Henry VIII foreign policy Flashcards
What were Henry VIII’s foreign policy aims?
- From 1509 - 27, he wanted to gain international recognition
- From 1526 - 40, he wanted to improve foreign relations to Enable his divorce from Catherine of Aragon as it was the centre of government
- From 1540 - 47, He wanted to gain land from France to Expand his English empire
What happened in 1510?
- The councillors wanted to continue peace
- The treaty of Etaples was still maintained
- Christopher Bainbridge, archbishop of York was sent to Rome to persuade the pope to a holy league with England, Spain, the holy roman empire, Venice and the papacy against France
What was the first invasion of France like in 1512?
- Under the command of the marquis of Dorset, 10,000 men were sent to the south of France
- Ferdinand used Henry’s men as a diversionary tactic so he could gain Navarre
- Henry gained nothing as a result, he lost the French pension
What was the second invasion of France in 1513 like?
- He invaded the town of Therouanne leading to the battle of Spurs in august 1513 which Henry won highlighting him as a warrior king
- Therouanne was recaptured by France in late august and Tournai was captured in September
What happened at the battle of Flodden in September 1513?
- James crossed the English border with a large army due to the auld alliance but he defeated by a smaller English army led by the Earl of Surrey
- James IV and 10,000 people, including many nobles were killed
- The battle was expensive with little military gain and almost led to local uprisings
What happened in 1514?
- There was campaign to invade France but it was abandoned after Ferdinand and Maximillian signed peace treaties
- Wolsey renegotiated the French pension and created a marriage alliance between his sister, Mary and Louis
Why was the 1517 treaty of Cambrai worrying for Henry VIII?
England was isolated as it was a treaty between France, Spain and the Holy roman empire
Why was the duke of Albany a threat?
- He was heir presumptive to the Scottish throne and a member of the French nobility
- When he was regent for James V, many accused him of being a French agent
What was the treaty of London 1518?
It was originally a peace treaty between England and France but the pope saw the treaty as a way to create a united front against the Ottoman Turks. In the end, Spain, the Holy roman empire and numerous smaller states signed the treaty as well. This strengthened Wolsey’s position as a papal legate, foreign relations especially with France as Henry regained Tournai and the French pension and gave Henry international recognition
What changes were made to European thrones by 1520?
-Louis XII dies in 1515 and Francis I ascended him claiming he was Henry VIII’s personal rival
- James IV died in 1513 leaving a minor James V
- Ferdinand of Spain died in 1516 leaving the throne to his grandson, Charles I
- Charles also became Charles V of the holy roman empire when his grandfather Maximillian died in 1519
- Burgundy was to the Hapsburgs from 1477 with areas like Antwerp so Charles controlled the area
What was the field of the cloth of gold?
- It was a meeting between England and France in Calais for more than 2 weeks in June 1520
-Each king set up a base in a lavish pavilion for entertaining and dining - There was a wrestling match between Henry and Francis which Henry lost
- It cost the royal treasury £15,000
- It was used to show union and friendship in a diplomatic move rather than achieving anything
Why did Henry side with Charles?
- He could improve his relations with the pope, who was anxious to reduce French control over Northern Italy
- He believed he could gain more territory in France
- Part of the deal was a marriage alliance between Charles and Princess Mary
- He was also Catherine of Aragon’s nephew
What happened in 1522 and 23?
English armies invaded Northern France but they gained little and they were costly so parliament was reluctant to give extraordinary revenue
What happened at the battle of Pavia 1525?
It was the most significant battle in the Italian wars (1494 - 1559) for control over Milan after France won it at Marignano. Francis was captured by Charles V ensuring Spanish supremacy in Italy
How did the battle of Pavia negatively affect Henry?
- He suggested a joint invasion of France to gain territory but Charles and the public declined it (after the amicable grant)
- His plan was to end French independence and split the land between England and Spain
- Henry’s ego was bruised
- Charles no longer wanted to marry Mary
- Wolsey’s domestic prestige never recovered as he couldn’t resolve the situation
What happened in 1526?
Henry was in a pro - French foreign policy. He encouraged the league of Cognac between France, the pope, Venice and Florence to reduce Charles’ power in Northern Italy
How was England’s lack of power emphasised?
Through the inability to gain the divorce diplomatically
What events happened between Spain and France until 1538?
- An anti - imperial treaty of Amiens was signed between England and France in 1527
- Charles was victorious at the battle of Ladriano increasing his control over the pope and the Italian peninsula
- In 1532, Henry tried to create a French alliance but it was weak in comparison to Charles’ power
- The alliance was further weakened as Francis wanted a marriage between his son, Henry and the pope’s niece Catherine De Medici
How did Henry pressure Charles?
By imposing a trade embargo with Burgundy but Henry had to back down due to increases unemployment and social problems in England
How did the peace of Cambrai in 1529 make the divorce more unlikely?
- France gave up ambitions in Northern Italy so Charles had full control over the pope
- He fuelled the pope against the divorce because of his family dedication to Catherine of Aragon
Why were there no repercussions after the divorce?
Charles was more concerned with the threat of the Ottoman Turks
How did Henry’s position become weaker after 1538?
- Charles and Francis signed the treaty of Nice in July 1538 where they would cut connections to England
- Pope Paul III published a bull (a formal letter) meaning Catholics didn’t obey Henry
- The pope sent envoys to France and Scotland to rouse support for a Catholic crusade against Henry
Was the treaty of Nice successful?
No as Charles and Francis didn’t trust one another and fighting resumed
What were the league of Schmalkalden and what were Henry’s actions with them?
- An organisation of German princes and free cities who supported Luther’s reforms
- They formed an alliance
- Henry married Anne of Cleves
What were relations like with Ireland from 1509 - 1547?
- England still controlled the pale but Kildare was a servant to the crown
- In 1534, Kildare’s son Thomas led a rebellion as Henry had a lack of control over the country so it expensive and difficult to suppress
- The government was refashioned with an English - born deputy and lots military presence but it was too costly to stay
- Con O’Neil and Manus O’Donnell invaded the Pale in 1539
- Th government regained control under Anthony St Leger and made it a separate kingdom in 1541 imposing English law and creating counties out of Gaelic lordships as Henry declared himself king
- In return, lord received peerage titles and Ireland had the same legal precautions as England
- Th lack of resources meant many reforms weren’t followed through so there was a lack of Irish loyalty to the crown which was heightened by religious differences
What happened in 1542?
England invaded Scotland with victory at the battle of Solway Moss. However, James V died shortly after the battle leaving the throne to 6 day old Mary
What happened to the treaty of Greenwich in 1543?
- Edward and Mary were formally betrothed in these plans
- The regent, earl of Arran, supported the plans
- The English ambassador, Sir Ralph Sadler, reported there were suspicions on English intentions and didn’t want Mary to be raised in England
- Arran and then the Scottish parliament refused the treaty
- This led Henry to order the earl of Hereford to carry out raids to Edinburgh, Leith and St Andrews
How can Henry’s foreign policy with Scotland can be criticised?
- He neglected the opportunity for military force in 1542
- He failed to understand Sadler’s warning about Scottish hostility
- The raids was a form of retaliation and had no strategic objectives
What was Henry’s foreign policy like in France from 1540 - 47?
- Henry created an army in 1544 which was facilitated by his alliance with Charles. Henry wanted to lead the army despite his poor health
- The army remained in Calais to besiege Montreuil unsuccessfully but they did capture Boulogne
- Charles was sick of conflict so he signed a peace treaty with France
- Francis dent troops to Scotland and the Isle of white, the English lost at the battle of Ancrum moor and the Mary Rose sank
- The French failed to recapture Boulogne and the invasion of Northern England never materialised
- Peace was agreed in 1546 but at a high cost to Henry because to pay for the war he sold crown lands, borrowed money and debased coinage increasing inflation
What did Eric Ives say about Henry VIII’s foreign policy
“[he followed] the devices and desires of his own heart,”
What were the policies of the 1536 succession act?
- Elizabeth was made illegitimate
- The earl of Richmond couldn’t be his heir
- If Henry didn’t have a heir on his death bed, he will declare his successor by will or letters patent
When were Mary and Elizabeth reincluded in the succession?
1544
When and what were the final succession arrangements?
- 30th December 1546
- made a regency council for Edward
- Princess Mary’s heirs would be next on the throne
