yorkist claimants
They were to pay arrears of the Battle of Picquigny
£5000 p/a pension
How notable were the financial benefits of the treaty of Étaples?
Good; the pension made up 5% of Royal income
What was the Holy League
An anti-French league comprising of Spain, pope & HRE.
England was invited to join & did but only on the condition that it was not bound to war against France
How did the Holy League signify England’s increasing position of importance?
England was invited to join as they were afraid that otherwise H7 would form an alliance with France - suggests it was seen as dangerous to exclude England.
Since was not bound to war against France this suggests the league would rather a neutral England than an allied one
What was the League of Cambrai?
An anti-spanish league proposed by H7 to France.
France however got nervous about excluding Spain & formed their own league of cambrai without England.
What was the effect of the League of Cambrai on England?
It left hem diplomatically isolated
However they were not threatened & the League’s embers didn’t threaten English interests
How was French foreign policy successful?
Treaty of Étaples; France promises not to support English rebels
Even post League of Cambrai remain netural
(Signs treaties with other key countries during Breton Crisis)
How was French foreign policy unsuccessful?
League of Cambrai - saw H7 abandoned by France
Lost Breton crisis
Name the major events in the Spanish-Anglo relationship
Medina del Campo
Marriage of Arthur & Catherine
Castilian succession crisis
League of Cambrai
What were the terms of Medina del Campo?
proposes marriage between Catherine & Arthur; £40,000 dowry
Agreement that they would intervene if the other was at war against France
Won’t support rebels
English trade benefits
Why did it take 12 years after Medina del Campo for Catherine & Arthur to marry?
what does it suggest
Spain refused to send Catherine & dowry while Warbeck was at large
Suggests that even if Spain had recognised Tudor dynasty - H7 was still seen as unstable & risk at usurpal (not secure)
What was the significance of the marriage between CAtherine & ARthur
recognition of dynasty
closer ties with Spain
Access to Spanish empire
Potential links to a new ally of Burgundy (Catherine’s sister Joanna married to Philip)
What happened in the Castilian succession crisis
Isabella of Castile dies & leaves Castile to daughter Joanna instead of husband.
Burgundy then claims Castile - Philip of Burgundy married to Joanna
Ferdinand tries to take it back by force but doesn’t get support & withdraws
But Philip then dies & Joanna has a breakdown
What was the difficulty of the Castilian succession crisis for Henry?
It meant being allied to Spain was less advantageous; new proposed marriage b/w Prince Henry & Catherine doesn’t bring same benefits
If he supported Spain then he would lose trade links with Burgundy & antagonising them was risky as they were supporting Suffolk
Who did Henry decide to support after the Castilian succession crisis
Why?
Burgundy; starts removing himself from Spanish alliance
Part of the reason was that France & Spain had started closer links forcing England into a closer relationship with Burdundy
Why does H7 then want closer links Spain in the Castlilian succession crisis despite having tried to remove himself from the alliance?
How does H7
Philip dies & Ferdinand takes control of Castile.
Henry proposes to marry Joanna - refused
How was Spanish foreign policy successful?
marriage between Catherine & Arthur
Treaty of Medina del Campo (trade benefits)
How was Spanish foreign policy unsuccessful?
Breaks down - H7 chose Burdundy alliance over Spanish & then regrets this
attempt to isolate Spain (Cambrai fails)
Name the key events in Burdundy-Anglo foreign policy?
Treaty of Dordrecht Trade embargo Magnus intercursus Philip shipwrecked Malus intercursus
What was the Treaty of Dordrecht?
A treaty with Burgundy where they would pay for English troops to Brittany,
Never happens - Burgundy makes peace with France
Why did H7 order a trade embargo with Burgundy
what does this suggest about his foreign policy?
They sheltered Warbeck - a pretender
That he was more concerned with security than trade
What was the Magnus intercursus
an end to the trade embargo - allowed England to trade anywhere in Burgundy (bar Flanders) without paying tolls or customs
What was the result of Philip being shipwrecked in England?
England funded Philips journey to Castile & recognised them as monarchs.
In return he signed the Malus Intercursus, surrendered Suffolk & agreed to prince HEnry marrying Philip’s sister
Why was the surrender of Suffolk by Philip important (what were the conditions)
It removed a threat to the dynasty.
H7 got Suffolk but had to promise not to hurt him
Why was the Malus Intercursus never ratified by Burgundy?
It was very unpopular due to being very favorable to England (said that English trade with Burgundy would be free but Burgundy still ad to pay duties in England)
How was Burgundy foreign policy successful?
H7 removed rebel threats (eventually)
Got trade deals
How was Burgundy foreign policy unsuccessful?
Trade success varied - had to call an embargo & Malus was never passed
Name the key events in the Scottish-Anglo relationship?
3 year truce James 4 becoming king Warbeck rebellion Treaty of Ayton Treaty of Perpetual peace Marriage of James 4 & Margaret Tudor
How was the 3 year truce successful?
It helped settle historic land disputes over 2 towns
Scotland & england discussed marriage
How was James 3 being killed good for English foreign policy?
James 4 was underage - couldn’t lead a battle; no war
pro-English regents in charge
How did Scotland support Warbeck?
JAmes married Warbeck to his cousin & helped with a military invasion of England (which failed)
What were the terms of the Treaty of Ayton
Why did Scotland sign it?
Extended the earlier truce
James 4 was scared of an English attack on Scotland (in response to him helping the Warbeck invasion)
What was significant about the Treaty of Ayton?
it was the first peace treaty in 170 years.
What was the treaty of Perpetual peace?
a treaty between Scotland & England - under which was signed a marriage contract between James 4 & Margaret Tudor
What was the Auld Alliance?
An alliance between scotland of France. It posed H7 the problem of the threat of joint invasion from two sides
How was Scottish foreign policy successful?
saw the first peace treaty for 170 years
Marriage between the two countries
Treaty of Perpetual peace saw the avoidance of full scale war for the rest of H7’s reign
stabilised Northern border - not strengthened
How was Scottish foreign policy unsuccessful?
it didn’t end the Auld Alliance - only negated it
H7 caused the cornish rebellion raising funds to fight Scotland in response to Warbeck
Name 4 successes of H7 trade foreign policy?
+ Included trade clauses in several treaties; Medina
+ Expands into Mediterranean; trading staple in Pisa
+ Increases custom revenue £33,000 –> £40,000
+ First dry dock in Europe
Name 3 failures of H7 trade foreign policy?
- Doesn’t get new world trade
- Forced into agreements due to dodgy domestic policy; Hanseatic league shelter Suffolk
- Cloth trade share in Burgundy doesn’t increase
