Henry VIII EARLY Foreign Policy

Question 1

What were Henry’s aims?

Answer 1

• Glory through war (especially against France)
• End Scottish threat and secure dynasty
• Show England as a major European power
• Assert his claim to the throne

Question 2

What were Wolsey’s aims?

Answer 2

• Further his own position
• Maintain peace
• Please Henry

Question 3

What evidence shows Henry was successful in achieving glory though war?

Answer 3

• 1513 Battle of Flodden: James V and many scottish nobles were killed. Henry’s sister Margaret was now queen regent in Scotland
• 1513 Battle of Spurs: Henry led 30,000 men to Calais and was successful in seizing the towns of Tournai and Therouanne

Question 4

What evidence shows Henry was NOT successful in achieving glory through war?

COUNTER SK

Answer 4

• Henry’s victory at Battle of Spurs was superficial - had spent £960,000 on war when his income was only 10k per year
• Anglo-Spanish deal to attack France failed as Spanish troops never arrived - used England as a diversion to seize Navarre. English troops soon succumbed to dysentrery and drunkenness - made England look weak

Question 5

How was Henry successful in securing the dynasty and eliminating threats?

Answer 5

• Under 1514 Anglo-French Treaty Henry was given Tournai, Louis agreed to pay rest of French pension (promised by Treaty of Etaples), and a mariage between Henry’s daughter Mary and Louis XII was arranged
• Following the Battle of Flodden Henry’s sister Margaret was now regent

Question 6

What suggets Henry was NOT successful in securing the dynasty?

Answer 6

In 1517 King Francis sent over the Duke of Albany (scottish claimant) to overthrow Margaret’s regency government - it was fragile

Question 7

What evidence suggests Henry was successful in showing England as a major power?

/ Wolsey successful in creating peace?

Answer 7

• 1518 Treaty of London was a non-aggression pact signed by 20 European powers. They all signed individually with England increasing Henry’s prestige as England was put at the centre of diplomacy
• 1520 Field of Cloth of Gold: meeting between Henry and Francis - very extravagant event with over 3000 notables from each country. Henry and Francis even joined in on the fun and had a wrestling match

Question 8

What suggests Henry was NOT successful in obtaining peace?

Answer 8

• Treaty of London was short lived as only after 3 months Maximillian died and Charles and Francis began fighting to secure their election as Holy Roman Emperor
• 1529 Peace of Cambrai: Spain and France signed and Wolsey was not informed - showed England’s isolation in foreign policy